The Story for Kids {a BookLook Blogger review}

I'm always looking for something a little different for working through the Bible with my kids.  I've heard a fair amount about The Story, but I haven't ever actually seen it.

I had the chance to review the kids' version, The Story for Kids, written by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee, and thought that would give me a good opportunity to figure out what this is about.

Bottom line first:  I really like this.

From the publisher:

Revised edition of The Story for Kids for ages 8-12 using the updated New International Reader’s Version (NIrV); part of the church-wide campaign, The Story.
Now God’s great love story is told in a format for kids ages 9-12. The Story for Kids parallels the adult and teen edition of the book and can be used as part of The Story campaign or on its own.
The adventure, humor, and drama found in The Story for Kids compel kids to see the Bible as relevant and transformational. It’s the perfect resource for parents, grandparents, and teachers to use to introduce their children to the Bible as a complete story—one that tells about God’s great love for his people.
Features:

• Characters, events, and teachings of the Bible arranged chronologically
• Interior line art to engage the imagination
• Transitional paragraphs set off in italics guide you through the stories
• Discussion questions for small group or book clubs
• Includes Scripture portions from the easy-to-read text of the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)

Okay, apparently just like in the original version, the teen version, and the little kid version, the Bible is split up into 31 "chapters" or stories.  The chapters average around eight pages, usually with a half-page illustration in there. 

This is in NIrV, so the text is fairly easy to read.  It also looks like most other books, so all the verse numbers, or two column formats don't go confusing anyone.

Most of the chapter consists of actual text from the NIrV, and then there will be some transitional material in italics.  The part in italics is usually summarizing the 'skipped text' to keep things going in a story format, not getting bogged down in a lot of detail.  For the book of Genesis, for instance, which is covered in the first three chapters, you read about Creation and the Fall, then there is some summary text to jump you to Noah.  Parts of that are summarized as well.  That ends chapter 1.

The second chapter tells of Abram and Sarai, with most of the chapter being NIrV text, and only a couple summary sections. 

Entirely missing are events like the Tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah, Hagar and Ishmael, etc.  Which is okay with me, as this will not be the only exposure my children get to the Bible.  The "plot line" moves ahead, without veering off into all sorts of other stories. 

Each chapter includes a few discussion questions that seem appropriate for this roughly 8-12 age range.

My thoughts:

I'm really liking this, and I'm seriously looking at getting the Teen version, and possibly the curriculum items as well.  We've read the Bible straight through.  We've read the Bible in a chronological version.  I love the idea of working through something systematic, and something where my kids and teens can be on the same page, reading from age-appropriate materials that mesh together but aren't identical.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”