What's it about?
What’s the Bible about? Well, God, love, forgiveness, grace, Jesus… With fifty nine old testament stories and fifty six new testament stories this gives a lot of scope to cover all the favourites as well as some less usual entries such as Elijah and the widow, which is great. Also, stories of greater length and depth are spread over two stories eg Adam and Eve followed by Adam and Eve break the rules.

What did you like about it?
I loved the illustrations by Gillian Chapman. I loved the fact that each story sat neatly on a double page. There is a really useful section at the back listing each story with it’s reference in the ‘real’ Bible. I loved it’s chunky, handy size and the clear use of words making the stories easily understood by a small child.

What didn't you like?
In all honesty, nothing. It’s a wonderful publication and one that deserves to be widely bought and read.

What will you still remember a year from now?
a book like this is not so much about what I remember in a year, it’s more about what my children remember in a year, and with the clear accessible text and bright appealing pictures, my hope is that they remember a great deal. They have certainly enjoyed the bits we have read so far.

Who would you recommend this book to?
I would recommend this book to parents, grandparents or godparents of children aged between nought and five. Also to children’s workers, crèche leaders and church bookstores. This Bible would be a good and thoughtful present for any child under the age of about six.

Can you give us a couple of good quotes from the book?
”Don’t look for Jesus here,” they said. “He is alive!” The women could not believe it. They ran home at once and told Jesus’ friends. Very soon they all saw Jesus again for themselves. It was true! Jesus really was alive!

Then Eli realised that it must be God calling and said to Samuel, “Next time you hear him calling, say, “Here I am, Lord, your servant is listening.” Samuel went back to bed and he heard God’s voice again. Samuel did as Eli said and listened carefully to God. God told him many things. In the morning Samuel told Eli all about it. Samuel was only a young boy, but God had chosen him to be a special messenger.

Review by Hilary