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You are here: Home / Archives for Reading the Bible

Reading the Bible

Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible – A Review

Alissa Ellett Leave a Comment

Growing in God's Love

Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible is one of so many children’s Bibles. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the variety and unsure which is best for your bookshelf. So, here at ICM, we’ve compiled our thoughts in this blog series where we’ll be reviewing some of today’s most popular children’s Bibles. Once you find your fave children’s Bible, check out our post on ways of reading scripture with your kids to get the most out of it!

Growing in God's Love

Quick Facts about Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible

  • Editors: Elizabeth F. Caldwell and Carol A. Wehrheim
  • 360 Pages
  • Age Range: 4-8 years old
  • Storybook format (a retelling of some of the Bible)
  • Dimensions: 7.2 x 1 x 9 inches
  • Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press (2018)

Growing in God's Love

A Closer Look

There’s no perfect choice for all children everywhere or even for your own child. Each children’s Bible is a mix of aspects to love as well as those that invite palm to forehead moments. In this series of reviews, we’ll always include what we believe to be the pros and cons of each Bible and whether or not we’d recommend it to our friends. So, let’s dive in and take a closer look at Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible.

Pros of Growing in God’s Love

Engaging Illustrations: Twenty-one illustrators, all listed near the back of the Bible, created illustrations in a wide range of styles. They’re vibrant and dynamic and most are large enough to make for effective storytelling to a group.

Appropriately Illustrated Characters: Figures are shown with olive skin and dark hair, honoring the Bible’s Middle Eastern context.

Table of Contents Included: Having a table of contents is a plus, especially if a child has favorites they like to return to repeatedly. The stories are grouped by theme, making for connections that may not be obvious when reading canonically ordered Bible stories.

growing in god's love

Digestible Story Length: The stories, which are retold compilations of several verses or chapters, are short. This aspect makes it easy to hold the attention of young readers.

Classic Stories and Beyond Included: All the classic stories you’d hope for from a children’s Bible are included here. This exposes children to the foundational texts of the faith. Additionally, texts not usually seen in children’s Bibles are here, too. Special attention is paid to include stories about women.

Non-Gendered Language: Throughout the stories, the editor refers to the Divine as God, neither male nor female. Children can then imagine God more expansively and are more likely to understand that, no matter their sex, they are made in God’s image.

Nameplate Included: A nameplate page is included for gifting the bible to a child. A parent, children’s director, teacher, or family member would appreciate this.

Reflection Questions Included: At the end of most stories, Hear, See and Act questions encourage the children to explore. These neither moralize nor editorialize the story but simply invite participation.

Growing in God's Love 102

Cons of Growing in God’s Love

Unfamiliar Story Titles: Story titles are different than those children will almost always hear and see in Bibles. This can make it difficult for them to transition between Bibles.

Medium Font Size: The font size is on the small side for children new to reading, making it difficult for them to read it on their own. This will likely require parents to read until children are confident readers.

Grouped Stories by Theme: While this quality is also listed as a pro, it may make it somewhat difficult to locate a particular story you’re searching for.

Growing in God's Love 105

Conclusion

Children’s Bibles are all different, each with good qualities. Growing in God’s Love has a lot going for it. Stories are a digestible length and illustrated beautifully and with attention to cultural context. Stories both classic and less frequently read to children are there, including more stories about women than usual. A nameplate makes for a personal touch. Reflection questions and non-gendered language for the Divine help challenge children to reflect on God, scripture, and their own lives.

On the other hand, the unfamiliar story titles, medium font size, and the way stories are grouped by theme may detract from Growing in God’s Love. However, the pros far outweigh the cons of this children’s story Bible.

On the whole, this is a fantastic resource for anyone raising or serving children. We’d definitely recommend it to our friends.

We hope this review has been helpful and has given some food for thought. Share what children’s Bibles you have and love in the comments below!

Deep Blue Children’s Bible Series – A Review

Alissa Ellett Leave a Comment

The Deep Blue Children’s Bible series is one of so many options out there. It’s easy to feel unsure which is best for your bookshelf. So, we’ve compiled our thoughts in this blog series of some of today’s most popular children’s Bibles. Once you find your fave, check out our post on ways of reading scripture with your child. And share what resources you love in the comments below!

Deep Blue Children's Bible

What’s in the Deep Blue Children’s Bible Series?

The Deep Blue Children’s Bible series is made up of four distinct resources. First, the Deep Blue Toddler Bible Storybook introduces toddlers to a selection of core biblical stories.

Second, the Deep Blue Bible Storybook offers children ages 3-6 more detailed versions of those stories and exposure to some new ones.

Third, the Deep Blue Kids Bible (not pictured) delves even more deeply and broadly with children ages 7-11.

Fourth, the Deep Blue Kids Bible Dictionary defines for children ages 7-12 a wide range of biblical terms. However, I can see it being helpful also for younger children and adults, too.

Shared Qualities Across the Series

Our other Bible reviews have focused on one product. However, this review will focus on the Deep Blue Children’s Bible series. So, I’ll give a more general overview of the elements you can expect when purchasing any or all of the series resources.

Deep Blue Children's Bible

A Closer Look

There’s no perfect choice for all children everywhere or even for your own child. Each children’s Bible is a mix of aspects to love as well as those that invite palm to forehead moments. In this series of reviews, we’ll always include what we think to be the pros and cons. And we’ll end with whether or not we’d recommend it to our friends.

So, let’s dive in and take a closer look at the Deep Blue Children’s Bible series.

Pros of the Deep Blue Children’s Bible Series

Nameplate Included: Each Bible includes a nameplate page. This makes each great for gifting the bible to a child. A parent, children’s director, teacher, or family member would appreciate this.

Appropriately Illustrated Characters: Figures are shown with olive skin and dark hair, honoring the Bible’s Middle Eastern context.

Same Characters between Bibles: The same four children appear in each of the three Bibles, though they age along with the reader.

Table of Contents Included: Tables of contents are in all but the Deep Blue Toddler Bible Storybook. This makes for easy reference, especially if a child has favorites they like to return to repeatedly.

Scripture References Included: The associated scripture is listed in the table of contents and at the start of each story. This helps parents and children learn where to find the biblical text they’re reading about.

Interactive Elements Included: The three Bibles include age-appropriate interactive elements. For example, the Deep Blue Toddler Bible Storybook includes a prayer at the end of each story. The Deep Blue Bible Storybook includes a question with each story along, a prayers and songs section, and an intro for children, and tips for adults beginning each book of the Bible. The Deep Blue Kids Bible includes commentary, devotionals, and Bible trivia.

Deep Blue Children's Bible

Digestible Story Length: The stories’ lengths are age-appropriate. This aspect makes it easy to hold the attention of readers and listeners at any age.

Classic Stories Included: The three Bibles include the classic stories you’d hope to see. Each consecutive Bible includes more of them. This progressively exposes children to the foundational texts of the faith.

Non-Gendered Language: Throughout the stories, the author refers to the Divine as God, neither male nor female. Children can then imagine God more expansively and are more likely to understand that, no matter their gender, they are made in God’s image.

Appropriate Font Size: The font size is scaled in size to the age of the reader the Bible is designed for. This makes it easy for them to stay motivated and focused on the story.

Questions Included: At the end of each story, there is a question for children to explore. These neither moralize nor editorialize the story but simply invite participation.

Bible Dictionary Available: The Bible dictionary defines hundreds of terms and offers dozens of other special features to offer children more understanding of context and content.

Deep Blue Children's Bible

Cons of the Deep Blue Children’s Bible Series

Repetitive Illustrations: The depictions of characters and animals are repetitive. This makes for somewhat uninteresting illustrations. For example, the giraffe from one page to the next is the same copy and pasted illustration. This is true for animals, Jesus’, and the disciples’ faces. From an aesthetic perspective, this aspect makes the product seem lower quality.

Table of Contents Lacking in Toddler Bible: This is, of course, the shortest of the three Bibles. However, it would still be nice for parents to have that for even easier reading.

Conclusion

Children’s Bibles are all different, each with good qualities. Deep Blue, as a series, has a lot going for it. The pros for this review far outweigh the cons. For that reason, we’d highly recommend this series to our friends for use in the home and the church. It’s fantastic.

We hope this review has been helpful and has given some food for thought. Share what children’s Bibles you have and love in the comments below!

The Spark Story Bible: A Journey through God’s Word – A Review

Alissa Ellett 3 Comments

Spark Story Bible

The Spark Story Bible: Spark a Journey through God’s Word is one of so many children’s Bibles. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the variety and unsure which is best for your bookshelf. So, here at ICM, we’ve compiled our thoughts in this blog series where we’ll be reviewing some of today’s most popular children’s Bibles. Once you find your fave children’s Bible, check out our post on ways of reading scripture with your kids to get the most out of it!

Spark Children's Bible-101

Quick Facts about The Spark Story Bible

  • 456 Pages
  • 100 Bible Stories
  • Age Range: 4-8 years old
  • Storybook format (a retelling of some of the Bible)
  • Dimensions: 7.5 x 1.5 x 9 inches
  • Publication Year: 2009
  • Awards: 2016 Illumination Book Award Winner

A Closer Look

There’s no perfect choice for all children everywhere or even for your own child. Each children’s Bible is a mix of aspects to love as well as those that invite palm to forehead moments. In this series of reviews we’ll always include what we think to be the pros and cons of each Bible and whether or not we’d recommend it to our friends. So, let’s dive in and take a closer look at The Spark Story Bible: Spark a Journey through God’s Word.

Spark Children's Bible-102

Pros of The Spark Story Bible

Engaging Illustrations: Illustrators, Peter Grosshauser and Ed Temple, create dynamic, vibrant illustrations in a cartoon style. They’re simple and often comedic in presentation. Additionally, they are large enough to make for effective storytelling to a group.

Appropriately Illustrated Characters: Figures are shown with olive skin and dark hair, honoring the Bible’s Middle Eastern context.

Table of Contents Included: Having a table of contents makes for easy reading, especially if a child has favorites they like to return to repeatedly.

Digestible Story Length: The stories, which are retold compilations of several chapters, are short. This aspect makes it easy to hold the attention of young readers.

Classic Stories Included: All the classic stories you’d hope for from a children’s Bible are included here. This exposes children to the foundational texts of the faith.

Mostly Familiar Story Titles: The story titles aren’t all the same as those found in the Bible. However, the ones that are different are so similar to the biblical ones that the children likely wouldn’t have trouble transitioning to a Bible.

Non-Gendered Language: Throughout the stories, the editor refers to the Divine as God, neither male nor female. Children can then imagine God more expansively and are more likely to understand that, no matter their sex, they are made in God’s image.

Large Font Size: The font size is large enough for children new to reading, making it easy for them to stay motivated and focused on the story.

Nameplate Included: A nameplate page is included for gifting the bible to a child. A parent, children’s director, teacher, or family member would appreciate this.

Activities and Questions Included: At the end of each story, there is an activity or question for the children to explore. These neither moralize nor editorialize the story but simply invite participation.

Spark Children's Bible-103

Cons of The Spark Story Bible

No Biblical Passages Cited: Each retelling of a biblical story lacks the biblical passage from which it was taken. The editor misses an opportunity to increase biblical literacy here and encourage further exploration.

What’s up with Squiggles? Each story includes an illustration of a caterpillar named Squiggles. Its purpose is somewhat unclear. It’s not really relevant to the story – but perhaps its purpose is to create a “Where’s Waldo” element to the Bible reading experience. Something fun for kids to look for, with the hopes that it might engage them in the illustrations. We’re not 100% sure.

Spark Children's Bible-104

Conclusion

Children’s Bibles are all different, each with good qualities. The Spark Story Bible has a lot going for it. The illustrations are engaging and culturally appropriate, the story length is digestible, the font size is large enough for young readers and reading to a group, a table of contents is included as well as the classic stories you’d expect with mostly familiar titles, non-gendered language is used. The children’s Bible includes a nameplate for easy gifting along. And lastly, the author includes questions and activities at the end of each story to encourage participation.

While The Spark Story Bible doesn’t include scripture references, and the Squiggles character seems a bit odd (and not really needed), these are minor issues.

In conclusion, we recommend The Spark Story Bible: Spark a Journey through God’s Word for use in faith education at home or in the church.

We hope this review has been helpful and has given some food for thought. Share what children’s Bibles you have and love in the comments below!

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