Bible Stories: Over 200 Beautifully Illustrated Stories From the Old and New Testaments Hardcover –
Product Code: czvKduE
200.0 GH₵ inc. tax
Bible Stories is a sort of Bible Handbook for kids. These one- or two-page stories target children 9 or 10 and up. Sidebars of fascinating cultural information are delightful for dipping into. The story of the Tower of Babel includes information on the making of bricks in ancient Mesopotamia, the zigurat remains at Babylon and a map of similar sites in the region. The story of King David bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem highlights period musical instruments and acacia wood, the material from which the ark was made. A section at the end of the book brings together cultural information, a Whos Who and an index that references both stories and cultural information.
The handbook approach arranges stories in Biblical, rather than chronological, order. This is ideal for a Bible survey course in a Christian school or home curriculum, but can be somewhat confusing when stories unique to Chronicles appear after the fall of Jerusalem at the end of 2 Kings. Wisdom literature and prophets are separated from their contexts in Samuel and Kings, and the Epistles are grouped after the Acts of the Apostles although many were written during the action of Acts. The Gospels, on the other hand, are harmonized.
Storytelling is straightforward and academic, lacking (by choice, I presume) in devotional quality or application except for occasional inserts in italics. Some non-narrative passages like Psalm 150, Isaiah 40, and the Sermon on the Mount are summarized or paraphrased. Summary articles with lists and maps prepare readers for the stories of God choosing Israel, the various Old Testament kings, the ministry of Jesus, etc. There is no article summarizing the role of the prophets (some of whom do not appear in the stories), but the introduction to the Old Testament includes a single sentence summary for each.
The large illustrations that accompany the stories show dark-skinned Middle Easterners appropriate to the setting. A variety of illustrators contributed, but they all used the same uninspiring, mid-20th century style. The photos and drawings of artifacts that accompany the sidebars are far more diverse and interesting.
The editor in me itched to get out my blue pencil. How informative is it to tell a ten-year-old that circumcision is cutting away the foreskin of a male child (p. 25)? What happened to the promise of One who would crush the serpents head that gives hope to the story of Adam and Eves fall? Some of the illustrations needed an editors hand as well. Why on earth are the paralytics friends tearing up the roof to get him to Jesus when the picture shows so few people that they could easily come in through the door like any normal person? Story illustrators should have worked more closely with those compiling the cultural information. The story of the Pharisee and the sinner praying in the temple (p.187) has a sidebar about fringed prayer shawls, but neither character is wearing one.
Despite these small irritations, Bible Stories is highly recommended for libraries and study courses, although The Jesus Storybook Bible or The Lion Day-by-day Bible are more suited for family worship.
The handbook approach arranges stories in Biblical, rather than chronological, order. This is ideal for a Bible survey course in a Christian school or home curriculum, but can be somewhat confusing when stories unique to Chronicles appear after the fall of Jerusalem at the end of 2 Kings. Wisdom literature and prophets are separated from their contexts in Samuel and Kings, and the Epistles are grouped after the Acts of the Apostles although many were written during the action of Acts. The Gospels, on the other hand, are harmonized.
Storytelling is straightforward and academic, lacking (by choice, I presume) in devotional quality or application except for occasional inserts in italics. Some non-narrative passages like Psalm 150, Isaiah 40, and the Sermon on the Mount are summarized or paraphrased. Summary articles with lists and maps prepare readers for the stories of God choosing Israel, the various Old Testament kings, the ministry of Jesus, etc. There is no article summarizing the role of the prophets (some of whom do not appear in the stories), but the introduction to the Old Testament includes a single sentence summary for each.
The large illustrations that accompany the stories show dark-skinned Middle Easterners appropriate to the setting. A variety of illustrators contributed, but they all used the same uninspiring, mid-20th century style. The photos and drawings of artifacts that accompany the sidebars are far more diverse and interesting.
The editor in me itched to get out my blue pencil. How informative is it to tell a ten-year-old that circumcision is cutting away the foreskin of a male child (p. 25)? What happened to the promise of One who would crush the serpents head that gives hope to the story of Adam and Eves fall? Some of the illustrations needed an editors hand as well. Why on earth are the paralytics friends tearing up the roof to get him to Jesus when the picture shows so few people that they could easily come in through the door like any normal person? Story illustrators should have worked more closely with those compiling the cultural information. The story of the Pharisee and the sinner praying in the temple (p.187) has a sidebar about fringed prayer shawls, but neither character is wearing one.
Despite these small irritations, Bible Stories is highly recommended for libraries and study courses, although The Jesus Storybook Bible or The Lion Day-by-day Bible are more suited for family worship.
Product Code: czvKduE
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