January 12, 2011

Children's Bible: Jesus storybook bible by Lloyd-Jones

Today I'm adding the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones to the Master Reading List under the category of Children's Bible (Available from Amazon).

There are many children's Bibles on the market and I've read quite a few of them to our son.  But there is nothing quite like the Jesus Storybook Bible. 

Generally a children's Bible relates the major stories of the Old and New Testament with pretty illustrations.  This is all well and good, nothing like being familiar with major Biblical events from a young age.  However if you had that feeling when you read your Bible that things were missing (whatever did happen to Paul after Acts 28...), then when you read a children's Bible you will really notice that feeling, but ten times worse.  Someone shows up, does something, then disappears.  Then someone else totally disconnected from the last person shows up; does something; then disappears.  The result is that children's Bibles can encourage kids to view the Bible as a random assortment of exciting adventures.

Enter the Jesus Storybook Bible.  In this Bible an attempt is made by the author to connect all the Old Testament and New Testament events.  And the connecting factor is Jesus.

From Genesis on, anticipation of the saviour begins to gradually build until finally Jesus arrives.  Not out of the blue.  But as the promised Messiah to whom everything has been pointing.  The book even finishes not with a 'The End', but with an invitation to the reader to join in the story and connect to Jesus.

If you want to teach children that the Bible is all about Jesus, reading the Jesus Storybook Bible to them is a great start.  The subtitle of the book sums it up: 'Every story whispers his name.'

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