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The Children's Bible
510 pages - color illustrations - The Old Testament and The New Testament
510 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1963
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 9, 2017
Read and LOVED this as a child. Bought a used copy for dear children so they could enjoy it as well. Surprised and pleased to discover it is ecumenical, approved by Christian as well as Jewish authorities. Published in 1965. If you are not bothered by age, this is a winner. It is still my favorite Bible for children. And I love the artwork. People look like people.
March 3, 2016
My copy of this book is inscribed in my childish writing "From Santa Claus for Cristmas" - must have been from when I was about 7. Though I'm sure I never read the whole thing, many of the illustrations look very familiar, and I know I had favorite sections.
March 8, 2021
It was beautiful to have growing up.
January 28, 2020
This book is beautiful and on a technical level I really love it, but personally it raises mixed emotions in me when I think about it.
My grandparents had this book when I was a kid. Because they were Portuguese and my grandma claimed to be illiterate (ha, she's having a laugh, she's just lazy) they didn't have a lot of books in their basement apartment and this was the only one in English. Between you and I, readers of this review, I think granny dearest STOLE this book from someone; she claimed she found it but she has a major problem with stealing and complusive lying down to this day so I don't believe that for a second.
Well, when they would baby sit me as a little kid there wasn't much to do except watch grandma sew or stare at grandpa eating soup, unless you brought a toy with you or convinced grandma to let you play with the box of McDonald's toys (again, I think these were stolen) she usually saved for when there were more of us (she had five grandkids, since my aunt had four kiddios) since she didn't believe "one girl should play with a whole box of toys by herself" or she would "go crazy" and if I asked why she would insist the Bible said so. Not the smartest thing to say to a kid who was being trained to teach the Bible for volunteer work when she grew up, as I knew for a fact it did NOT say that. But she would get mad if I said so.
Anywho, they didn't mind me looking at the children's Bible if I asked. But it was too large for me to hold so I had to sprawl on my stomach to do so. Them spreading a blanket where I was going to be over the tile is one of the few kind things I can remember my grandparents doing that they didn't rub in my face later. I loved going through all the brilliantly illustrated pages. I remember looking especially for the stories of Abigail (Kind David's wife) because I was named after her and for Rebekah (Issac's wife) because I had a cousin named after her, and then looking for the pictures of angels. I was weirdly fascinated by their wingalings (my other Bible Story book usually showed angels as materialized humans without wings so it made for an interesting change).
And yeah, my fixation with angels from back then MIGHT have subconsciously contributed to a current, er, intense interest I have with a certain fandom involving angels.
Anywhooo, my morbid grandparents were always talking about death and what I wanted when they were dead (I don't think they're leaving me anything, they don't actually like me and the feeling's mutual; I wish somebody would have them committed already) and all I really wanted was that children's Bible, but though they almost gave it to me once, despite not being dead yet (though according to them, they've been dying for the last twenty years), our relationship has gotten so bad I refused to take it. I really have a lot against them both and the way I see it they can keep their stolen mold ridden children's Bible and I will just maybe buy my own someday if I get around to it.
Or not.
I love it, but I don't want to remember them every time I look at it either.
Highly recommend to anyone who isn't me/didn't have psychos for grandparents. You'll love it, it's beautiful.
My grandparents had this book when I was a kid. Because they were Portuguese and my grandma claimed to be illiterate (ha, she's having a laugh, she's just lazy) they didn't have a lot of books in their basement apartment and this was the only one in English. Between you and I, readers of this review, I think granny dearest STOLE this book from someone; she claimed she found it but she has a major problem with stealing and complusive lying down to this day so I don't believe that for a second.
Well, when they would baby sit me as a little kid there wasn't much to do except watch grandma sew or stare at grandpa eating soup, unless you brought a toy with you or convinced grandma to let you play with the box of McDonald's toys (again, I think these were stolen) she usually saved for when there were more of us (she had five grandkids, since my aunt had four kiddios) since she didn't believe "one girl should play with a whole box of toys by herself" or she would "go crazy" and if I asked why she would insist the Bible said so. Not the smartest thing to say to a kid who was being trained to teach the Bible for volunteer work when she grew up, as I knew for a fact it did NOT say that. But she would get mad if I said so.
Anywho, they didn't mind me looking at the children's Bible if I asked. But it was too large for me to hold so I had to sprawl on my stomach to do so. Them spreading a blanket where I was going to be over the tile is one of the few kind things I can remember my grandparents doing that they didn't rub in my face later. I loved going through all the brilliantly illustrated pages. I remember looking especially for the stories of Abigail (Kind David's wife) because I was named after her and for Rebekah (Issac's wife) because I had a cousin named after her, and then looking for the pictures of angels. I was weirdly fascinated by their wingalings (my other Bible Story book usually showed angels as materialized humans without wings so it made for an interesting change).
And yeah, my fixation with angels from back then MIGHT have subconsciously contributed to a current, er, intense interest I have with a certain fandom involving angels.
Anywhooo, my morbid grandparents were always talking about death and what I wanted when they were dead (I don't think they're leaving me anything, they don't actually like me and the feeling's mutual; I wish somebody would have them committed already) and all I really wanted was that children's Bible, but though they almost gave it to me once, despite not being dead yet (though according to them, they've been dying for the last twenty years), our relationship has gotten so bad I refused to take it. I really have a lot against them both and the way I see it they can keep their stolen mold ridden children's Bible and I will just maybe buy my own someday if I get around to it.
Or not.
I love it, but I don't want to remember them every time I look at it either.
Highly recommend to anyone who isn't me/didn't have psychos for grandparents. You'll love it, it's beautiful.
January 5, 2025
When my parents downsized to a smaller home, mom handed me this children's Bible. I saw that the inscription said that they had given it to me and my siblings in 1972 when I was 7.
I looked through it and was struck by the high quality of the illustrations. This book is worth getting just to look at them all. When I came to the one of Absalom getting his head suck in a tree while galloping away (page 259, II Samuel 18), I realized I remembered it and that it had been a significant part of my childhood.
A children's Bible with illustrations of this high quality can really make an impression. This one did.
Yes, there are silly elements. Blond Jesus, really? And though Old Testament characters look passably, vaguely semitic, the New Testament characters look like they could be ancestors of the Knights of the Round Table.
And Jonah--goodness gracious. On pages 340-341, his gourd--apparently the KJV was the source text--is big enough for him to cut out a doorway and set up housekeeping. And the leaves are as big as bedsheets. The vine looks like the trunk of a 20yo tree. Jonah looks like a rodent sitting next to that plant. Sadly we don't get an illustration of what must have been the very impressive cutworm (Jonah 4:7) that felled that thing! Maybe a relative of the one from Dune? I can hear the editor telling the artist, "Just draw a giant pumpkin plant with a green pumpkin, with leaves proportionately gigantic. And nevermind the cutworm." Mission accomplished!
I was surprised to find no mention anywhere of the the artist. There are a lot of illustrations here and almost all look like they were probably done by the same artist. Starting near the end on page 476 some look like they were done by a different artist. But the first artist's work must have been an awful lot of work to be done anomymously. Points to the person who can identify the artist!
I'm also curious about the reference on the copyright page to an earlier, 1962 copyright, by Fratelli Fabbri in Milan. Was that an Italian edition, and were the illustrations by an Italian artist for that edition?
I looked through it and was struck by the high quality of the illustrations. This book is worth getting just to look at them all. When I came to the one of Absalom getting his head suck in a tree while galloping away (page 259, II Samuel 18), I realized I remembered it and that it had been a significant part of my childhood.
A children's Bible with illustrations of this high quality can really make an impression. This one did.
Yes, there are silly elements. Blond Jesus, really? And though Old Testament characters look passably, vaguely semitic, the New Testament characters look like they could be ancestors of the Knights of the Round Table.
And Jonah--goodness gracious. On pages 340-341, his gourd--apparently the KJV was the source text--is big enough for him to cut out a doorway and set up housekeeping. And the leaves are as big as bedsheets. The vine looks like the trunk of a 20yo tree. Jonah looks like a rodent sitting next to that plant. Sadly we don't get an illustration of what must have been the very impressive cutworm (Jonah 4:7) that felled that thing! Maybe a relative of the one from Dune? I can hear the editor telling the artist, "Just draw a giant pumpkin plant with a green pumpkin, with leaves proportionately gigantic. And nevermind the cutworm." Mission accomplished!
I was surprised to find no mention anywhere of the the artist. There are a lot of illustrations here and almost all look like they were probably done by the same artist. Starting near the end on page 476 some look like they were done by a different artist. But the first artist's work must have been an awful lot of work to be done anomymously. Points to the person who can identify the artist!
I'm also curious about the reference on the copyright page to an earlier, 1962 copyright, by Fratelli Fabbri in Milan. Was that an Italian edition, and were the illustrations by an Italian artist for that edition?
June 21, 2018
This was read aloud to my homeschooled 3rd grader as the first installment to an ongoing comparative religious studies. The copy we read belongs to me, my grandmother gave it to me as a child. My daughter has not been raised religiously which made me very grateful for my years of religious study and ability to deal with her very vocal narrative. I was told that the Catholic Church recommends that new converts read a children's Bible when they first consider the religion. I'm sure this approach would work for someone with a Christian background. This was not the case in my house. My child is a very advanced 9 year old girl with a love of history and science. I on the other hand attended 12 years of Catholic School and my husband has his undergrad from a Catholic University. Neither I nor my husband were prepared for the obnoxious commentary our youngest daughter inserted into every single story of the Old Testament. Luckily, I was able to put things into context and give educated instruction with historical details to get her through it. The good news is that she enjoyed learning the story of Jesus in Biblical detail which she only knew bits and pieces of prior to the study. She was not impressed with the large amount of space devoted to Paul which had to be explained to her as the importance to forming the Catholic religion. All in all I wish I had not read a children's Bible to her and had instead read a complete Catholic Bible. We will revisit the Bible at a later date. To note this was read in 15 minute installments over an entire semester.
September 21, 2019
This children's Bible was given to me as an infant by the ladies of the congregation where I was baptized. As I child, I mostly remember using it as an anchor for the corners of blanket forts, since it was one of the largest books I owned. However, decided to read through it with my son.
It amazes me how complex the "simplified" language is in this book. Biblical place and person names abound, and much of the phrasing would today be deemed too difficult for children, I dare say. It was refreshing to see how straightforward and complete a children's Bible from an earlier era could be. There is no moralizing or proselytizing here, but a simple exposition of the Scriptures. The Biblical book and chapter references at the tops of the pages help emphasize that these things really are drawn from the Bible, just as the language itself reflects actual Biblical language.
There were a fair number of stories that I was surprised made the cut for inclusion, though a few puzzling omissions as well. I still cannot figure out why the sacrifice of Isaac was not included.
I found the illustrations just OK, though far better than cartoon images that adorn many of the more recent children's Bibles.
I am still pondering how this book is really meant to be used. It seems to me there would be a small window in which children would appreciate and understand this book before being ready to move on to an actual Bible, but it might be possible that frequent use with parents from a young age could make it a beloved reference.
It amazes me how complex the "simplified" language is in this book. Biblical place and person names abound, and much of the phrasing would today be deemed too difficult for children, I dare say. It was refreshing to see how straightforward and complete a children's Bible from an earlier era could be. There is no moralizing or proselytizing here, but a simple exposition of the Scriptures. The Biblical book and chapter references at the tops of the pages help emphasize that these things really are drawn from the Bible, just as the language itself reflects actual Biblical language.
There were a fair number of stories that I was surprised made the cut for inclusion, though a few puzzling omissions as well. I still cannot figure out why the sacrifice of Isaac was not included.
I found the illustrations just OK, though far better than cartoon images that adorn many of the more recent children's Bibles.
I am still pondering how this book is really meant to be used. It seems to me there would be a small window in which children would appreciate and understand this book before being ready to move on to an actual Bible, but it might be possible that frequent use with parents from a young age could make it a beloved reference.
October 10, 2018
My daughter has me read this book to her about once a week or when she is really tired. Great illustrations! There are details in the artwork that depict real life and have provided opportunities to discuss a variety of topics related to talking to God and the heart. This book has really peaked my daughters interest in attending church school and praying. When she is restless she will ask me to read the "Brown book" as she snuggles in my arms and falls asleep. I have yet to figure out if my voice or the stories put her to sleep. Either way this book always catches her attention and then puts her to sleep.
I read this book as a child with my father and have all kinds of precious memories roll in as I now read it to my child. My daughter is the second generation of the family to read this version of the Bible and I hope as a middle school kid she reads it again on her own. It was the first version of the Bible I read in entirety. After finishing this book at 8 years old I asked my father if I could be baptized, which I was and gifted at that time a copy of the NIV Bible that I still use today. Many happy memories with this book and many more memories are in the making.
I read this book as a child with my father and have all kinds of precious memories roll in as I now read it to my child. My daughter is the second generation of the family to read this version of the Bible and I hope as a middle school kid she reads it again on her own. It was the first version of the Bible I read in entirety. After finishing this book at 8 years old I asked my father if I could be baptized, which I was and gifted at that time a copy of the NIV Bible that I still use today. Many happy memories with this book and many more memories are in the making.
August 3, 2020
Not just for children. Excellent synopsis/overview, especially for a new believer, or for an Old Testament brush-up. (Just ignore the illustrations of a blonde Jesus 🙃)
September 13, 2022
Loved reading through this as a kid.
April 25, 2024
5 STARS THE BOOK OF ALL BOOKS
March 5, 2025
also comical that i read this. not as interesting
May 7, 2025
My parents gave me this Bible on my 6th birthday. So enjoyable to read thru it.
The illustrations are beautiful, including the blonde Jesus 😉 🤷♀️
The illustrations are beautiful, including the blonde Jesus 😉 🤷♀️
November 4, 2016
Read this to my son over the course of many months. Highly recommended as Cliff Notes version of the Bible. Fun to read the stories again. My 5 year old was fascinated by the stories of the Old Testament in particular, probably because we were treading into new topics of violence. Was interesting to re-assess whether the Children's Bible (this version) is really appropriate reading for children, but we plowed through! While reading this it was also amazing for my son and I to then notice how many Biblical references we would hear every day on the radio or just in conversation.
June 19, 2018
Genesis finished on January 25 Upon completion would like to learn more about John the Baptist
September 25, 2019
I always loved the illustrations in this, despite it having the inaccurately non-Semitic, Caucasian Anglo Jews pictured throughout.
February 1, 2019
This is a captivating version of the Bible, with understandable, well-written stories and beautiful illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews