Hello parents! Overwhelmed by all the parenting books, wondering which ones contain applicable advice that also line up with Scripture? Well, fear not, my friend! I’m here to wade through the vast ocean of parenting literature to provide a short review and a clever rating system.
Now, I must confess, I am a bit of a weirdo because I read parenting books for fun. But this is good news for you! Curious about a book you don’t see here? My inbox is eagerly waiting for your request! Visit the Contact Me page and let me know.
Buy, Borrow, or Pass Book Reviews
Have fun scrolling- or search for books by a particular category like Montessori, Christian, etc. You can even search for books by my ratings: Buy, Borrow, or Pass.
Buy is my highest rating—given limited bookshelf space and money, very few books earn it. This is a book you’ll be revisiting and marking up over the years!
Borrow is still a book I recommend, but it’s more of a “read once and done” kind of deal—so why not rely on the local library for this one instead?
And then there’s Pass – I briefly toyed with Burn it, thinking it might be clever to have all the categories start with ‘B.’ But I’m not a psychopath.
Boundaries with Kids by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
Pass ❌ Let’s start by renaming this book something that better represents its contents: Punishments for Kids. I poked around on the internet and learned that both Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend earned Ph.D.’s in clinical psychology and then went on to co-found a healthcare company together. I was unable to find any indication of either of…
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Gospel-Based Parenting by Angela Harders
Borrow 👍 A perfect title for a great little book! This compact book jumps right into why using Proverbs as a parenting book is problematic. Harders offers proper hermeneutics for Proverbs and profound insights into scripture—along with a couple respectful parenting alternatives tucked neatly in the back. She has a truly unique ability of writing with both…
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Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
Pass ❌ I can sum up the book’s message in one sentence: In order to obey God, you must hit children (p. 30). Every bit of “Christianese” advice and instruction in Shepherding a Child’s Heart (SACH) is centered around this disturbing lie. Please be aware I won’t be using euphemisms like “spanking,” “discipline,” or “the rod” when…
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The Flourishing Family by Dr. David and Amanda Erickson
Buy ✅ This is my # 1 Must-Read for Christian parents. A bold “Jesus-centered guide to parenting with peace and purpose.” Forget the shallow peace that comes from caving in to demands or sidestepping conflict—that’s nothing but permissive parenting. Real peacemakers tackle chaos head-on, forging authentic peace within themselves and in their relationships. For Christian parents, this…
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No Perfect Parents by Dave & Ann Wilson, Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel, & Peacemaking for Families by Ken Sande
Pass ❌ ❌ ❌ Another stack of Christian parenting books that do not fully advocate for treating children with dignity and respect. I struggle writing reviews for books like these because inside of each of them you can find valuable wisdom, practical tips, and useful biblical guidance. However, with so little time for young families to allocate…
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Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina
Borrow 👍 A great journey through the scientific discoveries on brain development and the essential elements parents should keep in mind during the first 5 years of their child’s life- not just the diaper days. This book would have earned my highest honor of “Buy” had it not endorsed swift punishments and consequences- surprisingly, The Nanny was…
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Parenting – Getting It Right by Andy & Sandra Stanley
Pass ❌ Except for a handful of gems here and there, this book mainly consists of anecdotes from Andy and Sandra’s childhoods and their experiences as parents. I’ll spare you story-time with the Stanleys and share with you some key takeaways from the book. A couple issues I had with the book: One issue was the name…
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8 Great Smarts by Dr. Kathy Koch
Borrow 👍 When you were younger, did you ever use the word “smart” to describe yourself? In a public school system that only valued two of the eight intelligences, it was challenging for many of us to believe we were smart. Dr. Kathy highlights that you were good at theater because you are smart, you were good…
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Discipline that Connects with Your Child’s Heart by Jim & Lynne Jackson
Buy ✅ When we truly bring God’s grace to the forefront of our discipline, we implement discipline that is effective in discipleship. Correction becomes a wonderful opportunity to reinforce our efforts to help children to know, love, and follow Jesus. The overall message of Discipline that Connects with Your Child’s Heart is certain to help parents build…
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The 4 Hour School Day by Durenda Wilson
Borrow 👍 Or buy ✅ if you need help creating a sustainable homeschooling plan that is unhurried and developmentally appropriate. I mean, haven’t we all wondered just how long our child should sit at the desk practicing math and language arts skills?? This “mercifully short book” is for the busy homeschool mom, and it addresses common fears…
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Good Inside by Dr. Becky
Borrow 👍 Or buy it if you don’t currently own any of the other secular books I recommend. Either way, you will not regret reading it. I’m going to give you a short-as-I-can-review and I plan to address the Christian Elephant in the room- the four-letter word in the title: Good- the concept that children are inherently…
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Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber
Buy 👍 Faber’s book offers a wealth of relatable, actionable scripts, and stories. It includes cartoon illustrations that showcase helpful vs. unhelpful responses to fighting, the pitfalls of comparison, and the problem with trying to make everything “fair.” The author highlights an interesting paradox to sibling harmony: when negative feelings about a sibling are dismissed by parents,…
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Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick
Pass ❌ Another Christian book falls victim to great name, terrible content. Although I noticed red flags early on, the Bible doesn’t actually include a parenting “method”, so faithful Christian parenting can look different from home to home. I would never expect an author to agree with me on every detail, and I like to keep an…
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Elevating Childcare, Your Self-Confident Baby, & Being With Babies
Buy All of These ✅ Ok ok. Buy one of these. My favorite baby book? I won’t choose and you can’t make me. But, maybe you’re not koo-koo for parenting books like me, and you’d really just prefer to read one. Sigh. Ok, I’ll help you narrow it down: Your Self-Confident Baby and Being with Babies are…
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The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp
Pass ❌ Sadly, this was the 1st baby book I read- after reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Neither one particularly helpful. I hope this review saves one parent-to-be from wasting their time and, instead, invests in one of the baby books I do recommend. I found Karp’s book to be a bit repetitive, but some…
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Redirecting Children’s Behavior by Kathryn J. Kvols
Borrow 👍 Are you looking for ways to create win-win situations with your children so neither you nor your child is a loser? You should be! Kvols explains how children are more respectful and cooperative when we don’t act like control freaks. It’s a short book, and while it hits the high notes, it might lack some…
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The Whole-Brain Child by Siegel & Bryson
Borrow 👍 The Whole-Brain Child hit the shelves before by Siegel & Bryson’s No Drama Discipline, and between the two, I say borrow this one and buy No Drama Discipline. That doesn’t mean this book isn’t fabulous! But let’s be honest, do you want to make your husband build another bookcase to hold your obsession with parenting…
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Children: The Challenge by Rudolf Dreikurs & Vicki Stolz
Borrow 👍 A parenting classic. This book is the guide for respectful parenting that focuses on inviting cooperation and effective, long-lasting discipline. The book’s fundamental concepts are so powerful that they have been adopted by many experts in the field. Sadly, when I read this book (many, many years ago) I had not yet learned the value…
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No Drama Discipline by Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson
Buy ✅ No Drama Discipline is the book that really ignited my passion and pursuit of respectful parenting. This book not only takes you on a deep dive into a child’s neurological development, but also provides insights into how well-intentioned parents can inadvertently make misbehavior worse. The book uses well placed cartoon illustrations to make the text…
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The Secret of Childhood by Maria Montessori
Borrow 👍 Or Buy ✅ if you are a big Montessori fan. Another book on the required reading list for my Montessori certification- it quickly became my favorite. Dr. Montessori’s passion for the Lord shines through in this book, making it a refreshing read. Heads up, it’s still challenging to read do to the style of writing…
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The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori
Borrow 👍 Or Buy if you enjoy reading scientific articles. This classic was one of the many books I had to read to receive my Montessori credential. This book focuses on children between the ages of 0-6 in which Dr. Montessori calls the “absorbent mind” period. In this stage of life children soak in information effortlessly (like…
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The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies
Buy ✅ A must read for parents interested in Montessori education. I wish this book existed when I first discovered our local Montessori school. Written by a Montessori teacher, Davies combines Dr. Maria Montessori’s holistic approach to education with her personal experience to create the manual for anyone living with toddlers. She also pulls in gems from…
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How to Talk So Kids Will Listen by Adele Faber
Borrow 👍 If you’re looking to improve communication skills with your kids, then you may want to check out “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen.” While it’s a great book that provides practical insights into the daily lives of parents, if you already own Positive Discipline, you may not need this one as well. However, if…
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Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne & Lisa M Ross
Borrow 👍 Are you a minimalist at heart like me? Do you feel that sometimes there is just too much stuff, too many choices, and too little time? All these things leave our children (and us) feeling anxious and overloaded. Payne helps parents reclaim space and freedom through a few simple ideas: • Streamline your home environment. Reduce…
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Understanding the Human Being by Montanaro
Pass ❌ As part of my MACTE Montessori certification program, I had to read Montanaro’s book on childhood development. And truth be told, it was not my favorite book. The writing felt clunky, and I suspect something was lost in translation from the original Italian text. Montanaro’s book unpacks the various stages of development that a baby…
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Jesus the Gentle Parent by L.R. Knost
Borrow 👍 “If controlling another human being is the goal, then force is necessary. Fear, intimidation, threats, power-plays, physical pain, those are the means of control. But, if growing healthy humans is the goal, then building trust relationships, encouraging, guiding, leading, teaching, and communicating are the tools for success.” LR Knost. This book is refreshment for the…
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Thy Rod and Thy Staff They Comfort Me by Samuel Martin
Buy ✅ Are you interested in learning about how Scripture supports parenting with grace as the ruling principle, rather than law? Look no further than Martin’s book, available for purchase or for FREE on his website: http://www.biblechild.com! Twelve years ago, this book was groundbreaking for me- combining respectful forms of discipline with Christian parenting backed up by…
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God’s Design for Sex Series by Stan & Benna Jones
Buy ✅ Oh my gosh, I am so thankful for these books. They foster kids natural curiosity and provide a framework for complex topics. These are meant to be read with your children so they can ask you all the questions while your palms get sweaty as you try to remain nonchalant and collected. Ha! I recommend…
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Corporal Punishment in the Bible by William J. Webb
Buy ✅ Corporal Punishment in the Bible: A redemptive-movement hermeneutic for troubling text. Maybe you read that and thought, ok cool, cool, cool. Or maybe you were like me without a clue and scratching your head. In case you’re on Team Head-Scratcher, here’s a hand: Biblical hermeneutics is the science of interpretation of the Bible and the…
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How and When to Tell Your Kids about Sex by Stan & Benna Jones
Buy ✅ This is the Parent Manual and can be bought separately from the 4 book set. Probably way more than I ever wanted to know about the subject, but all very important. Times are different than when I was a kid (am I turning into my mother?). You may get away with borrowing this one, but…
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Heartfelt Discipline by Clay Clarkson
Buy ✅ A great combo of theology and actual advice! If you only had room for one parenting book on your shelf, this would be my recommendation. Clarkson does not shy away from controversial topics and always connects discipline to the heart of the matter: shaping your child’s heart to follow God. In this book you’ll learn…
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Parenting by Paul David Tripp
Borrow 👍 This is not your typical “how-to” guide on parenting. Instead, it is a treasure trove of wisdom on how grace changes everything. You will be you scribbling notes in the margins and highlighting passages to return to time and time again. Woven in each chapter is the profound impact of what God has given us…
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Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen
Buy ✅ Do yourself a favor and buy the dang book- forget the audio book. You’ll want to keep this book at arms length because you are going to refer to it throughout all the stages of parenting. I read this book after teaching preschool for a few years and with about 10 parenting books under my…
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Grace Based Discipline by Karis Kimmel Murray
Pass ❌ While the title may be enticing, the book has little to offer in the way of grace-based advice. Instead, much of Murray’s advice is short-term gain, behavior control tactics, such as punishment and rewards. Although Murray is a skilled writer with a knack for story telling and one-liners, this book gets one of my worst…
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