My First Book of Mormon Stories

by Deanna Draper Buck, Jerry Harston (Illustrator)

Your children and grandchildren will delight in the colorful pictures and simplified writing. You'll love its durability. Retold by Deanna Draper Buck, these abbreviated stories present twenty of the best-known scriptural accounts from the Book of Mormon, as well as an additional story of Joseph Smith and Moroni. The author retells the familiar events in ''read aloud'' language that will entertain as it teaches. Stories include ''Lehi Was a Prophet,'' ''King Benjamin,'' and ''The People of Ammon.'' Enhanced by bright, colorful illustrations, My First Book of Mormon Stories will provide many special moments for parents and grandparents of young children. This durable board book is sure to become a family treasure.

Genres: Religion, Lds, Childrens, Picture Books, Church, Nonfiction, Christian

34 pages, Board book

First published December 31, 1998

Reviews

[Brianna Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a great job at keeping the stories simple and engaging. My 3 year old can’t quite sit through it but others her age probably could. We’ll be putting this book aside for a few months at least, until my daughter’s attention span is a bit longer.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are great for children, except that they are too big for my daughter's little hands. The stories are simple, and the pictures are colorful and fun. These will be great for her to use as "quiet books" in church when she gets a little older. I wish they made them in a smaller size for toddlers to carry around, though.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this with the kids every night for our scripture study and they love it. Our hope is that as they understand the basic storylines of the Book of Mormon, they will get so much more from it as they progress. They will be getting the Old and New Testament and Church History versions for Christmas!

[Mánon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The wording was simplified well for children but this could have been done better if it was broken down into segments or like a 10 book series. For a book board there are way too many stories that have been just cut short. So there are a lot of interesting details and key points missing. Rather had more of the story.

[Paul Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful way to get into the Book of Mormon.

I have a few suggestions that would bring it to 5 stars. (1) Give scriptures references. For example, the text for the Liahona could reference 1 Nephi 16:10 in small type at the bottom. (2) Add more of the important parts. I'm thinking of Lehi's dream, Alma's teachings on faith and planting a seed, maybe another page on the wars (e.g. "When the Nephites obeyed God, He blessed them."). Of course, it's already almost an inch thick.

I have very minor quibbles with some the illustrations. For example, it show Laman and Lemuel not helping build the boat when they eventually did. ("He built a sturdy ship ...", not "Nephi and his brothers built ...") "... if the Lamanites learned about Jesus, they would stop fighting ..." would perhaps better be "... if the Lamanites followed Jesus, ..." When Jesus is born, it shows people looking at a star at night. The Book of Mormon is explicit that it was as bright as day. The Shining Stones (Jaredites) shows the boats FIRST on the sea, THEN God touching the stones. It may have been clearer to put the touching first, then the boats second (but how do you show the stones glowing *inside* the boats??)

[Shaumbra Papritz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and simplified stories. However, I think it would have been better to do separate books, maybe? For instance, one book for Nephi that breaks down his family leaving Jerusalem, retrieving the records, building the boat and sailing to the Promised Land. That way key parts of the story are not rushed through. But I still love it and am glad to have something for my little ones to read.

[Skye Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been looking for a good Children’s Book of Mormon to start introducing the stories of the scriptures to my sweet baby girl. This one is the best one I’ve found so far but falls just a bit short still of what I’m really looking for. I really do appreciate the way that the author has condensed the stories. I’m just looking for a different kind of presentation in the words and illustrations that can capture the attention of my baby a bit more.💜

[Jill Culver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a children’s version of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. This book tells the basics of the stories in the Book of Mormon. It explains who the characters are, and how they are related. This book is a great first introduction to the Book of Mormon, and it helped me understand what I was reading. I read this book a few times as a child and it was great to read as an adult because it refreshed my memory.

[Dominique]

I think reading this entire book to a young child in one sitting might be a bit much, but the stories themselves are quite short. My great nephew asked me to read it to him, and he did get through it. I’m sure I pronounced many of the names wrong as I’m not LDS. This book is a good introduction to the LDS church if you don’t know a lot about it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, first Book of Mormon board book. Chunky enough for little hands, but had short stories for the hands that are a little more able to listen. Great for the church bag, as well. Our copy is well loved and worn after several children, nieces and nephews.

[Daryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book to introduce the Book of Mormon to children (a read-to-me book).

[Rosalind Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good introduction to stories from the Book of Mormon. And there are quite a few of them in it, I like this book!

[Janet Hayden newman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bought this on a whim. I am not LDS, but curious about their teachings. Found it for $0.99 @Goodwill, so I bought it.

[Zoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one highlights the basic stories we know, whereas the other book goes into more details.
Great artwork and very informative.

[Stacy Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book to have in your home. It very easily tells stories from the Book of Mormon in a simple way that young children can understand. It is also full of great pictures that tell each story in and of themselves. We use this book for our Happy Home Feeling Nights (probably know as Family Home Evening in your LDS home), and also read from it on Sundays at bedtime.

My son loves this book. We started him on it earlier than the recommended age, but what the heck, he likes books and is able to sit through actual stories rather than just one or two pictures.

[Magila · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Ok, I am going to take some abuse for this, but I am just not a fan. Things are not good just because I am LDS and am grateful that they exist. They are good because they are good.

I'm glad that someone decided to make this book, or a book like this. The stories were truncated and I didn't always agree with what was included and omitted. I didn't love the art, but it was pretty decent. In a way, the stories weren't stories with morals, or complete renderings of gospel stories. It is just a thick pages book for kids with some Book of Mormon stories.

I don't recommend it.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this fairly frequently (a story per night). Well-written in easy to understand language. My only complaint that's not really a complaint is that sometimes the stories are sanitized. Which is on one hand good, b/c I don't really want to tell my kid just before bed about, say, arm-choppings en masse. But I do kinda twitch about the rude-awakening when they read the BoM for real. You know, kinda like when the kids read about Jonah and discover that, contrary to the Veggie Tales, the worst thing about the Assyrians was not, in fact, them slapping people with fishes.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the illustrations in this book of simplified stories from the Book of Mormon better than the others we've seen. I have also been happy with the way the stories have been simplified without comprimising the spirit of the actual accounts. Young children are able to read the words easily and understand easier as well.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

my kids (3 and 4) really like this book, they want me to read it to them over and over. It is good for toddlers, I would say not as good for school age children, as it doesn't go into the stories. Great for a very quick summary of a scripture story.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect gift for a little child. We received this as a gift when my daughter was little and it lasted through 2 if not 3 children without getting all beat up. Plus- it is great for sacrament meetings...

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sturdy beginner story book for the youngest of the young. The story and pictures are simple and pleasing to the eye. My only beef is that if you aim this at toddlers and babies, it should fit in mom's over sized diaper bag. Which this one had trouble doing. But it was worth having.

[DearMYRTLE · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to give to the little ones for reading quietly during sacrament meeting.

[Zac Case · Rating 2 out of 5]

No offense but this book stinks. It's a pretty boring take on the book of mormon.

[Maurisa Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aubree loves this book

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is true, and this version is simplified for the kids.

[Katieb (MundieMoms) · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love reading these series of books. They're so easy for the kids to understand. We read these each night before bed. Bryce loves learning about the Prophets.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute kids book!!!!!!! When my mom was Primary President, we got this book, and I like it sooooooooo much!!!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good story book, but it just doesn't hold my daughter attention that well.

[Trent Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

great read for young children to understand the Book of Mormon very beneficial to parents trying to portray basic stories from Book of Mormon

[Jaymi Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a convert the Book of Mormon can be daunting and confusing. I bought this book for my children, but wound up reading it over and over to them for the understanding I gained.