God’s Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible: The Story of God’s Big Diverse Family

by Esau McCaulley, Rogério Coelho (Illustrator)

Noted biblical scholar, theologian, professor, and author Esau McCaulley has written a beautiful storybook Bible honoring God’s diverse family that is sure to become a beloved classic!

God’s Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible is a rich, color-filled tapestry of Bible stories about God’s love of ethnic diversity, his concern for the poor, his justice, and his loving compassion. This one-of-a-kind storybook Bible celebrates God’s overarching story of grace and redemption and his intentional design for an ethnically diverse, multicultural church that cares for the vulnerable.

There Old Testament stories15 New Testament storiesSeveral stories not traditionally told in storybook Bibles!Families of all ethnicities, nationalities, and backgrounds will be drawn to Esau McCaulley’s fresh, yet faithful, handling of the biblical stories. With the expertise of a Bible scholar and the heart of a father, McCaulley clearly illuminates God’s love for all people as woven in stories from Genesis to Revelation. There is no doubt that God has always been focused on creating a beautifully diverse family. McCaulley’s clear and winsome retellings, alongside the breathtaking artwork of Rogério Coelhio, will capture the hearts and minds of children and parents alike.

Rogério Coelhio’s artwork is unlike that in any other storybook Bible. With sweeping scenes, never-before imagined perspectives, and fascinating textures and colors, children will be inspired to see the immense beauty of God’s diverse family in powerful, new ways.

Special Emphasis on diversityExtraordinary, richly colored illustrations31 Bible stories not usually presented in storybook BiblesThe story of God’s colorful kingdom is for people the world over. All who see it are certain to fall in love with this stunningly beautiful and heartwarming book. Perfect for family Bible study with your kids, ministry use, and Sunday school.

Genres: Childrens, Christian, Picture Books

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

Esau McCaulley, PhD is an associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. He is the author of many works including Sharing in the Son’s Inheritance and the Children’s Book Josie Johnson Hair and the Holy Spirit. His book Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope won numerous awards, including Christianity Today’s book of the year. His latest project is a memoir entitled: How far to the Promise Land: One Family’s Story of Hope and Survival in the American South. He is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. His writings have also appeared in places such as The Atlantic, Washington Post, and Christianity Today. He is married to Mandy, a pediatrician and navy reservist. Together, they have four wonderful children

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five glowing stars for the marvelous illustrations! They are beautiful and heartfelt and have incredible use of color. I want to add this to my personal collection just so they're around to look at.

Only three stars for the text though. It's not bad, but I do not think it succeeds as a Bible storybook. It felt like the author was telling the readers about the stories rather than actually telling the stories. This was especially glaring in the chapter on Psalms. It explained what Psalms are, and discussed a few specific verses, but there was no poetry.

The narrative also weirdly skipped over the crucifixion? It talked about Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus' cross, then discussed what Jesus' death accomplished for us, then jumped to the resurrection. The event did not happen on the page.

I think the writing wanted to be a discussion of themes in the Bible about diversity and God's intentions for it. That could have been a great book. But as a storybook Bible, it's awkwardly detached and missing pieces.

No rating is going to feel quite right, because I didn't especially enjoy the reading, but I loved the illustrations so much. So, averaging it out it is.

[Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a parent who has read a lot of storybook Bibles, this has been my favorite. Part of that is because there was nothing super problematic (supersessionism, cessationism, weird overemphasis on sin/wrath, overly text-critical, etc.) and nothing too annoying (cheesy jokes/attempts at being clever that never land for a 5 year old the way the 50 year old author hoped and dreamed). The story length was great for my kiddos attention spans (I liked N.T. Wright’s story Bible but the one-page story length was much too short for us). I just wish this story Bible was three or four times longer (there are only 30 or so stories in the book)!

Overall, this would be the storybook Bible that I would currently recommend to parents of preschoolers and kindergartners. The illustrations are beautiful as well, and my kids love looking through the pictures (however, my two year old daughter is upset that this story Bible doesn’t have the “cut the baby in half” story like one of our other story Bibles. I’m not sure if that is a sign that I am succeeding or failing at instructing my children in the Text…).

[Corrie Haffly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has everything you’d expect in a children’s storybook Bible — winsome illustrations, classic stories about David and Jonah, continued callouts to God’s love for the world and humanity and Jesus’ offer of salvation and friendship. What it brings that other children’s Bibles have lacked: A glowing foreword from Beth Moore, for one. Visuals that capture the beautiful diversity of humanity (I appreciated the inclusion of a wheelchair user, for example). And just as important, text that highlights the repeated themes of God’s love for the different ethnic groups in our world and God’s heart for justice and for the marginalized. These are not “woke” ideas (if you use “woke” pejoratively), these are Biblical ideas.

Highly recommend if you’re a parent (or grandparent, or relative, etc) of littles!

[Julia Harkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This storybook bible is perfect for your older kids who are likely also ready for reading the Bible, but may need a few pictures or some narrative that connects the Bible to their lives. We finished reading Mark with our kids and moved on to this but it did not feel like a “step back“. Like most things meant for kids, I learned a few things in a new way as well. It focuses on seeing the gospel through the whole Bible as well as God’s Kingdom plan since creation.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to preview this book before it will be published in September. I didn't have time to read the whole storybook Bible, but what I did read was well-written and would work well as a read-aloud. Like all story Bibles, which by default don't include every detail from Scripture and also always reflect the themes the writer wants to emphasize, this can't substitute for reading the Bible itself. What I did love were the illustrations, a blend of showing the context of the story and then providing glimpses of God's diverse Kingdom in the modern world. Colorful and beautiful.

[JL Salty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: g+ very cleaned up ;)
Recommend: 4-7 yo bible stories
Diversity: God’s colorful kingdom will be full of all kinds of people, and that’s just the way He wants it.

Conservative readers might be a little uncomfortable with the justice side of this telling, but… I think Mr. McCaulley doesn’t go to far, he is pretty spot on with my own understanding of Gods desire for His creation. Not that I’m the end all!! But I do appreciate the perspective being made available for young families to read to their kiddos.

And the illustrations… so beautiful. Historical and modern, bringing the teaching of the Bible into our present day.
Well done, gentlemen.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real cute storybook Bible that tells Bible stories through the lens of the Gospel. Esau McCaulley does a great job of relating the stories back to the God's plan and the Gospel. The Bible is beautifully illustrated and I recommend it for any home or church library.

"This is the Kingdom and family God has been working toward since the beginning! It is a Kingdom that invites everyone to join. Whether you're rich or poor, young or old- no matter where you were born or the color of your skin- God's Kingdom welcomes you."

[Allison]

I didn’t read the whole thing, but it’s worth pointing out that this is not a storybook Bible. It is a book of Bible stories interspersed with author commentary/experiences. This is a great reference for incorporating diversity, but because of the author’s presence in the text it is hard for me to know how I would use it with kids…

[Brian Dukes · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful pictures, routinely taking the breath of someone away. the diversity message was clear but not heavy handed, and felt like it fit well with the general whirlwind through the biblical story (the entirely of the Bible's story arc in 31 stories). highly recommended.

[Will Whitmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well done and accessible for kids. My fourth grader read it aloud to us. She loved the artwork as well