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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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 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 Stories for Young Readers
Junior Deluxe Editions
by April Oursler Armstrong, illustrated by Jules Gotlieb
from Junior Deluxe Editions
for 2nd-5th grade
in Vintage Bible Story Books (Location: VIN-BIB)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
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)
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)
Child's Story Bible
by Catherine Vos
2nd edition from Eerdmans
for 2nd-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$23.80 $10.50 (1 in stock)
Children's Bible
from Golden Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
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)
$7.20 (2 in stock)
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)
Discoverer's Bible for Young Readers - NIrV
from Zonderkidz
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Bibles (Location: X-BIBLES)
$27.99 $15.00 (1 in stock)
DK Illustrated Family Bible
from DK Publishing
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
Egermeier's Bible Story Book
by Elsie E. Egermeier
from Warner Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$8.40 (1 in stock)
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)
Egermeier's Bible Story Book
by Elsie E. Egermeier
from Warner Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$5.40 (3 in stock)
Egermeier's Bible Story Book
by Elsie E. Egermeier
34th Printing from Warner Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Vintage Bible Story Books (Location: VIN-BIB)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Egermeier's Bible Story Book
by Elsie E. Egermeier
41st Printing from Warner Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Vintage Bible Story Books (Location: VIN-BIB)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Egermeier's Bible Story Book
by Elsie E. Egermeier
from Warner Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Vintage Bible Story Books (Location: VIN-BIB)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Egermeier's Bible Story Book
by Elsie E. Egermeier
27th Printing from Warner Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Vintage Bible Story Books (Location: VIN-BIB)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
First Bible Story Book
by Mary Hoffman
from DK Publishing
Bible Reference for 4th-8th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
God's People
by Geraldine McCaughrean
from Margaret K. McElderry Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
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)
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)
Images of God
by John and Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Alexander Koshkin
1st edition from Clarion Books
for 3rd-6th grade
$6.00 (1 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)
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 - 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)
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 to the Cross
by Helen Haidle, illustrated by David Haidle and Paul Haidle
from Zonderkidz
for 3rd-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
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)
Moses' Ark
by Alice Bach, J. Cheryl Exum
from Delacorte Press
for 3rd-5th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$3.90 (1 in stock)
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)
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)
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)
Read-Aloud Bible Stories Volume 1
by Ella K. Lindvall & H. Kent Pucket
from Moody Press
for Nursery-Kindergarten
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$5.40 (1 in stock)
Small Child's Bible
by Pelagie Doane
from Unknown Publisher
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Vintage Bible Story Books (Location: VIN-BIB)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Stories from the Bible
by Walter De la Mare, illustrated by Irene Hawkins
1949 Reprint from Faber & Faber
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Bible Story Books (Location: VIN-BIB)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Stories from the Old Testament
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Story of the Bible
by Hendrik Willem Van Loon
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Bible Story Books (Location: VIN-BIB)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
The Story
Third Edition from Zondervan
for 7th-Adult
in Bibles (Location: X-BIBLES)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
True Story of Noah's Ark
by Tom Dooley
from Master Books
for 2nd-6th grade
in Worldview & Apologetics for Kids (Location: BIBWV-APK)
$13.59 $11.00 (1 in stock)
Uncle Arthur's Bible Book
by Arthur S. Maxwell
from Review and Herald Publishing Association
for 2nd-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Wisest Man in the World
by Benjamin Elkin
from Parents Magazine Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Wondrous Works of God
by Starr Meade
from Crossway Books
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$21.24 $9.00 (1 in stock)