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.

Angels Among Us

Name of Book:  Angels Among Us

Author:  Leena Lane

Illustrator:  Elena Baboni

Publisher:  Eerdmans Books for Young Readers an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

ISBN: 978-0-8028-5321-9

Audience:  Ages 6 and up

Summary:  Angels act as God’s messengers and helpers throughout Hebrew Scripture and the New Testament. In this picture book, the stories of angels interacting with people are told simply and true to the biblical text. Each verse is noted in the twelve stories compiled from Genesis to Acts.

Literary elements at work in the story: The bible story is translated to the level of a first or second grade reader and follows scriptural elements. The illustrations are double page and colorful with the angels’ resplendence not “cutestied up”. Interestingly, when I showed the book separately to several kindergarteners they repeatedly reached out to touch and trace the outline of the angels. One child noted, “The people don’t look happy to see the angels.” A discussion about how often angels said “Do not be afraid” followed. I would consider this a good addition to a family or church’s collection of bible story books.

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? The faces of angels and people are depicted in a variety of hues.

Theological conversation partners:  The verbs in each story’s title describe the action of the angels in their encounter with people, such as, Delivering a Promise, Providing Food and Water and Filling the Sky with Praise. As agents of God, angels give insight into God’s acting in the world and our response.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Which story did you like the most? Why?
2. Did any story puzzle you? How?
3. Why do you think angels appear so often in Hebrew Scripture and the New Testament?
4. What do angels tell us about God?
5. When angels appear, people are usually astonished and afraid. Why do you think we try to make angels look cute? (Show some pictures of Hallmark and Precious Moment angels)
6. Has there ever been a time when you would have liked to have God send a message to you?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Robin Crawford.

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

Pilgrim Book of Bible Stories

The next few posts on our blog will focus on Bibles or Bible storybooks for children.

The Pilgrim Book of Bible Stories (Based on New Revised Standard Version of the Bible)

Author: Mark Water

Illustrator: Diana Shimon

Publisher: The Pilgrim Press, Cleveland

ISBN:  0-8298-1487-6

Audience: 3rd to 6th grade.

When children are ready to experience The Bible as the foundation of our Christian tradition, The Pilgrim Book of Bible Stories is superbly designed as a child’s first study bible.  Over 250 stories are arranged in biblical sequence, divided into chapters that accurately represent the overall structure of biblical content: creation, Abraham’s call, Egyptian exile and deliverance to the promised land, Judges and Kings, wisdom and prophetic literature, and the New Testament gospels and letters.  The text is accurately and clearly paraphrased with annotations explaining history, customs, word meanings, and relationships between story elements.

The book is a masterpiece of graphic design. Each page is laid out in an attractive balance of text and illustration, with annotations in contrasting sidebars that invite the reader to further explore the story’s source traditions and appreciate it’s literary devices. For example, a sidebar for the 23rd Psalm highlights the poetic meaning of phrases:

“Green pastures” – everything that makes you strong and healthy; “God leads me” – Even today in the Middle East the shepherd does not drive the sheep from behind, but leads them from the front, and they follow; “Your rod and your staff comfort me” – Sheep were often in danger of being attacked by bears and lions,  A shepherd’s rod, like a four-foot-long cub, protected the sheep.  The six-foot -long staff guided the sheep and kept them from straying into danger.

The annotations explain but do not moralize.  Especially illuminating is their use in Paul’s letters, where they organize for the reader other related passages, as in the following example from the letter to the Galatians:

Lists about how to live:
Paul gave three other lists in his letters about how Jesus’ followers were meant to live:
2 Corinthians “We show we are servants of God by living a pure life”; Ephesians “Always be humble and gentle”; Colossians “Do not be angry with each other but forgive each other.”

The color illustrations are exquisite and varied.  Some are full-page depictions of scenes from the narratives, others, such as the chapter on the tent of meeting (Exodus 26 and 27) present renderings of the ark, table, lampstands, priestly garments and tent construction exactly as described in the scriptures.  A useful  book “navigation aid” is a thumbnail portion of one of the illustrations on the outside corner of each page that identifies the story, allowing stories to be easily found by flipping through the pages. Printed on sturdy, low-glare stock with high-quality binding, it is a book that will last and provide hours of learning and exploration into our scriptural heritage.

Review prepared by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Susan Wills

Evaluating Bible Storybooks

Yesterday, guest blogger Virginia Thomas suggested ways to think about choosing and using Bible storybooks with children.  The students in the Using Children’s and Adolescent Literature in the Church class also reflected on this task.  We share with you today an evaluation ‘form’ that you can use as you look at Bible storybooks that is different than the usual faith review format that we use on this site.  In addition, we are providing a document that includes very brief reviews of ten different Bible storybooks that were compiled after a class session on this topic.

The evaluation form – which we hope you’ll download and use in your own evaluations – can be found here.  The document containing the brief class evaluations of various Bible storybooks can be found here.