Bible picture books and story books for children (article) by Joan K. Snipes on AuthorsDen

Great books for gifts - an annotated list Those of you who teach Sunday School know that it isn't really possible to thoroughly cover all the stories in the Bible with just an hour a week in class. Parents and grandparents need to help children learn the stories at home. One way to do this is to have some nice picture books containing Bible stories. Although you can find these types of books at the library, many also like to buy them for gifts. Below is an annotated list of Bible picture books and story books that I recommend for families. The list is simply a sampling of many that are available, either in new or used bookstores. Perhaps you know of additional high quality children�s picture books that tell Bible stories. If so, I hope you'll contact me with your favorite titles and authors. Armstrong, Carole. Women of the Bible: With Paintings From the Great Art Museums of the World. New York: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1998. Armstrong�s book includes paintings of about twenty different women of the Bible by eighteen different artists. This interesting and appealing book is appropriate for older children. The paintings require much explanation. Asimov, Isaac. Animals of the Bible. Illustrated by Howard Berelson. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1978. This is a reference book appropriate for children of any age. Great text, wonderful illustrations, and helpful reminders about where in the Bible these animals are mentioned. I found this book at our local library. Auld, Mary. Jacob and Esau, Danbury, CT: Franklin Watt, 2003. Written for children aged 4-8 years, the story of Jacob and Esau is told in a straight-forward and appealing manner in about 25 pages. This story from Genesis is important and foundational for an understanding of the Bible. The author balances telling details of the various episodes in these twin brothers' lives and giving a succinct overview of their stories. The color illustrations by Diana Mayo are very good and somewhat formal (not cartoon-like.) Although this is one of eight titles of Bible picture books by Auld, it is the only one in the series I recommend. Out of print. Buck, Nola and Felicia Bond. Christmas in the Manger. HarperFestival, 1998. This is an excellent choice for a simple picture book for very young children. This board book has nice illustrations and easy to understand text. It begins: "I am the star that shines in the east, I light the stable for man and beast." Subsequent pages introduce the donkey, the ram, the ox, the shepherds, the wise men, Mary, and baby Jesus. I recommend this book for children two and under. It makes a great first Christmas present. Buck, Pearl S. The Story Bible. Bartholomew House, Ltd., 1971. Stories from both the Old and New Testament are retold in a straightforward and engaging style. No illustrations. This book has been reissued several times since its original publication. An example is a 1997 edition published by Random House Value. Out of print, but available used. Egermeier, Elsie E. Bible Picture ABC Book. Anderson, Indiana: Warner Press, 1947. Nice rhymes and full color plate lithographs. Out of print but available online from used bookstores. I found a copy at the library. Egermeier, Elsie. Egermeier�s Bible Story Book, Anderson, Indiana: The Warner Press, 1969. This book has been reprinted numerous times from 1922 to the present. The stories (over 300 of them) are well told, and the book includes illustrations. For sample stories, see www.BibleWise.com which regularly features excerpts in their Kids Korner. It�s fun to compare this book to similar ones by Hurlbut and Buck. Egermeier is popular because her text is simplified but not �dumbed down.� Some editions include questions. In print. French, Fiona. Easter: With Words from the King James Bible. HarperCollinsPublishers, 2002. The stained-glass like illustrations and the King James text make this picture book appropriately sacred. Although the story is told briefly, many key details are nonetheless included. For example, the text mentions the last supper, doubting Thomas, and several of Christ Jesus' appearances after the resurrection, including the morning meal at the sea of Tiberias. This book is an excellent choice for parents and grandparents who want to be sure their children are biblically literate. Goldthwaite, Howard. The Little Lost Lamb: A Bible Board Book. Illustrated by Lane Yerkes. Ottenheimer Publishers, 1994. This is a very short book written in charming rhymes, for ages 2 to 8 years. It begins: �The people listened as Jesus told Of a shepherd who had a 100-sheep fold. When he counted them all, he saw one lamb was lost. I'll just have to find it, no matter the cost.� Halperin, Wendy Anderson. Love Is... Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, 2001. An adaptation of I Corinthians 13 by the apostle Paul. Contains very detailed illustrations. Hastings, Selina. The Children's Illustrated Bible. Illustrated by Eric Thomas and Amy Burch. London: Dorling Kindersley, 1994. Beautifully designed with wonderful photographs. This book is appealing and the stories are generally well told. Most stories are presented in a two-page spread. Occasionally the illustrations are too graphic, as with the one of Daniel in the lions' den. Nonetheless, I recommend reading this book aloud to children from ages 5 to 10 years. Hurlbut, Jesse Lyman. Hurlbut's Story of the Bible for Young and Old: A Continuous Narrative of the Scriptures Told in One hundred sixty-eight Stories. Illustrated by Steele Savage. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1968. This is not a picture book, but it is an excellent classic. The text in this particular edition, which I borrowed from our local library, is over 700 pages. Rev. Hurlbut's lifework was telling and then writing Bible stories in a compelling, accurate way. The fact that his work has sold over four million copies and endured decade after decade is a testimony to the timelessness of his retelling. The earliest edition is 1904! Hurlbut's books may be purchased new or used. Pronunciation marks, a very helpful feature, are used throughout. See glowing reviews for various editions (with varying titles) on amazon.com. I highly recommend this book for parents who want to better learn the stories themselves. To read sample stories from this book online, go to BibleWise.com. Hurlbut, Jesse Lyman. Complete Book of Bible Stories. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002. A great choice. This hardback edition of the book described above is 464 pages long. Hutton, Warwick. Moses in the Bulrushes. New York: Atheneum, 1986. Out of print. This is a truly wonderful book. It is worth tracking down in a used bookstore. Splendid illustrations and text. Appropriate for both young and older children. Lindbergh, Reeve. On Morning Wings. Illustrated by Holly Meade. Candlewick Press, 2002. An adaptation of Psalm 139 for ages 4 to 8. The author is the youngest daughter of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. Ludwig, Warren. Old Noah's Elephants: An Israeli folktale. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1991. Although this folktale is not from the Bible, it is a lighthearted look at life inside the ark. Appealing illustrations. Miner, Julia. The Shepherd's Song: the Twenty-Third Psalm. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1993. This book received excellent reviews when first published. From Horn Book: "The King James Version of the favorite psalm is paired with illustrations of a sheepherding family hard at work in a modern-day Greek setting. The action portrayed in the pastel artwork will help make the words meaningful to young readers, and a note by the illustrator comments on shepherds and provides information on David, the psalmist." Petersham, Maud and Miska. The Christ Child: A reverent picture book of the greatest and best-loved story in the world. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co., 1931. A lovely, classic book with topflight reviews. Uses only the King James Version text. Ray, Jane. The Story of the Creation. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1992. This unusual book pairs verses from the first chapter of Genesis (King James Version) with folk-art style illustrations. Spier, Peter. Book of Jonah. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1985. This book is very well done. I highly recommend it. Very detailed drawings. Stories From the Bible. Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. A Michael Neugebauer Book, New York: North-South Books, 2000. This is a beautifully designed, elegant art book with unusual, thoughtful illustrations. It is a wonderful collection of King James Bible passages for parents to read aloud to their children. I love the publisher's expectation that children CAN understand and enjoy the King James language. The excerpts are mainly from Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the four Gospels, Acts and Revelation. It makes a terrific addition to a child's collection of top-notch Bible books. Stories From the Old Testament: With Masterwork Paintings Inspired by the Stories. New York: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1996. The paintings in this book are by Raphael, Tintoretto, Cranach, Bruegel, Poussin, Tiepolo, Giorgione, Mantegna, Rosselli, Rubens and other artists. It's an interesting book, but not an outstanding one. The paintings are sometimes graphic (David carrying the severed head of Goliath) and often require much explanation (Isaac looks more like a modern day girl with his long hair and dress-like robe.) My favorite painting in the book is Belshazzar's Feast by Rembrandt. The text is from the King James Version of the Bible. Not appropriate for very young children. Tudor, Tasha. The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Twenty-third Psalm. New York: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 1980. This is a lovely, traditional paperback that I highly recommend. The words are from the King James Version of the Bible. The illustrations are sweet and include children, animals, pastoral scenes, churches, and villages. Wildsmith, Brian. Exodus. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 1999. Fabulous illustrations. Pages are bordered in gold. Superior Horn Book review. For ages 4-8. Wildsmith, Brian. Joseph. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 1997. This is a gorgeous book. The artwork is magnificent. For ages 4-8. Wilner, Isabel. B is for Bethlehem: A Christmas Alphabet. Illustrated by Elisa Kleven. Puffin Books, 1995. Rhyming couplets and brightly colored folk-art illustrations. A fun addition to a family's collection of Christmas books. Especially good for ages 4 to 8, but all ages will enjoy. Yates, Elizabeth. Children of the Bible. Illustrated by Nora S. Unwin. New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1958. This is a classic story book that works with children who are good listeners. Each chapter stands alone. The Bible quotes are all from the King James Version. The stories include those about David, Samuel, Ishmael, Isaac, baby Moses, the son of the Shunammite, the lad with the loaves and fishes, and Jairus's daughter.

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