1. The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
2. Children of God Storybook Bible by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
3. The Lion Read and Know Bible by Sophie Piper
All of these Bibles are marketed towards kids in the 4 or 5 year old range, though I definitely think they work for younger kids (Sam has loved them as a three-year-old). After giving a brief description of each of these books I will compare the prose for your own assessment.
My favorite thing about this bible is the way in which the stories transition to one another. For example, the story of Jacob marrying Leah and Rachel begins with a reminder that Jacob is Issac's son. This Bible does not read like a series of stand-alone stories--there is a smooth transition from story to story.
But here's why I'm not turning cartwheels over this one: I cannot get excited about some of the theological leeway taken by the author--even if I agree with the author's theological commitments. Now every children's translation is bound to take a few liberties here and there, but The Jesus Storybook has taken some pretty big liberties. This is primarily seen in the Old Testament where every story ends with a reference to Jesus and how Jesus fulfills or overthrows the current story (I suppose that's why the publisher included the subtitle: "Every Story Whispers His Name"...though perhaps "Every Story Shouts" would have been more realistic). Again, even though I might agree with the author in some places, I like my children's Bibles to be as close to the original story as possible. Just stick with the story. No extra theologizing needed. (Though I should say I wouldn't mind passing along this Bible to a family who has little to no background with Christianity--it might tie things together in a helpful way).
Bottom line: This is a fun, whimsical read with colorful, cartoonish pictures. I would cite the title and say this is more of a storybook than a Bible.
2. Children of God Storybook Bible by Archbishop Desmond Tutu I was excited to pick up this book by Tutu. His children's Bible currently ranks #64 on Amazon for Children's religious books. Unlike the other two Bibles, this book designates a story to each page layout, meaning that every time you flip a page you get a new story. The prose is pretty basic. Nothing new or fancy, just a solid, short story.What attracted me to this book was the art work. Twenty different illustrators from around the world were commissioned to contribute artwork. And. It. Is. Breathtaking. Every picture you get of Jesus is a little bit different than the one you saw before depending on the author's context. Some pictures are more realistic than others. Some have obviously had fun mixing media. Here's a few for your perusal:
3. The Lion Read and Know Bible by Sophie Piper And then we come to The Lion Read and Know Bible. You knew I would save my favorite for last, didn't you? I love this Bible. I love it. I may be among only a handful who do, however, as Amazon has this ranked at #161,228 as far as sales are concerned (and it doesn't even register on the "most popular children's religious book" list).
The art work is fine. Certainly nothing exciting. It's highly detailed cartoon drawings. The art-student-drop-out in me occasionally wishes for something more flashy. Sam doesn't seem to mind.
Bottom line: This is a bible for a story-loving, curious kid.
Comparing the Prose--Here's a glimpse at how the three Bibles treat the story of Jonah:
1. The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
"God had a job for Jonah. But Jonah didn't want it. 'God to Nineveh,' God said, 'and tell your worst enemies that I love them.'
'NO!' said Jonah. "They don't deserve it!'
'Exactly,' said God. 'They have run far away from me. But I can't stop loving them. I will give them a new start. I will forgive them.'
2. Children of God Storybook Bible by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
"'Go to Nineveh,' God said to Jonah. 'Tell the people there that if they do not stop their cruelty, I will destroy the city.' Jonah hated the people of Nineveh because they were enemies of Israel. He did not want them to be saved, so he jumped aboard a boat sailing for a far away country."
3. The Lion Read and Know Bible by Sophie Piper
"Once upon a time there lived a man named Jonah. He was a prophet--so when he gave advice, people knew that the advice was from God. One day God spoke to Jonah. 'Go to the city of Nineveh. the people there are wicked. I want you to tell them to change their ways.' Jonah looked to the east. The road to Nineveh stretched on for miles. He had always been glad Nineveh was so far away: it was the home of the Assyrians--the worst enemies his people had ever known."
And now a sampling of Revelation in case you want to see how a children's Bible handles that tricky subject:
1. The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
"John was one of Jesus' helpers. He was old now and living on an island, which might sound nice except it was a prison. (The Leaders put him there to stop him from talking about Jesus, but I'm sure you don't think a little thing like being in a cell, in prison, on an island, in the middle of an ocean could stop God's Plan, do you?)"
2. Children of God Storybook Bible by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
"When the disciple john was very old, God sent him dreams and visions. He saw that there would be wars and famines and floods and terrible disasters. But God told John, 'Soon I will make a new heaven and a new earth. Then every tear will be wiped away. I will be with my people, and they will be with me. Everyone will live in peace and joy."
3. The Lion Read and Know Bible by Sophie Piper
"John sighed. It was hard work in the prison camp. He had been arrested because he believed in Jesus. Now he spent his days quarrying stone. When he wasn't working, God gave him dream. 'One day,' he wrote, 'I saw a new heaven and a new earth. I saw a holy city--the new Jerusalem. It was built of gold and jewels, and was the loveliest place there could ever be."
So there you have it, Friends. Hopefully you can find something that will be right for your little one!
