An illustrated catechism is specifically great for kids because it gives them a visual representation of the truths that are being reinforced.
What are catechisms? In short, a catechism is a short summary that describes the principles of the Christian religion. It uses the form of questions and answers to portray truths about the Bible, faith, and theology.
The Illustrated Westminster Shorter Catechism in Modern English is a great way to engage children with the truths of the Christian faith and theology.
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Recommended ages – for ages 2-18
Bundle Price – $18.50 at P&R Publishing
Our Favorite Part – The Illustrations! Paul Cox does an excellent job bringing to life these timeless truths!
Where can I buy these books, what are the best ages for these books, and where can I buy them? Let’s dive deeper into those questions.
The Illustrated Catechism
An illustrated catechism gives children a visual representation of what they are learning. I find this particularly helpful for the early stages of learning in preschool, kindergarten, and the early elementary years.
The Illustrated Westminster Shorter Catechism in Modern English illustrated by Paul Cox offers winsome and colorful illustrations. There are three sections to each page. There is a question, answer, and coloring illustration to represent the truth of the text.
The illustrations reminded me of a comic book, which ended up being very engaging for my three young boys. They pointed at the pictures and asked questions as we went through the book.
We have found that this is a great book to add to our morning time with our morning menu and our family devotional time.
Additions-
In this modern- English edition, the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Apostles’ Creed are included. These truths are helpful as you train your children in understanding God’s Word and proper theology.
The text of the Westminster Shorter Catechism is taken from Douglas Kelly and Philip Rollinson, The Westminster Shorter Catechism in Modern English (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1986). It has been updated with the ESV and lightly modernized.
Taken from P & R Publishing Website
If you are interested in learning more about the illustrator, Paul Cox, he has an excellent website with more information about all his current offerings.
The Layout
As mentioned above there are three parts of each page.
- The catechism question – The question is highlighted by a number and a bright yellow outline. This can be helpful if you are looking for specific questions.
- The answer or proof text – In a few sentences the posed question is answered. There are also scripture references for further study.
- Illustrations – The final section includes the colorful and winsome illustrations used to engage children in the catechism and text.
Please note that all scripture references are taken from the ESV translation of the Bible.
Recommended Ages
There are no recommended ages specified by Paul Cox or P&R Publishing that I have been able to find. These are solely my recommendations based on my experience as a teacher and mom.
Teaching children the truths of God’s Word cannot start too early and learning the truths of God’s Word has no ‘end date’ we will be learning about God’s truth from the time we are little until our last breath. I recommend this book for ages 2-18, but even adults can benefit from the truths and learning more about each of the catechisms.
Where to Buy the Illustrated Westminster Catechism
I continue to find that it is such a blessing to buy books directly from publishers or from smaller companies like local bookstores. However, don’t get me wrong, I still do buy books from the ‘big A’. I just always encourage others and myself to make an effort to shop small and from trusted resources when possible.
I have provided both links for your convenience.
Final Mom Thoughts
This is a new book that we will be adding to our routine! We have additional catechisms that are intended for children, but this one currently is my favorite because of the illustrations. It makes it excellent for my highly visual learners and has opened the door for additional discussions.
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