Christian History for Kids Book Review: Who What Why Series by Danika Cooley

• God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
• Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
• Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
• Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
• Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.

What is the Who What Why Series by Dankia Cooley?

The Who What Why series is a set of three books:

• Who Was Martin Luther?
• What Was the Gutenberg Bible?
• Why Did the Reformation Happen?

Each book is appropriate for ages 9-11. If the parent or teacher reads it aloud, I think you could read to kids as young as 7, and I think kids as old as 12 or 13 might enjoy reading it to themselves. But, I’ll tell you that even as an adult, I learned a lot in these 3 books!

Review of Who Was Martin Luther?

The book Who Was Martin Luther taught me so much about the man Martin Luther and his life, but also about different events that were happening during his lifetime. It’s a very easy book to read with short chapters and fun illustrations sprinkled throughout. I love the main focus of teaching kids about Christian history and understanding the struggles that Martin Luther went through that led to the Protestant Reformation. We learn about the corruption of the times, the selling of indulgences, and the not-so-pretty parts of the Reformation such as violent rebellions (but not too graphic, so it’s still appropriate for younger kids). I also like how Danika didn’t paint Luther as infallible, but as a man who sinned until the day he died, just like all of us do, but was still saved through God’s grace alone, through Jesus Christ.

 

Review of What Was the Gutenberg Bible?

Wow! I learned so much about Johann Gutenberg and the printing press that I never knew before. This book is great as a read-aloud because adults will like it along with the kids you’re reading it to. What will you learn? The Death Ships, Jan Hus, John Wycliffe, the town where Johann Gutenberg lived, who wrote the Bible, different ways paper was made, others who created a similar printing press to Gutenberg’s, scribes, Gutenberg’s loans and how he lost access to his business by going into debt, the Gutenberg Bible, and much more!

Review of Why Did the Reformation Happen?

Danika writes, “That’s the whole reason the Reformation happened. The Good News of Jesus Christ was lost and then it was found.” If this is what you want to know, you’ll find it here in Why Did the Reformation Happen? She explains about the 5 Latin phrases of the Protestant Reformation (which lasted over 300 years!): sola Scriptura, solus Christus, sola gratia, sola fide, and soli Deo gloria. We learn about what’s so special and important about the Bible and why we need to read it in our own language. We also learn about who Christ is and why He’s who we need to know.

 

Other Resources to Teach Christian History for Kids

Danika has some really fun resources at her site to use alongside the Who What Why books.

• The Protestant Reformers Reformation Craft
• Johann Gutenberg Printing Press Toilet Paper Rolls Craft
• Martin Luther Reformation Toilet Paper Roll Craft
• Christian Church History Detectives Kids Craft
• Protestant Reformation for Kids Lapbook
• Gutenberg Bible History Lapbook

Who What Why Series | Christian Biographies for Kids

Testimonial

Have you read any of the Who What Why books? I’d love to know what you thought! Please leave a comment below.