There aren’t many collections of Bible stories for young children with such a concise text and attractive illustrations, and...
A concise introduction to most of the best-known stories from the Christian Bible, with bright, cheery illustrations and a small trim designed for younger children.
The stories are necessarily shortened and summarized, following the progression of the Old and New Testaments in standard fashion. The most familiar stories are all there, including the Creation story, Noah’s Ark, Daniel in the lions’ den, and David and Goliath, as well as others that are not as well known. The life of Jesus is told in 22 short segments, including several of the Parables. Each story is told in one page of text with an illustration on the opposite page. The volume’s cozy size, slightly padded cover and simple, uncluttered illustrations seem to indicate the audience as preschoolers, but some of the stories are more suitable for school-age children, due to difficult names or concepts. The small size of the book makes this a better choice for reading to just one or two children rather than to a larger group.
There aren’t many collections of Bible stories for young children with such a concise text and attractive illustrations, and this could be used in creative ways with a wide age-range of children. (Picture book/religion. 3-7)Pub Date: July 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7459-6264-1
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Lion/Trafalgar
Review Posted Online: May 8, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
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BOOK REVIEW
Though the rhyme tumbles and at times bumbles, enticing imagery will lure readers in.
Rhyming text and colorful multicultural illustrations reassure young readers of God’s omnipresence and still small voice.
“Where in the world is God’s voice found?” Perhaps in ocean waves, bird song, or mountain vistas, suggest the couplet rhymes. Even when readers might be faced with difficult emotions and distractions of all kinds, the text reassures them that God is still there and still speaking, if only one pauses to listen. His voice can be found in nature, in starlight, in the love of family and friends, in dreams, and “through His Word.” Admirably, the bright illustrations, reminiscent of mid-20th-century Disney artist Mary Blair’s stylings, depict children and families with a diverse array of skin tones and ages. There is also a refreshing mix of urban, suburban, and rural settings. Yet, despite the appealing illustrations, the rhymes and scansion are often forced (“your feelings, they matter, / even if they’re all mixed up like / pancake batter”), which detracts from the overall message. Contrived couplets notwithstanding, this title will likely find an audience among Christian households seeking reassuring bedtime reads.
Though the rhyme tumbles and at times bumbles, enticing imagery will lure readers in. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-525-65385-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: WaterBrook
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
This brightly illustrated collection of 10 parables from the New Testament is intended as a first introduction to the stories for children in preschool and the early-elementary years.
Each parable is introduced with one or two sentences putting Jesus in the setting and often pointing to the embedded lesson. Several of the most well-known parables, including the story of the Prodigal Son, are included, but one of the most famous, that of the Good Samaritan, is not, perhaps because of its inherent violence. The parables are briefly recounted in contemporary language with short sentences and lots of dialogue, with additional short lines of dialogue and humorous sound effects integrated within the illustrations on each page. The moral or lesson of the parables is not spelled out, only implied. Charming watercolor-and-ink illustrations are the book’s greatest strength, with a wide variety of characters and costumes adding additional interest. An author’s note would have been helpful, as some of the parables are alternatively titled in terms more accessible to young children, and there are no Biblical text references. As a starting point for understanding the stories Jesus used to teach his followers, this collection is best used with young children in conjunction with an adult’s additional interpretation of their meaning. (Picture book/religion. 3-7)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7459-6201-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Trafalgar Square
Review Posted Online: Dec. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2012
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