The Promises of God Storybook Bible by Jennifer Lyell

This Storybook Bible contains 24 Old Testament and 28 New Testament stories, for a total of 52 stories. Each story has a promise listed with the title, the story itself, and a few questions at the end.

Ages: 4-7

This is a very unique storybook Bible, as the purpose isn’t necessarily to recount Bible stories for children, but rather to show children how God always keeps His promises and to use Bible stories to show how that is true. The stories that art included generally have many days dedicated to them and tell much of the story in detail, however, because of the purpose, few stories are told. (For example, nothing on either David or Solomon.) There are also some very unique stories told that are rarely covered in storybook Bibles, like prophecies from Isaiah and Jeremiah, many of the epistles, and several in Revelation.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this storybook Bible, as the author repeatedly reiterated how people are sinful and can find salvation in Christ alone. She also didn’t shy away from using a few theological terms and didn’t insult children’s intelligence. There is a bit more commentary and theology than most storybook Bibles. She also showed colors of Calvisim (which I appreciate):

“First, they had been chosen by God to follow Jesus from before the world was even made! That’s right–before God even made the light and the dark, He chose everyone who would ever follow Jesus. Now He didn’t choose them because of anything special about them, because compared to Jesus everyone is just a sinner who can’t do anything good without God. But instead, God chose them because He knew what would make it most clear that He is the only God, the One who is good and powerful and should be worshiped.”

Overall, I think this storybook Bible could be a great supplemental resource.

Other things to note:

It reads, “But because Noah had a heart for God and walked with God, he and his family would be saved!” The wording sounds like it was because of what Noah did that he was saved, not God’s mercy.

Regarding Abram, it reads that he had a “soft heart” toward God. While I understand the point the author is trying to make, Scripture just said that God chose him.

There is a confusing line when explaining Old Testament sacrifices, “But sin shouldn’t make us feel happy; it should make us give a sacrifice.”

It says that Pharaoh (from Exodus) didn’t know Moses was an Israelite when he was being raised in the palace. Not sure how the author surmised this.

She says we do not have prophets like Isaiah anymore (which I absolutely agree with).

There are a few times when the author adds in what she assumes, for example, “The Bible doesn’t tell us for sure, but it seems that during this time Moses asked God’s forgiveness for killing the Egyptian and made the sacrifice he had to make for that sin.”

Jesus is shown as being born in a stable.

There are a few times I do not agree with her exegesis, for example, saying the reason the high priest was so angered by Jesus’ response after he was arrested was that if Jesus was the Promised One, he “would only want to be with the head priests and to give them all the special things the head priests thought they deserved.”

She also incorrectly says that God renamed Saul, Paul.

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