Bible Stories for Kids

We wrote a newsletter naming our top 20 Bible Story books back in 2012. While a couple of those are now out of print, it provides an easy-to-see overview of these favorites! 

Children love stories. Stories are one of the primary ways they learn about the world and themselves. While most children absorb facts easily, stories provide an immediacy that simple information lacks. A child doesn't remember a story so much as know it; it becomes part of their life experience and informs the way they interact with God and other people.

The Bible is a series of stories forming a single narrative about God, mankind and their relationship. These stories each illustrate aspects of God's character. While children need to be taught the terms and "facts" of Christian doctrine, Bible stories provide a vital reinforcement and illustration of abstract concepts.

God chose to reveal Himself primarily through stories about His people. Stories, then, should be the primary way we teach our children about Him. By familiarizing themselves with the history of God's people, our children will begin to better understand their own role in the continuing story of God's redemption of mankind.

We don't carry a lot of books with individual stories, focusing instead on larger collections. While none of these books include all the stories, they offer a sense of the Bible's overall flow that many similar books lack. Once kids get older it's important to move on to the Bible itself, but in their younger years they often need something a bit more comprehensible. To help you find the most age-appropriate Bible storybooks, we've divided what we offer into three groups: books for ages 2-4, 4-7, and 7-10.

Ages 2-4

The Beginner's Bible is best used as a read-aloud and features cartoony illustrations and a smattering of famous Bible stories. More complete and focusing on the flow of Biblical history, The Big Picture Story Bible also includes thoughtful questions to aid retention. The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes pairs 184 paragraph-length Bible stories with one-page full-color illustrations, with the text acting as commentary on and explanation of the pictures. Our favorite for this age group, The Jesus Story Book Bible is humorous, Reformed, and demonstrates the presence of Christ throughout the entirety of Scripture.

Ages 4-7

101 Favorite Stories from the Bible includes many often-neglected tales and doesn't shy away from the violent ones (though stories of an explicitly sexual nature are excluded or glossed). Focusing on events and people rather than theology, The Family-Time Bible in Pictures is beautifully illustrated and includes discussion questions. For a simple overview of the Bible's narrative arc, The Children's Bible in 365 Stories is a solid choice. The EagerReader Bible introduces beginning readers to foundational Bible stories.

365 Great Bible Stories focuses on the presence of Christ throughout the biblical narrative. Starr Meade's The Mighty Acts of God imparts biblical and theological truth through well-written stories with Scripture references. The New Children's Bible highlights key individuals in the history of redemption, imparting a Covenantal understanding of God's work. (The Mighty Acts of God and The New Children's Bible are also good choices for slightly older kids.) Particularly useful for 4-7 year olds, but beneficial for the entire family, The Gospel Story Bible illustrates Jesus' story throughout both Testaments, along with thought-provoking discussion starters.

Ages 7-10

The Egermeier's Bible Story Book is a classic of its kind, simply presenting well-known Bible stories with wholesome illustrations and a moralistic tone. Also a classic, but much better at imparting theological truths, The Child's Story Bible even works as a doctrinal introduction for adult new believers. The Children's Illustrated Bible supplements the famous Bible stories with information about the people and times, maps, etc.

The Golden Children's Bible takes kids through the major stories in chronological order, employing a modified "King James" prose that is neither dumbed-down nor too difficult. For a slightly broader age range (8-12), both The Picture Bible and The Action Bible offer the crucial stories of the Bible in comic book format. If you want your kids introduced to the major stories and themes of the Bible in the Bible's own words, the ESV Illustrated Family Bible pairs beautiful illustrations with extended excerpts from the English Standard Version of God's Word.

Of course it's up to you which books you offer your kids and at what age—these are mostly suggestions. Some kids are ready for more challenge at an earlier age, some parents may want to focus more on doctrine than simply the stories themselves, and there are families who prefer to concentrate on the basic elements of Scripture during family devotions. We offer Bible story books that appeal to each of these situations or inclinations, but all of them are written by Christians dedicated to the Gospel and the training of children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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113 Items found Print
Active Filters: 1st grade (Ages 6-7)
101 Favorite Stories from the Bible
by Ura Miller
from New Leaf Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$12.74
And It Was So
by Tasha Tudor
from Westminster Press
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
Ballad of Matthew's Begats w/CD
by Andrew Peterson, illustrated by Cory Godbey
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Barnabas
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Barnabas Children's Bible
by Rhona Davies, illustrated by Marcin Piwowarski
from Anno Domini
for 1st-4th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Bible Pictures to Color
Rod & Staff Preschool ABC Series
by Martha Rohrer
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
Bible Readings for Boys and Girls
by Lynd Ward
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Vintage Bible Story Books (Location: VIN-BIB)
Bible Story - Volume 10
by Arthur Stanley Maxwell
from Pacific Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Bible Story - Volume 5
by Arthur Stanley Maxwell
from Pacific Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Bible Story - Volume 6
by Arthur Stanley Maxwell
from Pacific Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Bible Story - Volume 7
by Arthur Stanley Maxwell
from Pacific Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.00 (4 in stock)
Bible Story - Volume 8
by Arthur Stanley Maxwell
from Pacific Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Bible Story - Volume 9
by Arthur Stanley Maxwell
from Pacific Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Bible Treasures Book 2
by Amber Bennett
from Christian Liberty Press
for 1st grade
in CLP Bible Curriculum (Location: BIB-CLP)
$27.95
BibleTime Series
by Carine MacKenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
BibleWise Series
by Carine MacKenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
Biggest Story
by Kevin DeYoung
from Crossway Books
for 1st-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Biggest Story Bible Storybook
by Kevin DeYoung, illustrated by Don Clark
from Crossway Books
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
Child's Book of Bible Stories
by Jane Werner; illustrated by Masha
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
Children's Bible in 365 Stories
by Mary Batchelor
from David C. Cook
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$16.99
Children's Everyday Bible
by Selina Hastings
from Tyndale House
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Children's Illustrated Bible
by Selina Hastings
from DK Publishing
for 1st-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
Children's Illustrated Bible
by Selina Hastings
from DK Publishing
for 1st-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$7.20 (2 in stock)
Children's Illustrated Bible
by Selina Hastings
from DK Publishing
for 1st-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
Children's Stories of the Bible from the Old and New Testaments
by Barbara Taylor Bradford
from Playmore Publishers
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Vintage Bible Story Books (Location: VIN-BIB)
$4.50 (2 in stock)
Creation Story for Children
by David & Helen Haidle
from Master Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$12.74
David and Goliath
by Barbara Shook Hazen
from Golden Books
for Nursery-1st grade
in Little Golden Books (Location: PIC-GOLD)
DK Illustrated Family Bible
from DK Publishing
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
Dragon and the Garden
The Old Stories
by N. D. Wilson & Peter Bentley
from Canon Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$14.00
Early Readers Bible
by V. Gilbert Beers
Revised from Zonderkidz
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$16.14
Easter Story
by Brian Wildsmith
from Eerdmans
Bible Stories for 1st-3rd grade
in Easter & Lent (Location: HOLIDAY)
Egermeier's Bible Story Book
by Elsie E. Egermeier
from Warner Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$18.69
Egermeier's Bible Story Book
by Elsie E. Egermeier
Revised from Warner Press
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Elijah
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Esther
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Exodus
by Brian Wildsmith
from Eerdmans
Bible Stories for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER)
$21.00
Family-Time Bible in Pictures
by Kenneth N. Taylor
from Tyndale House
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$11.04
Found: Psalm 23
by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Jago
from Zonderkidz
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
Friend Who Forgives
Tales that Tell the Truth
by Dan DeWit & Catalina Echeverri
from Good Book Company
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$14.44
Gideon
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Go and Do Likewise
by John Hendrix
from Abrams Books for Young Readers
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$16.14
God's Servant, Job
by Douglas Bond
from P&R Publishing
for Nursery-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$8.49
Gold & Honey Bible
by Melody Carlson
from Multnomah Books
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Golden Children's Bible
by Golden Books
from Golden Books
for Preschool-4th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$19.54
Gospel Stories for Kids - Devotions Package
by Marty Machowski
from New Growth Press
for 1st-6th grade
in Family Worship (Location: BIB-FAWO)
Gospel Story Bible
by Marty Machowski
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$25.49
Hannah
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Hurlbut's Story of the Bible
by Rev. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
from Yesterday's Classics
for Preschool-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
I Heard Good News Today
by Cornelia Lehn
1st edition from Faith & Life Press
for 1st-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.60 (5 in stock)
In the Beginning: The First Seven Days
by Davis Carman; illustrated by Anderson Carman
from Apologia Educational Ministries
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
In the Time of Noah
The Old Stories
by N. D. Wilson
from Canon Press
for preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
Jesse Tree
by Geraldine McCaughrean
from Eerdmans
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
Jesus is Alive
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Jesus Storybook Bible
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
from Zonderkidz
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$21.24 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Jesus Storybook Bible (Collector Edition)
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Har/Com Dl from Zonderkidz
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$33.99
Jesus Storybook Bible - Deluxe Version (Book Only)
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Deluxe from Zondervan
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$7.20 (1 in stock)
Jesus Storybook Bible Gift Edition
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Special from Zonderkidz
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$31.44
Jesus: The Promised Child
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Job
Bible Wise Books
by Carine Mackenzie, illustrated by Fred Apps
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
John the Baptist
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Jonah
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Jonathan
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Joseph
by Brian Wildsmith
from Eerdmans
Bible Stories for 1st-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
Joseph
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Joshua
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Joshua in the Promised Land
by Miriam Chaikin
from Clarion Books
for Preschool-4th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Journey with Jonah
by Madeleine L'Engle
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
for 1st-6th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
Let There Be Light
by Jane Ray
from Dutton Juvenile
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
Let There Be Light
by Pauline D. Baynes
from Macmillan
for Nursery-4th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
Life of Jesus for the Very Young
by Isobel Tallach
from Banner of Truth Trust
for Nursery-1st grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$2.55 $1.20 (1 in stock)
Martha & Mary
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Mary
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Mighty Acts of God
by Starr Meade
from Crossway Books
for Ages 6-9
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
Miriam
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Moses
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Moses
by Leonard Everett Fisher
1st edition from Holiday House
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
My Bible Friends - Book Five
by Etta B. Degering
from Review and Herald Publishing Association
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
My Bible Friends - Book Four
by Etta B. Degering
from Review and Herald Publishing Association
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
My First Bible in Pictures
from Tyndale House
Realistic Fiction for
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
Nathan's Story
by Michael J. McHugh
from Great Light Publications
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
Nehemiah
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes
by Kenneth Taylor
Revised from Moody Press
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$14.44
New Children's Bible
by Anne de Vries
from Christian Focus Publications
for Ages 6-9
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$13.59
Noah
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Noah's Ark
by Peter Spier
from Dell Publishing
Bible Stories for Preschool-2nd grade
1978 Caldecott Medal winner
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$8.99
Noah's Ark
by Peter Spier
from Dell Publishing
Bible Stories for Preschool-2nd grade
1978 Caldecott Medal winner
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
One O’Clock Miracle
Tales that Tell the Truth
by Alison Mitchell, Illustrated by Catalina Echeverri
from Good Book Company
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$14.44
Our Family's First Bible Storybook
from Baker Books
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Paul the Wise Preacher
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Paul: Journeys of Adventure
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Peter the Apostle
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Peter the Fisherman
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Phonics Museum Reader #08 (old)
by Emily Fischer
from Veritas Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Old Edition Reading (Location: OREAD)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Preschooler's Bible
by V. Gilbert Beers
2nd edition from David C. Cook
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$14.44 $7.20 (1 in stock)
Real Story of the Exodus
by Paul L. Maier
from Concordia Publishing House
for Nursery-1st grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$14.44
Rebekah
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Rfaud Tastes Wisdom
Plain Proverbs Book #1
by Martin D. Carlson
1st edition from BoCook Publishing
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.95
Ruth
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Samson
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Samuel
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
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