Is The Jesus Storybook Bible Theologically Accurate?

Is The Jesus Storybook Bible accurate or does it wander into heresy? In this episode, Elizabeth Urbanowicz reviews the popular children's storybook bible that is used in many homes, churches, and Christian schools worldwide. Learn about the book's engaging illustrations, accessible language, and cohesive representation of the biblical narrative, while also uncovering potential concerns.

For show notes and a transcript visit:

Teaching the Attributes of God to Children:

Best Bible Translations for Kids:

Bible Translations to Avoid:

Learn more about the Foundation Worldview Curriculum:

Join us on social:

[southlyonchurch]

I have actually used this storybook with adults who have had a very negative experience with Christianity when they were children and actually walked away from God because of that experience. Together, we will read the biblical text and then the storybook bible. The storybook is so sweet and tender and it sometimes softens the hearts of adults who are bitter toward God because of someone else's misrepresentation of Him. Thank you for your review of the pros and cons of its use!

[lahainke]

We used to have this Bible. I read the entire book to my three children over a year ago. I decided to use it alone for our Bible Study as a family for my 3 children, especially for my 3 and 4 year daughters. (I wanted to dedicate our Bible time for my daughters, unlike I’ve done in the past). We loved it. However my 8 year old son often corrected this Bible many times on the accuracy (not that it was wrong, but my son had to give more accuracy with details). So, again, we loved it. But we did get rid of it when we were done. We decided not to use it again. But it helped my girls getting more into the Bible! They now beg more the Bible every morning!!! Anyways, your advices were wonderful! Way to speak up.

[daviddavis]

Thank you for your careful research, and encouragement to parents in the sufficiency of Scripture!

[AsTheCapeBurns]

Thank you for this! My son was gifted this Bible and it’s good to hear an informed review.

[courtneyendicott]

The issues with the Jesus Storybook Bible go much deeper than focusing too heavily on God's love. It consistently makes the point of the story the WRONG point. Instead of showing how they all point to the gospel, or what the story tells us about GOD, it will point to how the human in the story acted/felt/ etc.
Sally Lloyd Jones is now homosexual affirming. Has used illustrations of same-sex couples in pictures of families in a more recent book and publicly affirmed how important "representation" is in children's books. 😒 While we don't necessarily throw out EVERYTHING someone previously wrote once they go off the rails, it's at least a red flag that warrants heavier scrutiny. We also have to be careful if we're recommending or using a book with other people's children, that they are warned about other books that person has written etc.

[SimeonBartley]

Thanks again for a practical framework (for approaching such a question) and the promised critique.

[garlandofbooks]

Thank you for your review of the text, especially in comparison to our cultural moment. I have never used this Jesus storybook bible, even though I had it as a shower gift from years ago, because I think the pictures are not of high quality. We are training the beauty sense of our children, and I think goonish cartoonish Bible pictures are an insult and hindrance. I think we can provide excellent quality to children, the best, and not act like they can only handle pitiful second rate “art”. “The best is not too good for them; anything less than the best is not good enough.”

I would disagree about what a 4 year old mind can listen to without tons of pictures - that idea is a product of our current world, not God’s design. My 4 year old has listened to multiple chapter books for family read alouds that have 1 or 2 pictures per chapter. He is able to sit still, calm, and quiet as we read. He doesn’t sit like that all day, of course, but he can do it appropriate times to enjoy with us.
He is a very wiggly and active child, but the habit of attention is a habit that is trained primarily through reading of books, combined with habitual restriction of noisy/flashy toys and screens.
For the Charlotte Mason method, the habits of obedience, truthfulness, and attention are the top 3 habits to train in the years before formal lessons begin at age 6-7.


I know how easy it is to get acclimated to poorer quality illustrations and books. We are inundated with them constantly, and it takes work to be selective to choose only the best for our children.
No one can possibly say that the pictures in the Jesus story book bible are in any way similar or as beautiful as examples like Rembrandt’s Storm on the Sea of Galilee, The Annunciation by Waterhouse, Restout’s Pentecost. One good picture is worth a whole book-full of poor ones - Take that beautiful picture in for several minutes, noticing every detail, putting it into the gallery of your mind, and then enjoy it on display over a series of days.

It might take retraining our own beauty sense to sensitize it to the meager crumbs we can tend to give to our children or ourselves, mistakenly thinking they are good.

[Kiki-fele]

I was on edge hearing this hoping it wasn't a heretical disaster. I have this Children's Bible to use for my son's preschool curriculum. Phew!

It's true, God is loving and just. That is always a dichotomy that people can struggle with. I will definitely keep that in mind when teaching my kids. Sin requires judgement too. Daily Bible is key!

[IveryBlack]

What bible would you recommend for young children starting from 2 years old please? Thanks

[shadiaesen]

I'm glad you're talking about this book we are going to start reading it.

[terrybain]

I appreciate all the work you do, but for me the pros of this children's Bible are far outweighed by the cons. I would rather read something with a more balanced picture of God and man. Right from the beginning it avoids the idea of sin or even disobedience. I think even a 3 yr old understands disobedience. Instead, it talks about how when Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree that they were not supposed to eat, it made God sad because they didn't understand how much He loved them. It is true that God loves sinners, but it is also true that God hates and will punish sin. I like that you pointed out ways to help older children make comparisons to the actual Bible, but since children tend to believe whatever they first learn, I would rather teach them a more balanced view of God's attributes from the start. I would rather read them something that is a simplified and even somewhat sanitized version of the Bible, but not something that so completely distorts who God is and then try to correct it later.

[JustinWilson-ccfc]

How about just use the word of God. I think God new how to say what He wanted to say.

[ruthywil]

I have seen many homeschool videos of moms talking about this Bible stories book. They say that they love it. I don’t know why buy me personally just for looking at the front page it doesn’t make me want buy it. I mean, looking at those pictures only is not pleasant to my eyes. Not even cute or something. Plus the content, the precious Bible stories are sooo far from being accurate in this book.
Why not just grab our Bible, read a passage o a verse to our children, Ask some questions, applying to our life, and meditate in it. The Bible is the ultimate book to read to our children.

[TyrekeCorrea]

Considering it's comprised of annotations cramming Jesus into the entire Old Testament, I'd say not.