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.

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

SPARK Story Bible

The SPARK Story Bible (2009) was developed as part of the family of resources related to the SPARK faith formation curriculum published under the Activate Faith imprint from Augsburg Fortress.  It is a collection of 150 stories from both the Old and New Testament, beginning with creation and ending with the letters of Paul. The book is planned to stimulate imagination, wonder, amazement and exploration. To this end, three devices are used in each story: a question or activity, pictures that fill the pages, and Squiggles, billed as an expressive caterpillar.

First, the stories.  These are told briefly and simply, about three or four pages shared with pictures, and they are good oral reading.  The facts are generally accurate without too much sanctified imagination but this is in no sense a translation.  Joshua concludes his instructions at Jericho with,  “Any questions? Okay, let’s go.”  John the Baptist yells, “Hey! All of you!  Tell God you’re sorry for your sins.”  God says to Moses, “Listen up! I have important rules for you and the people to live by.” The ten plagues are recounted in an engaging, free poetic style

Selection and condensation are required in Bible story books for preschool and elementary children, the target age of the SPARK Story Bible, since many Bible stories are lengthy and complicated, not to mention, X-rated.  The rule is that even when skipping parts of the story, we don’t distort or interpret so that children must unlearn facts in the future.

The Ten Commandments in this collection can serve as an example.  Rule Six is “Don’t hurt others by your words and actions.”  Not quite accurate but easy to modify.  The giving of the law concludes with “and they did their best to follow them (the rules).”  Patently false. The story of the Pentateuch is of a rebellious and stiff-necked people.  On the whole, however, there is not too much to unlearn here.  Each story has its scripture source in the table of contents and the adult, for this is an adult-child book, can check the source for him/herself.

The selection of the stories is good, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, Psalms, and the letters of Paul, although the three prophetic sections deal primarily with the hope of the messiah, with  justice a minor theme. The stories of Jesus include the Sermon on the Mount and a number of parables.  As children begin to acquire a sense of community and family history, this basic story Bible is a step into the one story of God’s mighty acts.

Now, in reverse order: Squiggles, the expressive caterpillar.  Children will have fun locating this little green worm on the pages but he (she?) is too small to offer much help in grasping the feelings of the story and Squiggles looks more like a worm than a caterpillar.

The questions and activities vary in effectiveness.  At their best they stimulate discussion and help readers get inside the story.  For example, readers count the night time stars to number Abraham’s descendents and  play follow the leader after Jesus calls his disciples..

The pictures are the problematic element in the book.  The stocky, cartoon style figures are in loud, almost garish colors.  Facial expressions furnish clues to the feelings of the characters but they are so exaggerated that they almost overpower the story.  The picture of John the Baptist eating a locust wlll distract from anything he has to say, indeed, may even frighten the youngest child. Some pages, such as the creation, the 23^rd Psalm, and the prodigal son are assets but this is infrequent.

It’s not hard to see a parent, unsure of which Bible stories to choose, finding the SPARK Story Bible a helpful resource to share with a five year old child.  Or a family with several children from preschool to elementary grades keeping this book by the table for family devotions. Or a church weekday  preschool using it for Bible Story Time. There are many pluses here; the adult and, perhaps, the child must decide if they outweigh the illlustrations.

Review prepared by guest blogger Virginia Thomas.

Kids’ Quest Study Bible

This is the second in a series of reviews of Bibles/Bible storybooks for children.

Name of Book: Kids’ Quest Study Bible

Translation: New International Readers Version

Illustrator: Lightwave Publishing, Inc.

Publisher: Zondervan Publishing House

ISBN: 3109255592

Audience: Ages: 7 – 14

Review: The Kids’ Quest Study Bible is very readable and the translation is quite similar to the New International Version which many congregations use today.  This study bible would be appropriate for both boys and girls.  It is a real study bible, not an abridged story bible, and comes with both a dictionary and subject guide to assist the reader in locating specific areas of interest.  Each book has an introduction that includes: who wrote the book, why was it written and what happens.  The text is two toned and easy to read.  An interesting feature of this study bible is that it includes questions for reflection and thoughtful discussion however, each question has an answer provided which often comes across as being a “little preachy” and does not allow the reader to formulate their own response based upon their interpretation of the text. Also, the cover with its game-board appearance and the inside artwork of Jason and his friend the hedgehog are attempts to make the Bible look more cartoonish and therefore more appealing to kids, but it also seems to take away a little of the reverence that should be appropriated to the Holy Bible.  Anyhow, this little problem could be easily overcome by purchasing or making a personalized cover for the bible.

Review prepared by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Donna Fair

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