BOOKS,  Homeschool

The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit

The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit by Sally Lloyd-Jones
& Sam Shammas, Illustrated by Jago, Audio read by David Suchet
44 Lessons for Early-Middle Elementary Ages: 4 to 104
Genre: Christian Children’s Storybook Bible + Curriculum
Pages: 352 Hardcover Bible + CD/DVD Discs
Date Published: February 2012
Publisher: Zonderkidz, a division of Zondervan

Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, Moonbeam, US, 2007
2010 ALA Notable Award
Mom’s Choice Awards 2010

THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE:
EVERY STORY WHISPERS HIS NAME.

The Bible as novel for kids…

“The Jesus Storybook Bible” tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of the Story is a baby, the child upon whom everything would depend depend. Every story whispers his name. From Noah to Moses to the great King David—every story points to him.

Jesus is like the missing piece in a puzzle—the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the Story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together the puzzle.

A Bible like no other, “The Jesus Storybook Bible” invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of salvation—and at the center of their Story too.

Based on the award-winning storybook, The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Sam Shammas contains 44 lessons revealing how Jesus is the center of each Bible story and how every story whispers his name. With activities, notes for teachers based on material from Timothy Keller, memory verses, handouts for children, and more, The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of salvation—and at the center of their story too.

Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum includes:

  • The Jesus Storybook Bible hardcover edition
  • The Jesus Storybook Bible Audio CD Set (3 Discs)
  • The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum DVD ROM containing:
  • 44 complete printable lessons with teaching notes based on material from Timothy Keller, memory verses, and four-color children’s handouts with take-home notes
  • 44 animated bonus videos
  • Curriculum Introduction
  • Six bonus review lessons. Three each for New and Old Testaments (online only).
  • Getting Started Guide and promotional pieces

 

Read the Scope & Sequence

 

How do I even begin? Ok, let’s start with the Bible. The Jesus Storybook Bible is enchanting and unlike any storybook Bible I have experienced thus far (and trust me, I’ve seen a few!). Every single story in this storybook Bible points to Jesus. From the creation and Adam and Eve’s fall, Jesus is the solution. In the building of the Tower of Babel, Jesus is the answer. When Abraham leads his son Isaac to the alter, Christ is the lamb promised. Every story, every parable, every word comes down to Jesus Christ from the beginning and all the way until the end. It is solid in a Biblical foundation and traces everything to redemption through Jesus.

Reading through the physical Bible is an experience with the vivid illustrations that definitely interest a child (any anyone’s mind). But there is so much more… listening to the audio version of the Bible is enchanting. David Suchet (reminds me of Jim Dale) reads with such voices that bring the characters off the page. We’ve found that you can read along, or just listen in the background – maybe during breakfast or getting ready for a nap. The beginning segment states is all and brings it to life.

“No, the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne—everything—to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is—it’s true…[It’s a] Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.”

It makes my heart smile! If the Bible wasn’t already fabulous, and then the audio version even cooler, why not try to video version. In the curriculum, there are 44 short clip storybook animations to go along with the text. These are AppleBlossom’s favorite right now. She goes back and forth between asking to listen to the Bible or watch the Bible. How can you turn down that request?!

This Bible is the first children’s storybook Bible that I have found that doesn’t go too far in watering down the stories. It tells the harsh truth in certain circumstances but always brings it back around to the hope and joy that we can have in the love of the Lord. When I first started looking into The Jesus Storybook Bible I read a few reviews that mentioned a child being frightened of God not loving him after reading of Adam and Even thinking to themselves in question of whether God loved them once they had eaten the apple. The reviewer was adamant that it was from reading this Bible that her child developed an insecurity complex. But if she had read the whole story, and not just stopped while the going was tough then the reassurance that God does love us, will always love us and always be there because he loves us would shine through. (And I don’t just mean the WHOLE storybook – I mean each and every individual story, because every single one shines out his love and glory).

Okay, you get it. The Bible itself is awesome. It’s fabulous to read, cool to hear, neat to watch. But there’s more. That’s just the Bible, now there is curriculum! Written in a way so as to be able to use it in a classroom of several students, my version is all on a DVD-Rom. There is the curriculum with the scripted how-to and do-what portions as well as reproducible worksheets to handout and use in class. There is conversation, activities, crafts and more. Parts to take home with you (and others to keep in your heart). I think this would be great for a Sunday School or even Wednesday Night Program, but in addition that I think with a little effort it can be adapted for a homeschool environment to studying the Bible. While there are certain activities meant to be shared with several participants, I think skipping these the benefit of all the rest is still whole and there.

While with any change and Bible translation or novelization different readers can find flaw in interpretations and cause a fuss. My overall opinion is that the main message is there. Sure as your child grows and uses this and other Bibles they can learn about all the various elements and sides of God. Yet for what it is, this it the most detailed Bible with more stories and situations that I have seen thus far in a early elementary age and younger Bible storybook and I do recommend it.

*Thanks to Zondervan for providing a copy for review.*


Other options for purchasing The Jesus Storybook Bible includes the Bible (hardcover), Bible Read-aloud Edition (larger format keepsake), Deluxe Edition (hardcover + audio CDs), eBook, Audio, Spanish Bible and of course the Curriculum Kit. And now there is also available Curriculum Kit Handouts.


Sally Lloyd-Jones is a leading writer of inspirational books for children, with an expertise in conveying biblical truth to young children. She is the author of three bestselling children’s Bibles, including the Gold Book Award-winning Baby’s First Bible and, most recently, the Moonbeam Award Winner—The Jesus Storybook Bible. She has written many picture books for children, including Handbag Friends, Time to Say Goodnight and the critically acclaimed, How to Be a Baby: By Me, the Big Sister. A native of England, Sally lives in New York City and can be found at www.sallylloyd-jones.com.

Author Website:
http://www.sallylloyd-jones.com
http://sallylloyd-jones.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/#!/JSBBible


Jago Silver is an accomplished illustrator with several prestigious awards to his credit, including a Macmillian “Highly Commended” Award for Children’s Illustration in 2003, an AOI Silver Award in 2004, and the National Literacy Association Wow! Award. Jago lives in Cornwall, England, with his wife and daughter.

Here’s Jago’s website and blog:
http://www.jagoillustration.com
http://jagoillustration.blogspot.com

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(No spam, I promise. Just creative madness ramblings, reviews and life-stories, with quilting and cross stitch inspiration in between!)

The Creative Madness Mama also known as Margaret is a Christian Stay-at-home Mama, married to the Enginerd, quilter, cross stitcher, avid reader and book-a-holic. As book blogger for various publicists, she loves to share the latest and greatest about books coming out as well as her needle art and other crafty projects with some pictures of her fourteen-year-old AppleBlossom, twelve-year-old OrangeBlossom (the Princess), nine-year-old Almond Blossom (the Rascal boy!), six-year-old (red) Mermaid Warrior, the four-and-a-half-year-old Viking Dragon, and Huckleberry (due in June 2024!) in between. Homeschooling, cloth diapering, breastfeeding, babywearing, bone broth brewing, tea drinking, list making mama full of a little creative and a lot of madness.

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