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Toddler Bibles Reviewed, Part II

December 19, 2008
By CBMW
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Editor's Note: Rev. John Beeson is the Assistant Pastor for Leadership Development at Westerly Road Church in Princeton, New Jersey. We post this helpful review with our thanks to him.

Well, you've waded through the bottom half of the selections, welcome to the crème de la crème.  Let me remind you of the four criteria I judged the Bibles on: 1) faithfulness to the biblical text; 2) applicability to toddlers; 3) illustrations; 4) ability to convey redemptive history.  I would recommend all of the Bibles below as each stands as a successful attempt in its own way.

The Preschoolers Bible

The Good:

V. Gilbert Beers' retelling of the story of Christ's death and resurrection is exemplary, explaining exactly what happened and the theological significance of the event.  He also does an excellent job of making the stories connect to the larger redemptive story.

The Bad:

All authors have rhythms, and Beers' rhythm of retelling stories involves asking some simple questions usually at the beginning or end of each story.  Sometimes this distracts from the story itself, and many times it obfuscates the point of the story.  Beers writing style is also a bit halting for my taste.

The Grade:

B+: I really recommend this Bible.  Like The Beginners Bible it does a good job of telling a good sampling of Bible stories including such rarely told stories as: God giving the Israelites meat to eat, David and Mephibosheth (!), King Joash, Dorcas, Agrippa and Paul, and Philip and the Ethiopian.  The book is aimed at ages 3-5, but I think you'll find it is really better suited for ages a bit younger (2-4).  The illustrations are fairly well done (despite the poor illustration chosen for the cover).  Teresa Walsh has a nice touch and manages to actually make most of the characters look like they come from their proper country of origin (what a concept!). 

The Eager Reader Bible

The Good:

Daryl Lucas gets it.  He just knows how to write for his audience.  He has a smooth style, an ability to separate what is necessary to the story and ancillary, and a good grasp of the whole story that overarches all of the particular stories.  The selection of stories is as good as either The Preschoolers Bible or the Beginners Bible.  His telling of the crucifixion is four pages long (most other Bibles are two), and he tells the story poignantly.  Lucas uses dialogue well and it keeps his narration moving forward.  He also includes questions that actually will make your toddler think and retell you the story.  The Bible also has a very helpful topical index at the back.

The Bad:

Not much.  There are times where I wish Lucas would allow his theology to come out a bit more, but he wants the story to do the talking and I appreciate that.

The Grade:

A-: An outstanding Bible that should be on the bookshelves of parents everywhere.  It's only weakness are its illustrations which are an uneven match to the brilliant narrative.  The apparently hastily sketched cartoon illustrations, in contrast, are very pedestrian, and at times even distracting.

The Jesus Storybook Bible

The Good:

Sally Lloyd-Jones pulls no punches.  She sees the Bible through a strong redemptive-historical context and she proclaims it through every story.  She is a good story teller and has a nice way of bringing the drama out of each story.  She also makes her characters come to life, frequently moving beyond the bounds of what scripture tells us as she re-imagines the characters.

The Bad:

The pattern that is used in the telling of the Old Testament stories can become a bit tiresome as Jesus inevitably becomes woven into every story at the end.  Who is the true hero who will come?  Jesus.  Who would be the Prince who would one day come from God?  Jesus.  No doubt the truth conveyed is dead on, but at times this style wears a little thin.

The Grade:

A: This is a wonderful Bible.  I would love to see more parents getting their hands on this gem.  The sermonic style employed shouldn't be the only way children hear the stories, but used in tandem with a more straightforward Bible, it is an invaluable helpmate.  It is important for children to engage the Old Testament through New Testament eyes and to see Christ as the center and end of history.  But what separates this Bible from the pack are its breathtaking illustrations.  Jago's whimsical and vibrant illustrations actually surpass the fine writing of Lloyd-Jones, often providing unique interpretations through the drawings themselves.  Jago seems to turn every story sideways illustrating truth powerfully through his renderings.

The Good:

This Bible claims to be for ages 3 and up, but skews a bit older than that in reality.  It is, by far, the most complete of the Bibles reviewed, both in the telling of the stories and the number of stories included.  Anne de Graaf does a fine job at providing a readable, full paraphrase that doesn't cut much out.

The Bad:

The length of the stories will be too much for younger kids.  Sometimes three or four stories will be placed around one large picture which means that only one of the stories has a picture that accompanies it.

The Grade:

A: This is a great transition Bible for older toddlers.  The stories are fuller than in any of the other Bibles on this list.  Younger kids may have some trouble with the length of the stories, but it's a great bridge to getting your kids into a "real" Bible.  The illustrations are top notch and the large size of the pages enables the artist freedom to do some creative things with the illustrations.

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