Children of God Storybook Bible

by Desmond Tutu

Creating the first truly global Bible for children of all nationalities, Desmond Tutu retells more than fifty of his most beloved Bible stories in Children of God Storybook Bible . Many of the finest artists from around the world—such as Jago, E.B. Lewis, Javaka Steptoe, and Xiao Xin—have illustrated these favorite Bible stories from Desmond Tutu, connecting Scripture with the multitude of ethnicities across the globe. The Children of God Storybook Bible : Through the stunning illustrations and Tutu’s delightful words, readers will experience the Bible stories as if they were there, with Adam and Eve in the garden, with Noah on the ark, with Abraham in the desert, and with Jesus on the mountaintop.

Genres: Childrens, Religion, Spirituality, Christianity, Christian, Faith, Nonfiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published June 24, 2010

About the author

Desmond Mpilo Tutu was a South African cleric and activist who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. In 1984, Tutu became the second South African to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Tutu was the first black South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, and primate of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa (now the Anglican Church of Southern Africa). Tutu chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and is currently the chairman of The Elders. Tutu was vocal in his defense of human rights and used his high profile to campaign for the oppressed. Tutu also campaigned to fight AIDS, homophobia, poverty and racism.

He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism, the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2005 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Tutu has also compiled several books of his speeches and sayings.

Reviews

[Rachel Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Picked this up at an independent bookstore after a friend I trust told me how much she and her son love it. This is the first children’s Bible storybook I’ve read that truly seems to reflect a god who is loving, kind, created people of all different shapes and colors in his image, and dreams of a good, cared-for, and whole Earth. Other toddler (!) Bibles I’ve seen have had blatant guilt trips or featured a cast of all-white characters. This is the first one I can feel truly safe in reading to my daughter - plus the illustrations were done by artists around the world and are absolutely beautiful. My relationship with religion is pretty complicated right now, but maybe if more Christians believed and lived the kind of faith I read about in this book, I wouldn’t struggle so.

Quotes:
Jonah sat under a shady vine and said, “God, the Ninevites are our enemies! How could you save them? God replied, “They are your enemies, but they are my children too.” ~Dear God, please help me to love my enemies.

Jeremiah watched as the potter former a jar of clay in his wheel. But the jar was lopsided, so the potter took wet clay and reshaped it until it was whole and perfect...Jeremiah served the Lord for a prophet for forty years and tried to teach people how to live and be shaped by God’s love. ~Dear God, thank you for giving purpose to everyone’s life, including mine.

[Emily Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this Bible. The stories are a great length. The pictures are gorgeous. And the little prayers at the end are beautiful. I love the way that Archbishop Desmond Tutu tells the stories in written form and especially the way he narrates the book on the CD. The sound effects and music in the background really add to the telling as well. Lastly, I love the fact that many different artists participated in the creation of the book, each sharing their own style and vision.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my daughters' favorite book. We read it just about every day. The illustrations are beautiful and the story--as told my Archbishop Desmond Tutu--highlights what's best about the Bible: compassion,kindness, justice, peace, and hope. Highly recommended for families!

[Holyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful illustrations and the stories and are easily understood by my preschooler. I like the little prayer at the end of each story which helps make the story more personal and opens up conversation (if the child is willing).

[Rebecca Ainscow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. They made a decision to feature illustrations from a variety of illustrators throughout the world, spanning many cultures and races. So often children's Bible stories are illustrated in saccharine ways, but these high quality illustrations really have depth and enrich the book.

Additionally, Archbishop Desmond Tutu's love for God and children shines through. "God's Dream" is a recurring message which ties seemingly dissimilar stories together. Some of the more disturbing Old Testament stories are told in a redeeming way. I don't mind complex stories in and of themselves, as I believe we're meant to learn from them, but I am particular in how they're told. In this collection, God's love is constant and boundless. Maybe Jonah and the Whale is a story about a man being swallowed by a whale, and surviving. Or maybe it all means something else somehow. Either way:

"Jonah sat under a shady vine and said, 'God, the Ninevites are our enemies! How could you save them?'

God replied, 'They are your enemies, but they are my children too.'"

That is the type of insight I want in my Bible stories!

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lovely children's Bible is the second that I've recently read and approve of for my son. Archbishop Desmond Tutu's retelling of many essential Bible stories is concise and easy for young readers to understand. The art is stunning and multicultural, and Tutu himself reads the audio version (which I enthusiastically recommend in addition to the book).

I personally prefer Sally Lloyd Jones's children's Bible as it contains more theology and narrative content, but I think The Children of God Storybook Bible would be a sweet addition to a Christian child's library.

[Karen Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over fifty short (1-2 pages) parables are illustrated here by three different illustrators in a consistent style. One color illustration per chapter. Intro and stories by Desmond Tutu. A basic introduction to many biblical stories told in simplified language by Tutu and with the aid of an editor. Each parable ends with a line of prayer, "Dear God..."

[KhiN’Millie Friesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a beloved kid of God! And Millie is and all my friends too. For a long time we have read this Bible. I love Jesus and the stories of him. It was a good Bible because its pictures. We read the lions den one with Papa lots of times. My favourite story is the one of the Good Samaritan cause I read that 100 times. I really like the Samaritan who helped the man on the road. Jonah and the Big Fish showed me God would help. This was a good Bible.- Khi 3

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best.

[Danette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read with Julia for Bible at school

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meaningfully retold stories and beautiful illustrations.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve really been enjoying listening to this with my daughter at bedtime.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the illustrations!!

[Matthew Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully told bible stories and wonderfully illustrated. It is my go-to bible to give to baptism families.

[nadia pk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ótimas ilustrações. E boa maneira de apresentar a Bíblia a menores.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my *favorite* storybook Bible, but a good one that we might add to the collection.

[Gael Browne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful children’s Bible that recounts much, including some of those parts that often don’t make the cut when it comes to children’s accessibility. The greatest thing about this book though (in my opinion) is the diversity and creativity of the illustrations. I love that artists from throughout the world have been chosen to illustrate each story, adding to the narrative we teach our children - that Jesus is for everyone, and seen through many different lenses and cultures. The depiction styles vary massively, but my children loved checking out who’d illustrated each tale in the glossary at the back, and then checking a map to see where in the world they were based. Thoroughly recommend.

[Keavagh McKenna]

hell yeah I read this.

[Jennifer Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures in this Bible are absolutely gorgeous. There are many illustrators and the diversity displayed is delightful.

[Daniel Pool · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really good stuff. Beautifully written. Very good selections of Bible stories for even very young children. Even the weirder or more frightening ones end with a prayer of reassurance. VERY good illustrations, too.

[Gail Welborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories narrated by Archbishop Desmond Tutu—YouTube preview: http://youtu.be/utk6ihpapf4
Archbishop Tutu, Seattle, WA 2011: http://tinyurl.com/6rgnv9w

Children of God, Storybook Bible, Deluxe Slip-cover Edition includes Complete Book and Audio CD’s, by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Zondervan, 2010, Ages 4 and up, 128 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-031071912, $18.99

Archbishop Tutu’s internationally acclaimed storybook Bible for children contains more than fifty much-loved Bible stories that teach God’s love, peace and forgiveness from an international perspective. He captures Bible characters, their dramas and emotions in exquisite detail, from the Creation story in Genesis, to God’s promise of a New Earth in Revelation and many other stories in between.

Some of the finest artists from South Africa, the UK, Russia, France, the Netherlands, Argentina, USA Italy, China and Vietnam contributed colorful, stunning illustrations portrayed in the style and viewpoint of their unique cultures; which truly makes this an international, global Bible.

Each two-page story…Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/748v3h2

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the best Children's storybook Bible I've come by. Finally, we hear the stories paraphrased as Jesus would speak them. Many Children's resources tell the biblical stories through a platonic lens with "hope" being some kind of non-bodied existence somewhere else (not here). Jesus' teaching goes the other direction and Tutu's paraphrase helps us see that hope is born through compassion and is rooted in this time and place. "May your kingdom come," Jesus said.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for an illustrated Bible with racial diversity and this one is really lovely. Each Bible story fills a 2 or 4 page spread and is illustrated by a different artist. The colors in the book are rich and inviting and Desmond Tutu's interpretations of the stories are simple and nicely done. Each story ends with a single sentence prayer that relates to the story. Nice for bedtime reading.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful narration and illustration of the stories of the Bible! Storyteller Bishop Desmond Tutu and the artists from all over the world whose drawings grace the book have combined to give us a joyous, insightful sharing of Scripture. I got a copy for my granddaughter. It blessed me in the reading.

[Kim]

this is the picture book bible i got for callie the other day - beautiful illustrations and i love the way the stories are told

[Niecy]

Munchkin's current bedtime book.

[Gennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly beautiful book. With illustrations by artists from all over the world and if you get the Delux Edition, Archbishop Tutu reading the story.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations! Great versions of the familiar bible stories. Perfect for children aged 5 to 7.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to the Bible for early readers. Amazing illustrations!

[Susannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for all ages.
You can read my full review here-
http://teaandtheology.com/book-review...