Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Disappointing Bible Storybook- 99 Stories from the Bible by Juliet David

This is a colorful, easy-to-read storybook for children that features some of the better known Bible stories.  There are a lot of full pages of artwork and each story is about one page, but in very large print.  It would be fine to either read aloud or for a young reader to start out with.

However, I have a problem with some of the stories.  I understand that they are very simplified and don't get into the sin and violence, so important points are left out.  That I could probably overlook.  I do have a problem when something seems changed from the truth of the Bible and I found that in a few of the stories.  This book says Moses wrote down the Ten Commandments on stone when it was God who did.  It looks like Samuel picked Saul to be king because he looked like a king rather than because God had told Samuel the previous day that he was sending him.  It also seems like a very important part is left out of Joseph's story, that he forgave his brothers for selling him.  Aaron is also left out of the story of Moses asking Pharaoh to let his people go.  I felt Ruth's story was unclear because it's never mentioned that she is a widow, too, just that she is Naomi's son's wife.  It's also mentioned that Boaz thought Ruth was beautiful, which isn't said in the Bible, and that's the reason he helped her instead of the fact that he admired her for taking care of Naomi.  Some of these might be minor issues, but there's no reason they needed to be changed from the Biblical account.  I think it sets a bad precedence if a child reads the story one way and then sees the Bible say something else later.  The Bible's truth shouldn't be questioned or changed for any reason.  I'd have to say I was pretty disappointed with this book.

I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

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