can anyone recommend a good book for explaining God to my 5 year old?

[constantreader]

I'm realy struggling to answer his questions about God, heaven, Jesus, where we came from, what happens when we die...

He seems fascinated by all this and I want to give him decent answers but I'm finding it all a bit tricky. DH and I are not particularly religious but do plan on beginning to go to church (Church of Scotland) when we move back to Scotland later this year. Our dc's are 5.5, 2.5 and 20 weeks, and we wil be taking the older two to Sunday School too, but I want to be able to answer my ds1's questions in an easy-to-understand way.

I've had a look on Amazon but can't find a book that would be good for bedtime reading.

Any recommendations, or advice on how to talk to my dc's about God would be so gratefully received.

Have a think about what YOU believe and tell him that? I've found it pretty useful to get some clarity about what I think to tell dc's what I believe. And I think it's more than ok to say 'I think xx but grandma believes xx' etc. And to say 'I don't know'.

This one is quite good:

www.amazon.co.uk/So-Who-God-Answers-Questions/dp/1844271234/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=boo ks&qid=1242294086&sr=8-1

as is the Lion First Bible:

www.amazon.co.uk/Lion-First-Bible-Pat-Alexander/dp/0745961037/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s= books&qid=1242294135&sr=8-5

Sorry - didn't do the links.

So, Who Is God?

Lion First Bible

thank you both...those look like good book choices, Apple.

saintmaybe, we do tell him what we believe, and try to keep it simple; but sometimes his questions are hard to answer without freaking him out! Like yesterday we drove past a graveyard beside a church - he started asking about death, and why we bury bones in the graveyard, and how does God take you to heaven if he leaves your bones behind? And does everyone go to heaven when they die, even the burglars and other baddies? And where, for that matter, is heaven? Can we go there now?

I want to give him the right guidance and a basic knowledge without getting too deep, iykwim.

Yes, it's challenging, isn't it, to be honest without overloading them? You sound like you're being very thoughtful.

More the physical side of death - but-

we had a family funeral recently, and after many q's from ds and dd about the cremation, the wake and exactly what happens to the burnt bones, skin etc, ds fixed me with a very suspicious sideways look and said, 'And was there meat at the dinner after the funeral?'

lol....

my ds is always asking how God made everything, 'how does He make bones? How does He make your brain?' etc and I have no idea how to answer!

He came crying to me the other day at dinner time. He had requested chicken nugets and chips but instead got wholewheat pasta and veggies...when I asked him why he was crying, he wailed; 'WHY does God even make junk food when it tastes so good but it's bad for you? Why, mummy, WHY would he DO that?'

I answered that it was people that made good food into junk food, but God didn't mind us having treats sometimes (hence the previous evening's visit to Burger King!)

That's one bright and mature 5 year old!

It's funny, I was just remembering that when I was little, my mom had bought one of those illustrated kiddie-versions of the Gospel story that she read to me, and it was great, especially the finish line borrowed from Matthew 28:20, "and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." It's something that sticks with you.

The "My First Message" Bible is great as well.

Don't know about books - but our kids all go to Sunday School and love it.

United Reformed Church in England is pretty close to CofS as far as I know, so you might take him along to see even before you move back.

And - welcome back! Where are you going to be living, there are lots of Scottish MNetters and we are lovely!