Book Review: The Biggest Story Bible Storybook
Today, I’m reviewing The Biggest Story Bible Storybook, written by Kevin DeYoung, illustrated by Don Clark, published by Crossway.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All views expressed are my own.
My Review
The Biggest Story Bible Storybook is the latest addition to my collection of Bible storybooks. I shared about the oldest ones I have, a while back. I noted that those older books feature archaic illustrations and formal language. I still love reading them, but I can see how they wouldn’t have much appeal for today’s children.
The Biggest Story Bible Storybook is not like that. The illustrations have a folk art feel with vibrant, retro colors. My personal preference is for the older, more traditional illustrations, but I have to say, the bold graphics are growing on me.
Every time I flip through it, I am drawn to pore over the illustrations and notice the exquisite details.
The language is respectful but very approachable for our culture. For example, on the page about the Fall it says:
“And yet, before you close this book and crawl under your covers and cry, you need to know that just as all the bad things began to happen, God’s promise was beginning too. He promised that one day there would be a Snake Crusher to flatten that slimy serpent and save his sinful people.”
The page introducing the story of Abram also makes me smile:
“It started in a place called Ur (which rhymes with fur), ruled by a people called the Chaldeans (which rhymes with, um, Schmaldeans)…”
This edition is a beautiful, hefty hardback with a gorgeous debossed cover and dust jacket. It is heirloom quality, perfect for daily use with your family. The target audience is ages 6-12, but like any good children’s book, it has appeal for all ages.
Most of all, I appreciate how the focus of the entire book points to Jesus, showing how all the various stories throughout the Bible are really just one big story: The Biggest Story.
Table of Contents
There are a total of 104 stories, divided into seven parts.
- Part 1: The Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy)
- Part 2: History (Joshua–Esther)
- Part 3: Poetry (Job–Song of Solomon)
- Part 4: The Prophets (Isaiah–Malachi)
- Part 5: The Gospels (Matthew–John)
- Part 6: Acts and Epistles (Acts–3 John)
- Part 7: Revelation
From the Publisher
The Bible is a BIG book about the BIGGEST story. Each page tells about the God who created the world, acted in history, and continues to act in the present. In The Biggest Story Bible Storybook, pastor Kevin DeYoung shares this grand story with children ages 6–12 through 104 short chapters.
Beginning in Genesis and ending with Revelation, DeYoung provides engaging retellings of various Bible stories, explaining how they fit into the overarching storyline. Each reading is coupled with beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Don Clark and concludes with a reflective prayer. Perfect for bedtime stories or to read together as a family, both children and parents alike will experience afresh the captivating story of the Bible in an easy-to-understand, compelling way.
