Oops! A 4th Delval Book!

I didn’t realize that the children’s Bible that Marie-Helene Delval has written is in the same format as the other 3 books that I featured this month. I don’t usually feature Children’s Bibles here, but this one works for PBT because it’s so easy to use and offers a variety of material for lessons and conversations.

Picture Book: The Bible for Young Children

Author: Marie-Helene Delval

Illustrator: Gotting

Summary: This Bible offers age-appropriate language and imagery that together tell our story with God to young children. Here's how it says our story began:

The day and the night 

were all mixed together.

Then God said, 

"Light!"

Humans enter the story positively, without the Fall of Adam and Eve. 

A few key figures are highlighted, such as Jacob, but not many since there are only 40 entries. 

Some key events are included, especially if they are visually intriguing. Here the Israelites escape across The Red Sea. 

King Solomon's Temple is simply but beautifully portrayed. 

To be relateable, Jesus is shown as a child. 

Then Jesus "grows up," and meets people on his travels, blessing the sick and proclaiming the good news that all are God's "dear children." 

Sometimes when Jesus passed, he was greeted with happy pronouncements: "You are the Lord, the Son of God! You are blessed, the one who comes to bring us love and peace."  

But some people were not happy to see Jesus or hear his words. They wanted to kill him. 

The agony of the cross is shown from a distance. 

The next morning "the light of God brightened those who were sad. The love of God was stronger than death. Jesus had risen!" 

Take note that post-Easter events are not included. 
Hanna’s Comments: Like Delval's other 3 books that I’ve featured here, her children's Bible gives a small amount of text on the left and the image on the right. Each entry offers rich material for meaningful responses from young children. The simple format, means it’s more useful for grab and go situations than most children’s Bibles. There’s a simple 9 theme index in the back that can guide you quickly to the pages you want to read, but there are 40 total entries (usually several per theme). That's significantly less than most children’s Bibles. 

The highlights of our Holy Scriptures are definitely here so that you could use this resource for a series of very meaningful lessons or bedside conversations. 

Original Publisher & Date: Erdmans, 2010

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: An index in the back of this book gives you the scriptures references.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children in Sunday School when you are pressed for a lesson that comes straight from the Bible.