From the very beginning of my Best Bible Books series I’ve wanted to share this book–these books with you. The Story is more than one book but each book tells one story. One story redesigned for every age group.
There’s a sweet picture book for preschoolers…
A more grown up, gorgeous picture book for early readers and a chapter book for elementary kids…
A teen book complete with flip-the-page cartoons in the margin…
An adult version…
Plus, church curriculum, DVDs and even collectable cards to supplement.
And what’s The Story about? Well, it’s God’s Story–the story of the Bible as “one seamless story from beginning to end”. Author Max Lucado and Pastor Randy Frazee have taken the Bible–the main stories that make the STORY make sense–and turned it into a book that you can read straight through and see the big picture, the big story of what God did and is doing.
The Story is made to use as a family. While you’re reading the adult “novel” (it’s not really a novel, it’s just selected passages from the NIV and has been condensed into 31 chapters with transitions to help keep the story together), your teen is reading the teen version and you’re reading the picture or chapter books with your kids.
Then, how cool if you can sit around the table and say, “So, can you believe the nation of Israel was so divided? Does anyone remember one of the good kings we read about?” (I mean, who has that conversation?!! You could! Because that story is even in the picture book. I know, because the good king mentioned is King Asa and we’ve read that story like 12 times.)
Really, The Story is designed for churches can do their curriculum on the weekends (adults, teens and children all doing it in their classrooms/services) and then continuing the readings at home. I so incredibly love this idea–first of all, because you have people reading the Bible and second because you have families reading the Bible together!
But even if your church isn’t doing the curriculum, you could do this on your own and read the Bible along with the rest of your family!
We’ve read the two picture books several times. I really love the elementary book because the pictures are amazing. This photo does not even do it justice!
It also includes a little sentence or two at the end of each story that is kind of God’s voice in the story–it’s almost an affirmation or devotional. Lydia and I have read this for “devotions” before bed and she really enjoyed it.
(I just noticed the other day at the Christian bookstore there is a third picture book. But I’ve never even looked at it. I’m guessing as The Story has become more popular, there are more resources. You can see them all on their website or Amazon, of course.)
Oh, and The Story also has a cool CD which is also a music tour which I saw performed at the Dove Awards two years ago! The music is INCREDIBLE but if they ever do the tour again, DO NOT MISS IT. I felt transported from that theatre to the Story of the Bible. AMAZING.
This could be a fun New Year Resolution/Adventure for you and your family! Or if you’re involved in your church leadership, it could be something big-time to introduce!
Have you ever read The Story?
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Wow those look great! I’ve been wanting to start to do Bible reading with my kids in the morning around breakfast before they leave for school and I leave for work. I think I found the book to do it with! The pictures in the early reader’s version are great so I think I will start with that one and get a copy of the chapter book for my 8 year old who is a big reader. Thanks!
I’d love to hear how you all like it. My kids love the picture books and I think Lydia is a little young for the chapter book but I can’t wait to introduce it to her in a year or so. 🙂
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