The Easter Story

Book: The Easter Story

Author:  Carol Heyer

Illustrator: Carol Heyer

Publisher: Ideal Children’s Books

ISBN:  0-8249-8429-0

Audience: Ages 4 and up

Summary: This story is written in a simplistic manner for the age group, with beautiful illustrations.  It begins in a contemporary fashion showing Easter as a time of newness and Easter baskets filled with eggs and candy.  It quickly moves to Jesus and all that Jesus did for us.  On the second page there is a beautiful picture and a simple description of the birth of Christ.  It goes very quickly to the teachings of Jesus, healing the sick, telling parables, giving the Commandments, and Palm Sunday.  The story goes into the Last Supper, using words such as “unleavened” and “Passover”.    The story continues with the Garden, the last day, the Crucifixion, the empty tomb, and seeing Jesus again.

Literary elements at work in the story:  This story is in a narrative form that is connected in a way that moves from Easter to Christmas and back to Holy Week and Easter.The majority of the book describes the events of Holy Week.There are words used that will be difficult for a small child, but to begin hearing words such as “Passover” and “unleavened” will allow the readers to question the meaning of the words.  Consequently the vocabularies of the young readers can be expanded.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/abilitymake a difference to the story?  This is handled appropriately and the characters are all portrayed as Middle Easterners.

Theological Conversation Partners:  This book moved on page 2 to the birth of Christ, which is very appropriate.  The reverse should also be the case in stories written about Christmas (i.e., Christmas is of little significance without the Easter Story).  It is the resurrection of Christ – The Easter Story – that makes the birth of Christ significant.  Without the Easter Story, the manger would have been the birth of a child – any child.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Why does the story open with the Easter Story and immediately go to the birth narrative?
2. Why did Jesus get so angry with the people in the temple?
3. Why did the people and the temple leaders turn away from him?
4. What is the significance of the thunder and lightning in the dark sky after Jesus’ death?
5. What is the significance of the empty tomb found by the ladies?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Becky Albright.

God’s Rainbow

Title:  God’s Rainbow

Author: Allia Zobel Nolan

Illustrator: Chi Chung

Publisher: Kregel Publications, 2007

ISBN: 978-0-8254-5537-7

Audience: Ages 3-6

Summary of Book:  God’s Rainbow is a picture book which tells the story of Noah building the ark.  God speaks to Noah and says “the world has forgotten about me, so I am starting over.  Here’s what I want you to do.”  Noah was obedient and he and his sons did just what God asked them to do and they built the ark.  Then God sent the rain.  It rained for forty days and forty nights but the ark sailed along and everyone and everything on board were safe and sound.  After the rain stopped the ark came to rest on a mountain top and Noah sent a raven out to find land but the raven came back.  A few days passed and Noah sent a dove out and it returned with an olive leaf in its beak.  This was a good sign for Noah.  A few days later and Noah sent the dove out again and it did not return.  Then God spoke to Noah and told him it was safe to come off the ark.  So everyone and every animal got off the boat and Noah and his family fell to their knees and thanked God for keeping them safe.  When they looked up they saw beautiful colors in the sky, the first rainbow.  The rainbow was a sign of God’s promise that he would never flood the whole earth again.

Literary Elements at Work: This book is a great teaching tool for young children.  The author does a good job of telling Noah’s story.  The author is assisted by the illustrator who does a very good job of helping to tell the story.  The illustrator does a masterful job of slowly phasing out the ark and bringing in the rainbow.  The pictures are bright and colorful and really enhance the story.  

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  In this retelling of Noah and his family building the ark the perspective of race, culture, economics and ability really do not come into play.  Noah was obedient to God and God took care of him and his family.  The illustrator does show Noah and his wife working together as equals on several pages as well as his sons and their wives.  It also shows them all kneeling together in prayer to thank God for keeping them safe.

Theology: This book is a great way to introduce children to the biblical story of Noah and the ark.  It shows that God makes promises and he keeps them.  It shows that God wants a relationship with us and that he loves us.  Every time we see a rainbow we are reminded of this.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. After reading this story what will you think of the next time you see a rainbow?
2. Did you like the pictures in the book? Why or Why not?
3. Do the pictures in the book help tell the story? Why or Why not?
4. If God had spoken to you instead of Noah would you and your family have built the ark? Why or Why not?
5. How big do you think the ark was?
6. How long do you think it took Noah and his family to build the ark?
7. If God asks you to do something that is difficult or hard to do, what do you do?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Bob Martin.

The Action Bible

Title: The Action Bible

Editor: Doug Mauss

Illustrator: Sergio Cariello

Publisher: Harper Tempest

Audience: Ages 9 and up

ISBN: 978-0781444996

The Action Bible is a graphic novel that makes scripture come to life in an untraditional and exciting way. It uses several stories to convey the adventurous elements of the Bible that conventional translations may not communicate. Its strength is in the quality of the illustrations which are world-class. The stories are organized in the same order as the traditional canon but rather than saying “2 Samuel  chapter 5”, each story is given its own title with the corresponding scripture in parentheses. It is a minor detail but one worth appreciating. The Action Bible is a great device to get otherwise uninterested readers’ attention but is not a threat to replace one’s study Bible or family Bible, which is okay! Using this text taught me about the multifaceted approach of the gospel; we all are not going to be sustained in the same manner, though we are quenched by the same fountain.

I have used The Action Bible with students as young as third graders and have had great conversations with my middle school students as well. I would not recommend using it with students younger than 7. The imagery in some of the stories–Jezebel’s interactions with Elijah come to mind–are a bit graphic for the little ones and may even spook them. I hesitated to show my fourth graders the pictures during a scene where dogs were lapping up blood but they thought it was “Awesome!” They look forward to reading whenever we use it in class and it has served as a source of inspiration for the visual artists among my students.

My greatest praise for this text is twofold: The inspiration that it gives my students who are fans of graphic novels, and the reminder it gives all of us that the characters in the biblical narrative are people. I would love to see my students get so caught up in the necessity of storytelling that they recast a biblical story in a contemporary context. Who are the Elijahs and Ahabs of today? How would YOU draw David and Goliath? I can imagine that the prospect of bringing scripture down to our level is an intimidating and anxiety inducing feat from some perspectives. I appreciate The Action Bible because it further proves the relevance and necessity of these stories.

This book makes me wonder:

1. How important is interpretation in the delivering of a story?
2. How can I use the biblical narrative to explain contemporary circumstances?
3. What are the next exciting ways to deliver the biblical narrative?

This review was prepared by Union Presbyterian Seminary – Charlotte student Christopher Burton.

The Nativity

Even after all these years, my favorite Christmas book is still The Nativity by illustrator Julie Vivas. I remember clearly picking it up for the first time in Narnia Bookstore in Richmond while I was working on my Masters degrees. The illustrations captivated me as I stood in the small Carytown store in Richmond, VA and through the years I must have given this simple yet profound book as a gift well over a hundred times. The text is straight biblical narrative beginning with the familiar, “In the days of Herod the King, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to the city of Nazareth…”

While the words evoke memories of story told in worship, church school and around family suppers it is the illustrations, in this case, that open possibilities of new insights for young and old alike. You know immediately that something is different as the first page introduces you to a Gabriel you may not have considered before – an angel wearing combat boots. It makes sense, really.  They are quite busy in the infancy narrative, appearing to Mary, the shepherds and singing with the choir of heavenly hosts, and though they bring “good tidings” they find themselves in uncharted territory announcing the birth of the Messiah.

Vivas continues to fascinate –  tattered wings, angels in trees, an unsuspecting Mary hanging laundry and an annunciation over a cup of tea at the kitchen table. Many pages have no words but the message is quite clear as she shares the news with Joseph and grows great with child. This Mary is real, and really pregnant, as she and her betrothed figure out how to get her up on the donkey to head to Bethlehem, join those who head home for census and encounter “no room in the inn.” Each page is a delight to the eye but I think my favorite is the one where Joseph is holding the “new born babe” while he provides back support for an exhausted Mary.

There are so ways in which this book can be used beyond a simple and straightforward reading. Readers and non-readers alike can “tell the story” in their own words using only the illustrations as prompts. This can be done in small groups with the book or in large groups projected on a screen. Music, from the “Messiah” to “Mary, Did You Know?” can be added to a timed projection or reflection questions created for each illustration that probes the deeper meaning and personal engagement….Why do you think the angel wore combat boots? What do you think about tattered wings on angels? Why would they be tattered? Why do we rarely see Joseph holding the baby? In what ways might your own expression been similar or dissimilar to those of the shepherds? In what ways do these illustrations help you think differently about the Christmas story?

However you choose to use it, I commend its use to you. It is a beautiful and startling rendering of the coming of Jesus.

Dr. Rebecca Davis, who was part of the original teaching team for the course that was the impetus for this blog, offers this summary of one of her favorite Christmas books.  Becky is a graduate of the Seminary and now teaches at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC.

Tomie DePaola’s Book of Bible Stories

Name of Book: Tomie DePaola’s Book of Bible Stories

Author: Tomie DePaola

Illustrator: Tomie DePaola

Publisher: The Trumpet Club

ISBN: 0-440-84712-5

Audience: Elementary children. While the text has been pulled directly from the N.I.V. Bible, some verses have been shortened in order to make it simple and understandable to children.

Summary: A collection of 37 Bible stories and prayers from the Old and New Testament. Delightful and informative illustrations are most helpful in bringing the stories to life.

Literary elements at work in the story: Historical, Biblical.  This book can be enjoyed independently or in a group with someone reading out loud and showing the illustrations. The classic storybook layout with bold titles per story is without book names, chapters, and verses. These relaxing short stories may not be as intimidating as the “document” style that is found in the Bible.

As a tool to encourage further exploration, this Book of Bible Stories along with the N.I.V. Bible could be used as a parallel to demonstrate how readable and inviting scripture is. For Bible studies and lessons or to make a biblical point, the stories will complement scripture from any version of the Old and New Testament.

Theme: Informative and spiritual, as each story captures the drama found in the actual N.I.V. Bible.

Perspective: Spiritually encouraging for all levels of Christian belief.

Theology: This book provides an excellent biblical foundation for Christians of all ages, as the classical Bible stories can be referred to over and over again. The colorful illustrations bring the details of scripture to life, making the stories easy to remember and recall.

Scripture: Various stories from the Old and New Testament. Prayers from scripture may inspire spiritual growth.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Why do you think God made this story part of the Bible? What’s the point?
2. If the point of this story is __________, what changes do you think God would want you to make in the way you behave, think, or speak?
3. In view of this story, can you make any connections between what happened thousands of years ago and how it is similar to the world today?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Gina Craft.

Parables: Stories Jesus Told

Name of Book:  Parables: Stories Jesus Told

Author:  Mary Hoffman

Illustrator:  Jackie Morris

Publisher:  Phyllis Fogelman Books

ISBN:  0803725604

Audience:  Age 4 and up

Summary:  This is an illustrated collection of eight of Jesus’ parables: The House on the Rocks, The Good Samaritan, The Lost Sheep, The Workers in the Vineyard, The Prodigal Son, The Sower and the Seed, The Rich Man’s Feast, and The Unforgiving Servant.  The author introduces each story with a question to set the stage:  “Do you like building sandcastles?” or “Have you ever lost something precious?”  She goes on to tell each parable in short clear sentences, often inserting dialogue when appropriate and emphasizing characters’ joy or indignation or relief.  These are characters with whom the reader can identify emotionally.  Hoffman then ends each parable with a simple explanation of Jesus’ meaning.  Usually, these interpretations come from scripture itself, although sometimes the author inserts her own analysis, suitable to a child’s understanding.

Literary elements at work in the story:  Parables by their nature are simple tales with few characterizations.  Plot drives everything.  In this book, as with the original biblical tales, the stories sometimes end with mystifying plot turns, and the reader is left to puzzle out the meaning.  Morris’ beautiful paintings expand on the simple plots, showing us the overwhelming joy of the father as he cradles the head of his errant son against his shoulder, or the patient kindness of the Samaritan holding a bleeding stranger on his donkey.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  First-centuryPalestine was a patriarchal society, and the author and the illustrator reflect this male-centered social order in both word and picture.  All eight of these stories have male protagonists, and only two even show women in subordinate roles in the illustrations.  The characters are portrayed as Middle-Eastern in both facial features and clothing.  No attempt has been made to modernize the tales at all.

Theological conversation partners:  Several of these stories focus on the fact that God’s law is often contrary to human notions of justice. God rejoices always when one who has been lost is found, no matter how good the other sheep, sons, or workers have been nor how unfair the gift of God’s embrace seems to be.  Other parables in this collection concentrate on what it means to respond to God’s teaching.  Hearing is not enough.  Those who truly follow God must work at it, or they will lose everything – house built on sand, seed sown on rocky soil, or fantastic wedding banquet.  These stories would be good to use with discussions about what the Christian life looks like

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Jesus told a lot of stories.  I wonder why?
2. How did you feel about the story called “Fair Pay”?  If you were the vineyard owner, how would you have paid your workers?
3. Why do think Jesus told the story in the way he did?
4. How would you have reacted if you were the older brother in the story called “The Jealous Brother”?
5. Why do you think that the father was so glad to see his younger son again?
6. The Samaritan in the story called “Neighbors” would have been somebody that none of Jesus’ listeners liked.  If we told the story substituting people in our day and time, who would be a good person to play the role of the Samaritan?
7. What can we find out about God by reading the stories of the lost sheep, the prodigal son, and the workers in the vineyard?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Beth Lyon-Suhring.

The Comic Book Bible

Name of Book:  The Comic Book Bible

Author:  Rob Suggs

Illustrator:  Rob Suggs and Christopher Gray

Publisher:  Barbour Publishing

ISBN:  9781602606852

Audience:  Ages 7 – 12

Summary:  Many of the great stories from the Bible – creation, Noah, Moses, David and Goliath, Birth of Christ, the Resurrection, Paul’s travels, and more – are re-told in an engaging and fun comic book format.

Literary elements at work in the story :  Since this book is the Bible in comic book form, the setting, characters, plot, theme – are we in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, or wandering in the wilderness with Jesus, or perhaps being shipwrecked with Paul – all change according to the story being told. Yet, even though they are different because they are being told in a comic book format, and were written and illustrated by the same people, the stories have a very cohesive feel to them. They flow well in both text and imagery and therefore, in my opinion, give the book a feeling of “wholeness”. The Bible, in my opinion, often feels disjointed, especially for young readers. By putting it in a reader friendly format, like a comic book, I think it helps the reader see how the stories flow into one another and that they are connected. The point of view for the book seems to be a combination of first and third person. The third person narrator uses scripture and interjections to move the reader from panel to panel and page to page, yet within each panel the story is told from the perspective of the characters themselves. The style of the book, in much the same way as the point of view, utilizes many different techniques to tell the story. First and foremost is the use of images and imagery – it is a comic book after all. In terms of the illustrations, they are more “juvenile”  or cartoonish in their rendering than say the more realistic (albeit gritty) illustrations in a graphic novel or the unique wide-eyed illustrations of Japanese Manga books. The cartoonish nature of the illustrations may contribute to the book being rated for a much younger audience than we would think. The book also uses voice in a very engaging way. Scripture can be very intimidating for young children and by using the more “folksy” and comfortable language and visuals of the comic book format the child tends to be less apprehensive as they learn the stories of our faith. “You can, after all, “read” them [a comic book] by only occasionally looking at the words.” (Children’s Books in Children’s Hands, p. 7)

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  While I wouldn’t say this book is close to being culturally diverse, there are a variety of skin tones as the illustrators attempt to portray a more realistic depiction of the people who populate the Bible. Comic books, and traditional literature like the Bible have a lot of villains and heroes, and the “villains” in this book like other comic books, tend to be drawn in a dramatic fashion. I find the idea of presenting the Bible in comic book format very thought provoking. Since many of the stories covered in this version are already very familiar to readers, it challenges us to re-imagine how the scene might look as well as face pre-conceived ideas and stereotypes we may have developed.

Theological conversation partners: The Comic Book Bible is very faithful to scripture and doesn’t favor the easy stories and shy away from the more difficult ones. Earlier I mentioned that the “villains”  in the Comic Book Bible are drawn in a dramatic fashion. It would have been very easy for this book to make a subliminal, or perhaps overt, statement to the children about how villains look. While there are a few stereotypes in the book I feel like they do an overall good job showing that “villains”, then and now, can be found in all races and creeds. The book also does an extremely good job of citing the scripture passages that each story comes from so that children, and adults can then read the same story in a traditional Bible. The Comic Book Bible would please John Calvin.  Nowhere in the Bible do they attempt to portray God. In every instance where a person encounters God, it is God’s voice that is heard and occasionally (when it is in keeping with scripture) God is portrayed in symbol – the wind, the burning bush, a dove – but nowhere do they attempt to represent God in an image. For those who have difficulty with gender specific language they will find God referred to in masculine terms and pronouns.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. What is your favorite story in the Bible?
2. Did you like the way the Comic Book Bible told your favorite story?  Why or shy not?
3. Do you think this is a good way to share the Bible with other children?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Shasta Brown.

Children of God Storybook Bible

Name of Book:  Children of God Storybook Bible

Author:  Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Illustrator:  Various

Publisher:  Zondervan; ZonderKids

Audience:  Ages 3 and up

Summary:  This book is a paraphrase of 56 Bible stories. Each story is illustrated by an artist from around the world. Stories in the Bible Storybook include: Creation, Ruth, Naboth’s Vineyard, Christ’s birth, miracle stories, Transfiguration, Last Supper, Resurrection, Revelation, and many more. Stories are paraphrased by Tutu and each story ends with a prayer for the reader that relates to the theme and lesson of the story told.

Literary elements at work in the story:  This paraphrase storybook is told from a third person omniscient point of view. The book takes larger stories and breaks them down into shorter, personal adaptations appropriate for younger children and adults alike. Each story is set according to their original Biblical settings. The story plots have not been changed, although the stories have been greatly shortened.

The book shares valuable Biblical and theological themes, like: care for creation, forgiveness and repentance, love, Imago Dei, prayer, trusting God, Christian sacrifice, etc.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability make a difference to the story?  The storybook was purposely illustrated by 20 artists from around the world to create “the first truly global Bible for children.” All races, ethnicities, genders and abilities are portrayed in the book through the multi-cultural illustrations and through the author’s inclusive language. Each story is told from a third person perspective, but each story’s prayer is first person in order to invite the reader to participate in the story and into fellowship with God. The stories are labeled with headings inclusive of all people, regularly using the term “us” in theme descriptions. Children and adults alike will find a refreshing, new perspective on favorite and even not-so-well-known Bible stories.

Scripture:  Each story shares the corresponding Scriptural references for the reader. The storybook contains 24 Old Testament stories, 27 gospel stories and five additional New Testament stories to total 56 stories.

Theology:  While each story contains a unique theological theme, the overall theological tone of the storybook from the author is “we are all children of God.” The storybook is written as “the Gift of God’s love for children everywhere.” Readers are constantly told they are children of God and encouraged to live into that understanding through story and prayer.

Faith Talk Questions

1. Who does God say that you are?
2. What do you say to God when you speak to God in prayer?
3. What is your favorite Bible story? Why?
4. Did you see yourself or people who look like you in the Bible story pictures? Where?
5. What does it mean to be a child of God?
6. How does it feel to know that God loves you and says that you are special?

Review prepared by Union Presbyterian Seminary alumna Katie Todd

The Big Picture Story Bible

Title:  The Big Picture Story Bible

Author:  David R. Helm

Publisher: Crossway Books; Har/com edition, 2010

Illustrator: Gail Schoonmaker

ISBN:   978-1433523915

Intended Audience Age level: 2-7; Reading level: Ages 9-12

The first thing to notice about The Big Picture Story Bible is that it is big-9.3×9.3.x1.4” and 3.8 pounds, 26 chapters, 448 pages. The 3-7 year olds for whom the book is recommended will need to spread it on a table or on the floor. The second impression is that there are far more illustrations than words. Most pictures are spread across two pages with perhaps 3 or 5 sentences to a page.  The format is for young children while the suggested reading level is 9-11 years.

A third fact is that individual stories are hard to locate. Noah, for example, will be found in a chapter entitled “Life Outside the Garden;” the 10 plagues in a chapter, “God’s People Become Great.” The book is organized as a Bible survey and single stories and characters are placed in a wider context. No scripture references are given.

The big picture that Helm presents is the story of how God keeps God’s promises to Adam and Eve (a man will crush the serpent); to Abraham (you will be a great nation); to David (from your house will come the Forever King.)  The familiar stories are here, most in skeletal form.  Moses isn’t placed in the river and there is no burning bush; David kills Goliath with no prelude as a shepherd. And a number of people are included without enough information to make them memorable to children: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zedekiah. Helm will return to these as stories about Jesus. “Painted on the pages of Israel’s hard and happy history is the big picture of God’s forever king.”

For the life of Jesus Helm uses the birth narrative from Luke and then depends exclusively on John’s gospel. Jesus’ adult ministry is based on John’s chronology beginning with John the Baptist, calling the disciples, and cleansing the Temple. Healing the man born blind and  raising Lazarus are the only two miracles included. We go immediately from the decision by the leaders to kill Jesus to his prayer in Gethsemane (unnamed).  Judas and the last supper are omitted.  The crucifixion follows John’s theme: “Jesus knew his time had come.  Soon he would be king.”

Two unusual choices for a young audience are the confrontation about destroying and rebuilding the temple (John 2:13-22) and the conversation with Nicodemus (John 3), stories beyond the developmental age of the audience.  They seem particularly unusual in the light of the many stories of Jesus which do speak to young children that are omitted.

Helm follows the resurrection with a scene where Jesus teaches his disciples how Moses, the prophets, and psalms all refer to him.  This could be based on the road to Emmaus in Luke except that Jesus is holding illustrated scrolls and speaking to a larger crowd.  The last chapter is based on Revelation.

The book is abundantly illustrated with bright, poster-like pictures where action and information exceed artistic merit.  A number of pages show God’s people turning to sin, sins which children can quickly identify.  Sticking out a tongue or shaking a fist are frequent actions.  A few pictures are anachronistic: Adam uses an iron hoe; houses destroyed by the flood could have come from a New England village.

The writing style makes an adult necessary even though a compact disc with text accompanies the book.  Questions are interspersed throughout.  For example, in the story of the march around Jericho: “Do you know what happened on the 7^th day?” and the page must be turned to see the answer.  Children would need to see the pictures as the sentences are read: “Can you see the people rebuilding the city walls and the temple? Or, “What Caesar did not know was that…”and the next page reveals Gabriel visiting Mary.  Although masculine pronouns are used for God, Helm seems to make an honest effort to use God, even when it makes for awkward construction.  Scripture quotations are from the ESV.

The question is: do three to seven year olds need a Bible survey?  While Bible study for children will lead to the one story of God’s redemptive acts, are there appropriate stories now that will contribute to that future goal?   And since Jesus is the center of the story, shouldn’t a children’s story Bible be rich in events and teachings from his life?  This should certainly not be the first or the only Bible story book that children see and if it’s used it should be accompanied by a biblically literate adult.

This review was prepard by guest blogger Virginia Thomas.

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name

Title:  The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name

Author:  Sally Lloyd-Jones

Publisher: Zondervan, 2007

Illustrator: Jago

ISBN:   9780310708254

Intended Audience Age level:4-7; Reading level: Ages 9-12; 350 pp.

This, as the title implies, is a collection of interpreted Bible stories. Interpretation will be involved in any re-telling of a Bible story or in the selections we include or omit. Lloyd-Jones is clear about her interpretive stance.  She anchors her approach in the teaching of Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:27) and unfolds the story of God’s secret rescue plan for his children from Genesis to Revelation.  It’s like a fairy tale, though a true one, or an adventure story with a young Hero from a far country, or a brave Prince, who rescues his beloved.  The result is the story of the Bible seen through a conservative, evangelical lens with a “once upon a time” quality.

After an introductory statement about what the Bible is (not rules, not heroic biography, but one big story of God’s love), she selects stories from the Old Testament to fit her purpose.  Each Old Testament story ends with anticipation.  After the tower of Babel: “People could never reach up to Heaven so Heaven would have to come down to them.  And one day it would.” Or at the conclusion of the sacrifice of Isaac: “Many years later another Son would climb another hill carrying wood on his back.”

The New Testament stories extend from the birth of Jesus through Pentecost, Paul, and Revelation with the theme of the secret rescue plan continued.  The story ends with “to be continued” and a reminder that saying “yes” to Jesus makes this story your story too. Through both testaments the phrase “Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love” is a constant refrain about God. On the whole this book breathes a warm desire to involve children in this story.

Lloyd-Jones is a gifted story teller (see The Tower of Babel, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, Naaman, the leper) but more important than words in a preschool picture book are the illustrations. Jago is a gifted artist. His simple, sprightly drawings enliven and enrich each story.  Every page is a full color spread with layout, words, and pictures making an engaging whole. One effective ploy is to turn the book horizontally and open it, thus doubling the page height. The tower of Babel stretches tall across two pages, a scheme repeated with Moses on the mountain, Goliath, Daniel in the lions’ den, the angels’ song, the storm on the Sea of Galilee, the resurrection.

To fit her interpretive purpose, the author condenses, expands, combines, omits, and adds non-biblical details.  In the story of the Garden of Eden, for example, the serpent is introduced as Satan, a fallen angel who wanted to be God; there’s another explanation of why the tree of knowledge was forbidden; the snake tempts Eve to doubt God’s love not question his command; God drives Adam and Eve from the garden for their own protection; and as Adam and Eve leave the garden God whispers a promise, “I will come to rescue you.”  There is almost more interpretation than narrative.

The Ten Commandments are condensed to a few words and called “Ten Ways to Be Perfect,” while the Lord’s Prayer is expanded to a full page. Christ’s agony in Gethsemane is eight paragraphs in contrast to the two verses in the gospels.  There’s no suggestion that the author’s imagination is involved in the extended, agonized prayer which is really a statement of substitutionary atonement.

Each story is interpreted as a type of Christ event, a foreshadowing of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.  It’s a thoroughly biblical approach, beginning with Jesus, himself, through Paul and the early church fathers, but one that should probably come later with children.   One of the first questions to ask about any scripture is, “What did the story say to the original audience?”  Typology tends to stifle the search for this answer and a collection of stories for children should be opening doors for future study.  Those who hear these stories, then in a few years read them for themselves in the Bible, may have trouble connecting the two.  The scripture references cover several chapters rather than verses and it’s difficult to compare stories with the Bible.

The age for which this book is recommended is four to seven.  Five to eight fits comprehension and attention span better.  Be aware that in selecting this book you are getting excellent art, some good story telling, and lots of interpretation.

Review prepared by guest blogger Virginia Thomas