1. Seek support from church leaders and parents.

2. Select and review the books that you would like the children to read. (See reading list information below.)

3. Create a small children's library, where children can select books that appeal to them.

4. Set up a system for how children can earn a certificate and/or reading club badges. (See examples below.)

5. Create a flyer that promotes the reading club to children and parents. Include the following information:

    • Number of books children must read to earn a certificate.

    • Place and process for children to get books.

    • Frame in which the children must complete reading list to qualify for a certificate. (This can be a summer event or yearlong event.)

6. Provide feedback and encouragement to children. Remember that this is about learning about missions, not about being a successful reader. Adjust requirements for children, based on the weakest readers' abilities. Emphasize that all participants are succeeding as they learn about missions. Never focus on a child's reading skills or lack thereof.

Suggested Reading Club List
WMU has provided a suggested reading list. You may add additional books to your church's reading club. The suggested list is just a starting point, comprised of both WMU- and non-WMU books.

Few missionary biographies are available, and many are not child appropriate. The majority of the missionary biographies that we suggest are written and produced by Youth With A Mission (YWAM). These books represent a variety of evangelical missionary heroes that have paved the way for missions today.

Our list includes some secular books that teach about different cultures. There are many excellent children's books about different cultures and people groups that you may wish to add to your reading club list. Look for these at your local library, a bookstore, or online. Carefully review books to be sure they do not teach principles that conflict with Baptist doctrine. Before you give any child a book to read, make sure the content is theologically sound and age appropriate.

If you find a great book to add to your reading club, please let us know!

Send us the title, author, publisher, and a brief review of the book. Mail this to:

"Explore God's World" Reading Club
Children's Resource Team
P. O. Box 830010
Birmingham, AL 35283

or email to: children@wmu.org

We may add your book to the suggested reading list.

Sample Reading Club Format:

"Explore God's World" Summer Reading Club

When: June 1 through August 30
What: Ask children to read three to five books for their age level.
Why: To assist children to "explore God's world" through books about missions, missionaries, people groups and cultures; and to help children live out the Christian faith through word and action.

A certificate will be awarded at the end of the summer. Click here for a pdf of the certificate.

(For yearlong reading clubs, children may be asked to read six to ten books throughout the year to earn a certificate. Leaders should follow up monthly to keep children motivated to read throughout the year.)

Reading List