The Biggest Story Bible Storybook
Kevin DeYoung (author); Don Clark (illustrator)
Crossway, 2022
This is the pinnacle of a seven-year combination between DeYoung and Clark. First there was ‘The Biggest Story’ (2015 – a kids book that can be read in one sitting) along with accompanying ‘animated short film’ (2016). Then there was ‘The Biggest Story ABC’ Board Book (2017 – aimed at kids aged 1-3). Now (well, 2022), we have a full story Bible. But although this is the pinnacle, it isn’t the end of the story because this summer will see the release of a 6-volume curriculum ($149.99) produced by ‘a team of pastors, children’s ministry workers, and content creators’, but based on the 104 lessons in the Bible Storybook. So there’s a fair bit riding on it!
For the last few weeks, we’ve been working through it with our girls (5 and 3). Admittedly, they’re a bit below the recommended age of 6-12. However I was encouraged to start it after one guy I follow on twitter said of his kids the same age: ‘It’s a lot to take in, but at 5 [the girl] learned that the whole Bible is about Jesus. At 3 [the boy] knows that Jesus is the snake crusher.’
He also said in his summary that it is ‘Clear and natural in connecting the OT to Christ. It doesn’t
sanitize or apologize for Gods wrath, nor does it tell those portions in a sensationalized overly
terrifying way.’ I would say that’s a pretty accurate summary. I would add that I found it refreshing that events like The Day of Atonement (‘A Tale of Two Goats’) featured, as well as the usual stories that make it into kids Bibles. The pictures aren’t too abstract, though the book does feature the biggest burning bush you’ve ever seen. ‘That’s a tree, not a bush’ our kids said, and it was hard to disagree.
Is there anything not to like? To be honest I was surprised that there are attempts at humour in nearly every story. None of which I’ve been able to bring myself to read aloud. For example: Adam and Eve ‘had another son who watched sheep. His name was Abel (that is, the son’s name was Abel; we don’t know what they called the sheep’).
There are also occasional parts where I’m not sure DeYoung’s summary is accurate or his interpretation is right. For an example of both take the following: ‘When Moses learned he was a Hebrew, just like the slaves, he became angry with the Egyptians [is that really an accurate summary of Exodus 2:11?]. He was so angry that he killed one of the Egyptians and hid him in the sand. Moses was going to be a great deliverer [I assume that’s sarcasm and takes the usual modern interpretation that Moses was a murderer. Even though the interpretation of this event in the New Testament would say otherwise (Acts 7:25)].
I presume there are people out there who read every word of a Story Bible to their kids and don’t ad lib at all. If someone was going to do that, they might be better with Catherine Vos (as revised and republished by Banner in 2021). Or actually, David Helm (The Big Picture Story Bible – also Crossway, and also leading to a few spin-offs). Helm’s is shorter and probably ideal for a slightly younger age (eg 4-5, rather than 5-7+). But having gone through Helm a fair few times, we were ready for something a bit more substantial for our oldest, and DeYoung’s book seems to fit the bill in terms of the structure and the connections to the Bible’s big story. Even if you have to tweak it a bit as you go.