For children curious about ancient stories, this book retells beloved tales from the Old Testament with Tomie dePaola's warm, inviting illustrations. It's a gentle introduction to foundational narrati
A parent might reach for this book when their child starts asking big questions about the world's origins or shows curiosity about stories they've heard referenced from the Bible. It serves as a gentle, visually beautiful first entry into the foundational narratives of the Old Testament. Tomie dePaola selects key stories like Creation, Noah's Ark, Joseph, Moses, and David and Goliath, pairing the actual text of the New International Version with his warm, folk-art illustrations. This approach makes complex themes of faith, resilience, and justice feel accessible and less intimidating for children ages 6 to 10. It’s an ideal choice for families wanting to share these cultural or religious stories in a way that emphasizes narrative and wonder over heavy doctrine.
Includes themes of sibling jealousy, betrayal, and banishment from home.
Character DeathMild
Deaths are mentioned factually as part of the story, such as Abel and Goliath.
Moral AmbiguityMild
Some biblical figures (like Jacob) use trickery to achieve their goals.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with violence (Cain kills Abel, David kills Goliath), character death, and complex family dynamics (sibling betrayal, jealousy). The approach is direct, using the biblical text, but not graphic. The religious framework is central, with events presented as part of God's plan. DePaola's art focuses on the human emotion and the moments surrounding the conflict rather than the violence itself, which softens the impact. Resolutions are consistently framed as just and hopeful within the religious context.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a child aged 7 to 9 who is a visual learner and is ready for a first introduction to Bible stories that uses authentic scripture. This could be a child in a faith-based family or a child in a secular family with an interest in mythology, ancient history, and foundational stories of Western culture.
Parent Prep
Parents should preview the stories of Cain and Abel, Joseph and his brothers, and David and Goliath. Be prepared to discuss themes of jealousy, murder, and betrayal. A conversation explaining that these are very old stories from a different time can provide helpful context. The use of direct scripture means the language is not simplified, so some vocabulary or phrasing might require explanation. A parent has just heard their child ask, "Who made the world?" or "What's the real story of Noah's Ark?" after seeing a cartoon version. The parent wants a resource that is both authentic to a scriptural source and artistically gentle and appropriate for a child.
Age Experience
A 6-year-old will primarily engage with the illustrations and the adventure elements, seeing stories like Noah's Ark and David and Goliath as exciting tales. A 10-year-old can begin to understand the theological and moral implications, connect the different stories into a larger historical narrative, and grapple with the motivations of the characters and God.
What Makes It Special
Its primary differentiator is the unique pairing of the respected New International Version text with Tomie dePaola's iconic, folk-art style. Unlike many children's Bibles that heavily paraphrase, this book offers scriptural authenticity. DePaola's art makes the ancient world feel accessible and human, removing the formal, often intimidating feel of more classical religious illustrations.
Read plot summary
This book is a curated collection of major narratives from the Old Testament, using selected text directly from the New International Version (NIV). It covers the Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah's Ark, the Tower of Babel, stories of the patriarchs like Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph, the epic of Moses and the Exodus, and tales of heroes like Samson, David (and Goliath), and Daniel in the lion's den. The book presents these as distinct, illustrated chapters, forming an overview of the Old Testament's most famous stories.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
In the story of Joseph, his brothers are jealous of his beautiful coat and his dreams. What could they have done with their jealous feelings instead of hurting him?
2
David was just a small shepherd boy, but he was brave enough to face the giant Goliath. Why do you think he succeeded when all the grown-up soldiers were afraid?
3
Look at the way Tomie dePaola drew the animals going into Noah's Ark. How do his pictures make you feel about this story? Do they make it seem scary, hopeful, or something else?
4
After God creates the world, the book says, 'God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.' What things in our world today do you think are 'very good'?
