Read and Share Bible
by Gwen Ellis

The Read and Share Bible is the perfect way to share the amazing joy and wonder of God's Word with the children in your life. The Read and Share Bible makes it easy for you to create long-lasting memories as you encourage a love for reading God's Word. 

Features include:

• More than 200 beloved Bible stories, including time-honored favorites like Adam and Eve, Noah and the rainbow, Joseph's dreams, Jonah and the big fish, Baby Jesus, and so much more.

• Bold, bright illustrations that will capture a child's imagination.

• Discussion starter with each story designed to encourage deeper understanding.

• Well-know children's author Gwen Ellis retells stories based on the International Children's Bible translation.

• Text and art carefully evaluated to attain the highest level of accuracy and age-appropriateness.

• Ideal for guided learning with parents, caregivers, and teachers.

   

  See Q & A regarding the Read and Share Bible below!

   Q & A regarding the Read and Share Bible

1. Why another Bible storybook? What makes this one different from the others on the market?

Bible storybooks, by the nature of the product, will be somewhat similar. Young children ages four to eight need simple sentences, simple ideas, and engaging art. These are the staples of a good Bible storybook. What makes book unique is that we have included interactive questions and comments for the parent and child to “read and share.” By using the interactive tool on every page, parents can determine if the child is getting the message of the story.

2. Why should parents invest in a book like this one?

We are living in a time when biblical knowledge is woefully lacking. Since the roots of our culture, the laws of our land, and our Christian faith are based on the Bible, kids should know what’s in it. I have attempted to give an overview of the entire Bible. I have included some rather obscure stories that show God as Friend and Comforter.

3. You’ve used the word “Comforter.” Why?

One of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child is a confidence and trust in a good God who is watching over them. Kids these days are often the victims of abuse, divorce, a society that pushes them to achieve and to look a certain way to be acceptable. Life can be overwhelming and it is good for the child to know that God loves them just the way they are and that he is watching over them.

4. You know people are busy these days. Is doing the reading and interactive questions going to take a lot of time?

No, it is not going to take a lot of time. The stories are very short, about two to four pages each with only about 50-80 words per two-page spread. It would take no more than five or ten minutes daily to share a story and talk about the questions with a child. There are more than 200 stories. So in less than a year, the child will have exposure to the entire Bible.

5. What prompted you to write this book?

A number of things. One is that I became a grandmother of a little girl and more than anything, I want her to know God and know that he loves her. I want her to understand God’s Word is the place to go for answers to life’s problems. Another reason may seem a little strange. I wanted grownups to get a grasp of the entire Bible too. I have friends who, when they first became Christians, bought kids’ Bible storybooks to learn the Bible quickly. So the book is a great introduction even to adults. Every story has a scripture reference so the reader can go to the Bible and read the story in full.

6. How did you handle some of the stories about death—especially the death of Jesus?

Very gently. But I did ask the artist to back away from the crucifixion scene so that there would not be a lot of gruesome detail of a very gruesome act.

7. And speaking of art, who is the artist?

The artist is Steve Smallman who lives in England. I do not know the gentleman, but he did a masterful job of capturing the emotions of the stories. I owe him a huge debt of gratitude. The book is the result of a partnership between Tommy Nelson, a divisions of Thomas Nelson Publisher, Nashville, and Lion Hudson Publishing in Great Britain. The book is being released internationally and will eventually be translated into many languages.

8. How do you know the book is appropriate for kids aged 4 to 8?

First of all, I have been working in children’s publishing for about ten years. As part of that work I studied child development. At the time of writing the book, my grandchild was living with me and provided a constant reminder of the needs of young kids. Simplicity is one of those needs. Many books for kids are over-written: too many words, too difficult words. Then to make sure I had the text right, I had the text reviewed and critiqued by a young mother and a caretaker of young children. Of course, it was also reviewed by a theological reviewer and several editors. I am confident we have a sound product that is totally appropriate for the age group for which it was intended.