The Lion Illustrated Bible for Children

From SPARK

One-sentence summary

Bible stories from Genesis to the Day of Pentecost retold for children.

Description

One hundred stories from the Bible are retold in one or two pages each. Colorful illustrations are included. Children learn how, from the beginning, people wanted to do things their own way instead of God's way. It tells about the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. The stories continue telling about problems of the nation during the time of Joshua, Samson, and Gideon. Children learn about more peaceful times led by the kings: Saul, David, and Solomon. Next are the stories of the prophets and the return to Israel after exile in Babylon. Finally, children learn the stories of Jesus. These show God's plan of love, peace, justice, and eternal life.

The book includes the following sections:

• Introduction
• The Old Testament
  • The Making of the World
  • The Story of the Garden of Eden
  • The Story of the Flood
  • Abraham and the Covenant
  • The Story of Joseph
  • The Great Exodus
  • Wanderings in the Wilderness
  • The Story of Joshua
  • The Stories of the Heroes
  • The Story of Ruth
  • The Story of Samuel
  • The Story of the Great Kings
  • The Story of the Northern Kingdom
  • The Story of Jonah
  • The Story of the Southern Kingdom
  • The Story of the Jews in Exile
  • The Story of the Returning Exiles
  • The Story of Esther
• The New Testament
  • The Story of the Birth of Jesus
  • The Story of the Boy Jesus
  • The Story of John
  • The Story of Jesus the Teacher
  • The Story of Jesus in Jerusalem
  • The Story of the Crucifixion
  • The Story of the Resurrection
• Index of Bible References
• Index of People from the Bible

The book does not include the stories of the new church from the New Testament.

Considerations

• The book has a hard binding.
• It has 220 pages with 18 Old Testament topics and 7 New Testament topics.
• Each topic has stories related to it.
• This book has sold at least four million copies worldwide.

Limitations

• The illustrations show rather unusual pictures of people and animals. This may confuse children who are not picture literate.
• Some of the people look mean.
• Some illustrations of Adam and Eve are sexually implicit and not acceptable in many cultures. The illustration showing them with fig leaf coverings will not be acceptable in many cultures.
• Many of the drawings show parts of people and scenes. These will confuse children who are not picture literate.
• The bright colors used in the illustrations may have significantly different meanings in other cultures. If so, they will need to be explained.
• The absence of stories about the growth of the church results in incompletely telling the whole Bible story. The letters are an important part in understanding the need to tell the good news of Jesus to people all over the world.

Guidelines for Use

• As an audio book or CD with illustration on flipcharts.
• As Christian radio programs.
• In schools and Sunday schools.

Where to Obtain

Link to Producer or Source Organization

Lion Hudson plc

Cost

9.99 pounds (GBP) as of August 2008

Producer/Owners

Author/Artist/Producer

• Stories retold by Lois Rock
• Illustrated by Christina Balit

Current copyright owner

• This edition, Lion Hudson plc, 2005
• Illustrations copyright Christina Balit, 2001

Other Information

If you are interested in translating this illustrated Bible into a minority language, you will need to contact Lion Hudson plc. If you wish to use the illustrations you will need to contact the illustrator who holds the copyright. Together with them you will need to work out a Creative Commons License agreement.

Reviewed by

Vida, VMS

Date

August 11, 2008