- A Family Bible Story Book

by Starr Meade

This is a wonderful children's bible, the midpoint between being a children's storytime bible and about as near to a kids study and devotional bible as you can get and wrap it up in a great reading experience. It reads as if it is being spoken, as if being told to you by a really talented children's church leader. Each story is told in a fresh insightful way that both tells the story and yet also intersperses the stories with the really important theological questions and ideas that each story presents! Yes really, theological insights aimed at kids but not dumbed down, just put over in a clever, easy and intelligent way. Of course it helps that these ideas are highlighted by being in a different colour text, thus highlighting the difference between the story and the study aspect, but they segue well and seamlessly. Fantastic bridging bible for the 7+ brigade, and even better yet a fantastic study bible for those with learning difficulties that don’t want to be treated as a child and made to feel less for needing a little more help.

Review by Melanie Carroll (30/04/12)

Hardback
Price: £15.99
Publisher: Crossway Books from IVP
Published: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-433-50604-8

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My Pop-Up Bible Stories

Paper engineer Linda Birkinshaw, text by Juliet David and illustrations by Daniel Haworth

I exclaimed with delight when I first saw this book. I have always thought of pop-up books as something special.
Only five stories but enough interest to hold a little one enthralled. In the first portrayal Moses floats gently on the water, then Daniel seems to stroke the lion in the den, Jairus’ daughter sits up, the lost lamb struggles in the thorn bush and the waves subside when Jesus stills the storm. Of course you have to use your imagination but you could spin each story out by talking about the illustrations and encouraging the little one to spot things.
No offence intended to the author of the text or the illustrator, but I put the paper engineer first as without her, the book would be quite different.

Review by Mary Bartholomew (14/03/12)

Hardback
Publisher: Candle Books imprint of Lion Hudson
Published: 23 March 2012
ISBN: 978-1-859-85237-8

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A Child’s Bible

by Sally Ann Wright illustrated by Honor Ayres

Originally published as the Hodder Children’s Bible in 2005.
Illustrations and the choice of font can make or break the appeal of a book for me. In this case both are first class.
Sally Ann Wright’s re-telling of the Bible stories I knew I would enjoy – I have met her work before and appreciated the opportunity to read A Child’s Bible as I did not review its previous incarnation.
The words just ask to be read aloud, the short phrases and sentences tell the stories faithfully according to the Bible but in ways young children will enjoy and remember. The special treat is that the stories don’t stop with the resurrection, they continue with stories from Acts. I read them all with delight.

Review by Mary Bartholomew (01/03/12)

Hardback
Price: £7.99
Publisher: Authentic Media
Published: November 2011
ISBN: 978-1-860-24855-9

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Snap Shots Bible Through the Year

- Getting to Know God Better - Bible Reading for 8 to 11-year-

Editorial team Karen Evans and Helen Jones

This is a well produced, visually interesting set of daily Bible readings for a year, aimed at 8-11s. For each day there is a question to think about such as ‘How could an enemy become a friend again?’ There is then a Bible reading and some more questions to think about on the subject of the reading. Some of the days include a short activity such as a code to crack, something to draw or a tiny wordsearch. Most days have a short prayer to end with. It would probably take five to ten minutes a day. Less able children could work through it with a parent.
The book is not dated, so although it runs from January 1st to December 31st it could be for any year. There is a good mix of Old Testament and New Testament readings with up to two weeks spent on any book. Having looked previously for similar material for this age group and been uninspired I am excited to have found this book. It is very accessible and inviting!

Review by Kathy Bland (06/02/12)

Paperback
Price: £8.99
Publisher: Scripture Union (SU)
Published: November 2011
ISBN: 978-1-844-27573-1

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Bible Heroes

- My Book About Being a Hero for God

by Nick Harding

This is a book for boys. It contains no female Bible heroes (perhaps there is another book with heroines but it’s good to be aware that this one is aimed at boys)! This would be a great book to use either as a daily Bible study or as a workbook for youth groups to use together (each child would need their own book). The target age group is 8-11
There are 25 heroes included from both the Old Testament and New Testament. Some are given a few pages whilst others are ‘a quick look’. Either way, there is some information given about the hero, a key Bible verse and some kind of activity or quiz. There are also application questions to help the child think through how they can be a hero for God.
Mixed in through the book are some prayer pages with topics such as ‘saying sorry’ and ‘listening to God’.
I think many children would find this a tricky book to tackle on their own but it would be an ideal book for working through with a parent or in a group with adult help. Nicely presented.

Review by Kathy Bland (06/02/12)

Spiral Bound Paperback
Price: £4.99
Publisher: Scripture Union (SU)
Published: November 2011
ISBN: 978-1-844-27579-3

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The Big Picture Story Bible with CDs

by David Helm with illustrations by Gail Schoonmaker

The Bible is a lot of things. It is a library, a collection of 66 books, penned by 40 or so authors, written over nearly 800 years. To many, it is a collection of interesting morality tales. Stories and fables, myth’s and legends, mostly unrelated, and irrelevant to the modern day.
To a Christian, however, the Bible is so much more. It is a vibrant, and immensely relevant story of God’s consistent and continuing interaction with humanity. It is our guide book, our source of understanding, the very words of God himself. Yes, it is a library of different books, and stories, penned by different men, in their own unique styles, but it is also a single, all encompassing narrative. A love story from God to Man, inspired by his spirit.
As Christians we know this. Yet altogether too often, we forget to teach this to our children. We teach Bible stories, as if they stand alone. Our children’s Bibles include the stories of Creation, the fall, Noah, Jonah, Moses, the first Christmas, the miracles, parables and Easter, and there most stop. They include no context, no indication that these stories are part of one big story. We forget to tell ‘the big picture’.
Enter The Big Picture Story Bible. For the first time in a very long time, the Bible is presented for children as one continuous narrative. Beginning in Genesis, and including almost every major story through to the end of Revelation, The Big Picture Story Bible reminds us that these stories, though fantastic on their own, are not unconnected, individual stories, but part of one big story, the biggest, and best story ever told.
Ideal for parents to read to the very young, and for older children to read aloud, it is also perfect for adults who sometimes struggle to understand how the stories they know so well fit into God’s plans for the redemption and salvation of all people.
This beautifully illustrated hardback edition also includes an audio CD, containing the complete, unabridged text of the book, so whole families can follow along together, as they listen to the story read to them.
A must read book for people of all ages, this is the ideal way to introduce children to the Bible, and help them understand that the individual stories which they will learn, do fit together perfectly, like a jigsaw, and make best sense when understood and admired as one big picture.

Review by Luke Hughes-Bunger (26/01/12)

Hardback
Price: £14.99
Publisher: Crossway Books from IVP
Published: 19 November 2010
ISBN: 978-1-433-52391-5

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ISBN: 978-0-745-96207-8 Price: £8.99	Published: August 2011
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ISBN: 978-0-745-96206-1 Price: £9.99	Published: September 2011
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