Adventure Bible for Toddlers by Catherine DeVries

There should be no question as to why I picked Catherine DeVieres’ “Adventure Bible for Toddlers” for this round of free review books from Booklook Bloggers: I have a toddler, and we like to read the Bible. Our go-to is “The Jesus Storybook Bible” which remains our favorite. It is a little over Isaac’s head sometimes, so then we just talk about the pictures. I had hoped this would be a good prequel for that.

It’s ok. I give it three of five stars. This tot Bible is 10 stories that span the Old and New Testaments. The pictures are great; the theology is sound. I especially liked its handling of Daniel—Daniel prayed and TRUSTED GOD NO MATTER WHAT, and God delivered him from the lions. I threw away a different book that said God delivered Daniel because he prayed. Huh? No. I pray for lots of stuff; that doesn’t obligate God to grant my wishes.

Anyway, so I DO like this book. The reason I give it three instead of four or five stars is because there’s no coverage of the crucifixion at all. Helloooooo, isn’t the whole reason we’re reading the Bible to our kid? To teach him about our need for a Savior and Christ’s sacrifice for us? What’s the point of a BIBLE without that?! This book finished with a story about Christ’s return and coming kingdom, but skips the main point.

So as a cute way to teach kids basic Bible stories: Win.

But for coverage of the basics of Christian doctrine: Fail.

Someone looking for a Bible for kids would find “The Jesus Storybook Bible” a better pick.

Anecdote:

Isaac was delighted when this book arrived in the mail, but when I tried to read it to him at nap time we had this conversation:

“Isaac, want to read your new Bible?”

“No! I don’t like it God!”

“What!?”

“I can’t read it! I don’t like it God! I don’t like it Bible!”

“Fine, I’ll tell you the truth: I don’t like Curious George!”

“Gasp!”

We ended up reading the whole thing at naptime anyway.