Homeschool Happenings: Forensic Faith for Kids ~ A Review

David C Cook and Case Makers Academy introduce Forensic Faith For Kids where children will learn how to share the truth of God's Word from a Real Detective. J. Warner Wallace a real "cold-case" detective applied his real life training as a detective to investigating the Bible. After studying God's Word he determined for himself that God's Word was true and that Jesus was truly the Son of God. Prior to writing Forensic Faith for Kids, Wallace along with his wife, Susie, have written two other books, Cold-Case Christianity for Kids and God's Crime Scene for Kids. These books are geared for children ages 8-12.

In Forensic Faith for Kids children, who act as junior detectives, are investigating the sudden appearance of a puppy. In the Preface children are introduced to their "Challenge" of Where Did She Come From? There are 8 chapters in the book.

Throughout the book there are CSI Assignments. For example, one assignment the kiddos are asked to read Matthew 5:43-45. The verses are partially written out and the kiddos are to fill in the missing blanks as they read for themselves the verses in their Bibles. They are then asked two questions. Why is this hard for most of us? Why is a better way to live, according to the rest of the verse?

Another bolded box area throughout the book is entitled Dig Deep. This has to deal with the Online Academy. This encourages the children to keep up with their training sheets at the Case Makers Academy.

A "Tool" for Your Detective Bag! Know and Help Your Listeners! helps children when sharing the gospel of Christ with others. One example from the book says, "When you share the truth about Jesus with your friends and family members, take time with them, are about their wellbeing, and learn all you can about them. Then teach them something about how we use evidence to figure out what is true. Listen carefully, pray often, and help your listeners understand."

To help them solve the mystery in the book there are highlighted boxes entitled, Detective Definitions Interviews, that give the children hints on how real detective work to solve crimes and cases.

The children "cadets" are trying to figure out where Bailey, the adorable Corgi puppy, came from. She just appeared at the local car wash where they were holding as a fund raiser. The detective instructor teaches them how to run an investigation to determine how to find her owner.

Secondly, there is a friend who needs help answering some tough questions about Jesus and whether or not He really is God. Again, the detective guides the children along the way and the steps in researching what the Bible has to say.

The online Case Makers Academy provides a wonderful complement to the book! For each chapter your child watches a short video and downloads a training activity sheet as well as a academy notebook sheet. There is also an adult leader guide.

My 12-year-old daughter started reading through the book and working through the Case Makers Academy and decided pretty early on that the book and material was really, in her option, geared for younger children. She told me that she thought that it needed to be for maybe 8-10 year olds.

My 10-year-old was the perfect age for this review. She was able to read the book and understand the back and forth between the lost dog and telling others about God. She enjoyed the activities and the Case Makers Academy side.

In Chapter 3 entitled, Time to Train, the children go to pick up Jasmine for their meeting. Bailey comes to the rescue when Peanut and Smores, Jasmines guinea pigs, are running around the backyard and are next to impossible to catch. Bailey runs around them in a circle until they are contained and are able to be put back in their hutch. Maybe Bailey could train the guinea pigs. At their meeting their word for the day is TRAIN. Hannah is discouraged in her attempts to reach Tiana. They talk about "frustrating tests" and "future tasks" in regards to both finding Bailey's owners and telling Tiana about God.