The Jesus Storybook Bible Review

We recently read through The Jesus Storybook Bible. It’s a kid’s Bible published by Zondervan for ages 4-11. The illustrations are colorful and the words are kid-friendly. Sally Lloyd-Jones does a nice job explaining hard concepts in easy to use language for children. She does a wonderful job connecting some of the Old Testament accounts like Abraham and David to the New Testament accounts or concepts like how Jesus fulfils the promises to those men.

I know tons of other DCEs who LOVE this Bible and used it with Middle School or High School students, put it in pews, or give a copy to families at Baptisms or other milestones. I write this review, knowing I’m in a minority. Reading the first account put me on the wrong foot with this book. I knew this Bible would condense some of the Biblical accounts. I wasn’t prepared for the extra details in this book. The extra details help the reader better imagine the Biblical account. It creates beautiful images; that’s the reason I think this Bible is better for older students or children who can be discerning and not decide every detail in this Bible is truth.

Jesus is Truth. These extra details are beautiful and make the Biblical accounts come alive, but the author adds her own details into the account. “They would be his children, and the world would be their perfect home. So God breathed life into Adam and Eve. When they opened their eyes, the first thing they ever saw was God’s face. And when God saw them he was like a new dad. ‘You look like me,’ he said. ‘You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever made!’” She also adds actual Biblical details to the accounts. Zacchaeus did climb into a Sycamore tree and there were two fish and five loaves of bread at the feeding of the 5,000. To me, it starts blending fact and fiction to the point I was uncomfortable reading the book to my toddler. My toddler can’t distinguish the difference between the Biblical truth and the author’s embellishments. That’s why this is a Bible we will put on the shelf until my toddler can start distinguishing fact from embellishment, probably later in grade school. This is a good discussion to have with kids. It’s even a great exercise to read the two side by side to see and discern what truth is in The Jesus Storybook Bible. Something I do appreciate is they have where the Biblical accounts are found under the title. The Sacraments also aren’t clearly explained which is expected for a nondenominational children’s Bible, it’s just something to be aware of when reading about Jesus’ Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. 

This all being said, the pictures are nice. They aren’t my favorite art style, but they are colorful. The Biblical accounts are written so they’re easy to understand. The author is wordy with some things, like God’s, “Never Stopping, Never Giving up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.” It’s not a bad description, it just gets long when reading multiple sections in a row. This book does add details little children may fixate on, but it could be good for older kids to better help imagine the accounts. It creates a good exercise for parents and children to go through The Jesus Storybook Bible summary and the Biblical account together. This is not my favorite Bible but can see why it is appealing to many.