The Jesus Storybook Bible (Sally Lloyd-Jones & Jago)

The Bible is most decidedly not safe.  It's transformed the lives of millions- maybe billions- over the past 2000 years, and will continue to do so.  For those who understand it correctly, it is the words of life.  Others twist it to their own purposes, with horrible consequence.  We have to be very careful when approaching the Bible . . . because reading it incorrectly is disastrous.

Children need to know the Bible, too.  The immaturity of the young, though, can make it hard for them to understand the meaty parts.  For that reason, children's bibles have been developed over the years.  These are bibles that present selected portions of the Bible [note the capital B to denote the real thing] in ways kids can understand.  Here, too, is the power to transform (if done well) or the power to destroy (if done poorly).  Since children's bibles are interpretations made by man, we have to be especially careful.  We must choose wisely.

So what is the real Bible?  To paraphrase myself from this post, the Bible is all about Christ.  He shines forth in both Old and New Testaments. It's not, as some Churchgoers say, "an instruction manual," or "guide to life," or history book, or science book. Yes, there are instructions, and there is history- but the Bible is about Christ.

We need a children's bible to align with the Bible's main point: Jesus.  We don't need moralistic bibles: ones that tell us to do good 'or else;'  That puts the focus on man.  We need children's bibles that point to Jesus, all the time.  This is a long-winded way of introducing today's review, The Jesus Storybook Bible.

Right on the cover, you get the impression that The Jesus Storybook Bible is going to get it right.  The subtitle is "every story whispers his name."  Amen.  The stories presented in the book are done well- all pointing to Jesus.  I must admit, even I (who's read the Bible many times) learned a few things reading this.  The art is amazing, too; it's done simply and well.  A sample page follows.

No children's bible is perfect- it is an interpretation of the Bible and cannot replace the real thing.  But The Jesus Storybook Bible is a valuable tool for the young, and I recommend it heartily.

Rating: A