Growing up in a Bible-centered church, I knew all the classic stories like the back of my hand. Even at a young age, I could regurgitate the roller-coaster life of Joseph, the faith of Noah, and the excitement of David’s youth. But if you asked me how Jesus fit into everything from Genesis to Revelation, I’d be stumped. Somewhere along the line, I missed the big picture of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. As we approach Easter I’m reminded once again of how important it is to teach children the Bible as one beautiful story. But how do we help our kids connect the dots and see Easter spread throughout the whole Bible?
Start with a Foundation of Facts
You’ve heard me say it multiple times: my aim for the preschool years is for children to know the who, what, when, and how of the 100 most popular Bible stories. To assist parents and teachers, I have created age-appropriate Bible curriculum, fun activities, and interactive stories to make this happen. Specifically for Easter, the ABCJesusLovesMe website offers the Countdown to Easter Activity Workbook, Resurrection Eggs, and Easter Treasure Hunt along with multiple craft options, kid-friendly recipes, and fun books.
For more ideas for the formative years, I encourage you to explore the resources listed at the bottom of this post.
As we faithfully read and discuss these stories, highlighting God’s character in each, we’re leaving lasting impressions of Biblical knowledge on the hearts of children. However, as children transition to elementary age, it’s important to move beyond mere head knowledge to application that with the Holy Spirit’s help, transforms the heart. I believe this shift occurs when children begin to see the Bible as one cohesive expression of God’s love for people, rather than a collection of unrelated tales.
One helpful approach I’ve found is using Story Bibles that focus on the overarching narrative of the Bible. Here are two of my favorites.
The Big Picture Story Bible Review
A few years ago, I came across The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm. Initially, I approached it like any other children’s Bible, randomly selecting and reading stories. I found them to be lacking. It wasn’t until I started from the beginning and observed the beautiful unfolding of the greater story that I came to appreciate this Bible.
If you have a preschooler with a solid grasp of the main Bible stories, I highly recommend reading through The Big Picture Story Bible with them. The text is short, and the illustrations are similar to those in a children’s Bible. Additionally, a CD is included for listening during afternoon quiet times or car rides.
The Biggest Story Bible Storybook Review
For elementary-aged children, I recommend checking out the best-selling The Biggest Story Bible Storybook by Kevin DeYoung. The storybook begins, “The Bible is filled with many stories – some sad and some scary, some happy and some holy. There are lots of styles and lots of stories. But ultimately there is one story. And it’s a true story right down to the smallest details. The one story is the Biggest Story, and it’s all about Jesus.”
Written in conversational tone, resembling a father telling a story to his children, each of the 7 parts begins with an introduction, and each chapter concludes with a short prayer. The writing is informal and laced with humor. With 104 chapters, this storybook contains stories not commonly told, enriching your child’s understanding of the Bible. While it doesn’t dwell heavily on the specifics of each story, it offers significant transitions between chapters, emphasizing Christ’s role and illustrating how the Bible stories connect.
Some Cautions
Because I specifically write curriculum for preschooler-age children, I advise caution when using this book with younger children due to its use of more mature language. For example, “Cain rose up against Abel and killed him. The first murder.” While larger words like “barren” or “righteousness” are explained, this book demands a broader vocabulary for comprehension. I appreciate how the author delves deeper into the stories, such as in the Tower of Babel narrative, where he states, “God doesn’t have a problem with big buildings. But he does have a problem with people who think they are bigger than him.” And when discussing Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt, he remarks, “If that sounds mean, it’s probably because we don’t know how good God’s goodness is and how bad our badness can be.”
Opinions on the illustrations of this storybook vary widely; some love them while others dislike them. Although I’m not particularly fond of them, I’ve found that they hold considerable depth if you take the time to explore the abstract, intricate art. However, I did find a few illustrations disturbing. For example, alongside the story of John the Baptist, there’s an image of a person holding John’s head by the hair. Although not graphic, the text states, “He killed John the Baptist, cut off his head, and brought it back to the dancing girl, who gave it to her mean old mom.” Therefore, I don’t find this book suitable for younger children.
To be nitpicky, I’m not keen on labeling people as “bad.” For instance, Hosea’s wife is referred to as a “bad” wife, and there’s mention of a “bad man named Lamech.” While our sins are indeed bad, I believe that people are created in the image of God. Additionally, I found it noteworthy that Jesus’ baptism is omitted from the stories. If I overlooked this, please inform me!
God’s Continuous Love Story to Us
I love these two quotes from The Biggest Story Bible Storybook.
Don’t ever forget that the [Bible] is about a big God who wants everyone everywhere to know him, no matter how big or small.
When we turn our attention to the Bible, we turn our eyes to Christ.
Isn’t that exactly what we desire for our children? We want them to know God and turn their eyes to Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
So, whether you’re “impressing” upon your preschooler the names of Bible characters and story facts or helping your older child grasp the overarching theme of God’s redemptive love for His people, I encourage you to utilize the resources shared “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:7).
I’d love to hear: What is your favorite Story Bible?
Discover More Bible Ideas:
- Cultivating a Lifelong Love for the Bible
- Teaching Children How to Apply the Bible
- Find the Best Children’s Bible for Your Child
- How to Teach Children the Bible Free Videos
Thank you to Crossway for allowing me to provide an honest review of The Biggest Story Bible Storybook.
