I can’t remember being more excited about a book as I am about this one. The Big Picture Story Bible is a must have for parents with young children! Unlike most Bible story books I’ve seen, this book focuses on the main point of the Bible: “The Bible is a big book, about a big God, who keeps a big promise!” It is beautifully illustrated by Gail Schoonmaker, but its real beauty is found in the message of the Bible which is portrayed by author David Helm. Written in simple language, this large 9″ x 9″ hardback book of 456 pages is a bargain at Amazon.com for only $13.59. Here is a description of the book from the publisher’s website:

No child is too young to begin learning about the greatest love story of all—God’s love for his people, as portrayed in the Bible. David R. Helm and Gail Schoonmaker collaborate to create a beautifully illustrated book of Bible stories especially for children, written with simplicity. Rather than simply retelling the most familiar short scenes from the Bible, this book presents the “big picture”—the unified story running through the Old and New Testaments. This delightful book will help children learn the Bible’s whole story and begin to appreciate the fulfillment of God’s promise to his people.

The Big Picture Bible Story Book is perfect for parents to read to their children, and eventually, for children to read on their own. It is an excellent way to introduce them to a book that will guide them through all of life.

The author who has most helped me understand how the whole Bible fits together is Graeme Goldsworthy (According to Plan, Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture, Gospel and Kingdom). I was thrilled to see that this story book acknowledges Goldsworthy’s influence upon the author’s view of the unifying theme of the Bible as: “God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule.” This view of the Scripture is seen early on in the account of Creation where “God’s people, Adam and Eve, lived in God’s place, the Garden of Eden. And they rueled God’s world by obeying his good word” (p. 35). But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they had to leave God’s place. But with God’s promise to Abraham described as: “God told Abraham to go to a new place, because God was going to make a new people, so that God’s blessing would spread to all people!” (p. 70). This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ! The book ends with John’s vision in the book of Revelation with these words: “God’s forever people will one day live in God’s forever place under God’s forever rule” (p. 450). The circle is complete. God’s purpose has been realized. A redeemed humanity exists for God’s eternal glory. This is the message of the Bible and I’m thankful for this resource to teach it to my children at such an early age!