Marriage, gender, and the Bible

God’s Signpost

Sam Allberry
(B&H Kids 2023)

In this festive picture book, apologist Sam Allberry leads kids on a journey to understand the Biblical meaning of marriage as a “signpost” for God’s love. Lila and Ethan gather with family to celebrate Pop and Nanna’s 50th wedding anniversary. Through mostly natural questions and answers, Nanna explains that marriage points to a “forever kind of love” that sticks around “even when we’re really old, even when we’re really sick, and even when we let each other down.” It’s light on plot, but cheerful illustrations by Christine Grove help keep kids’ attention. A final discussion page walks families through source texts Ephesians 5:32 and Revelation 19:7. A top-tier resource for ­families. Ages 4-8

She Is She

Bethany & Ryan Bomberger
(Bara Publishing 2023)

This picture book explores with simple rhyming prose the concept of gender identity and the beauty of being a girl: “She is she. She is not he. She is not we. She is she.” The Bombergers wrote the book as a tool for families to use to combat culture’s attempts to redefine gender (including pronouns). “When your identity is rooted in Christ,” they write, “it won’t be uprooted by everything else.” Although the book is brief, it includes helpful endnotes highlighting what Scripture says about our identity in Christ and how science affirms the ­separate and distinct differences between boys and girls. Ages 2-6 —Kristin Chapman

Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World

Ed Drew
(The Good Book Company 2023)

Drew traces many of our culture’s ills to a wrong understanding of identity. Like characters in The Greatest Showman, kids are told to reject labels, “Follow your heart,” and say, “This is Me.” But Drew says the gospel gives us a better identity as “children of God who one day will see Jesus and be like Jesus.” He invites parents to look again at what Scripture says about topics like forgiveness, gender, and behavior change. Some of his analysis is debatable (e.g., “Jesus was not religious”), and readers may wish for more practical, step-by-step advice, but Drew wisely helps parents focus on a child’s heart: “Sin is … about an attitude towards God, the one who loves us most. It is about identity.” For adults

A Parent’s Guide to LGBTQ+ & Your Teen

Axis
(Tyndale 2023)

This small, 100-page printed book (and free online version) is a byproduct of Axis’ mission to help “parents and caring adults talk with their kids.” Using a Q&A format, the book answers questions like “How does Gen Z view LGBTQ+ issues?” and “What terms do I need to know?” While Axis provides eye-opening statistics about teens generally (“a third … know someone who is transgender”), some of the book’s suggested practices may undermine godly communication: The authors downplay “arguments, facts, and attempts to persuade” and emphasize the use of anti-­Biblical LGBTQ+ terms to “earn the right to be heard.” A final recap gets the big picture right: “Christ Himself—not our sexuality—is where we find fulfillment.” For adults