The Jesus Storybook Bible Gift Edition By Sally Lloyd-Jones

As hard as it is to admit, babies grow up. In our house, we're always on the hunt for books that will educate, entertain, and challenge our little ones as they grow. While we love our  Words to Dream On by Diane Stortz, our oldest kiddo has reached the point where he's ready to listen to longer and more complex stories. 

This is where  The Jesus Storybook by Sally Lloyd-Jones come in. Now, I confess, I'm not sure what the regular edition features but I'll be focusing on the 10th anniversary one as that's what we have (and are loving).

First off, the construction. With longer stories this book is meant for slightly older kids (I'm guessing 4 would be a safe lower age) this book still has a solid cover to help protect it's softer paper pages when not being read. The built in bookmark is a wonderful feature as is the blue colouring to help this Mama figure out where  the book was moved last.

Second, the pictures  are perfect. The bright, action filled images are colourful and captivating meaning that although our younger son doesn't have the language skills to understand the story he is focused during story time, drawn in by the bright images he can process. I love book with awesome imagery having kids with speech delays and this one certainly delivers.

Third, the stories. Sally Lloyd Jones has done a wonderful job. The stories are 4-8 pages long making them a perfect length for helping young children stretch their listening skills. The added length also allows for more complexity in the stories. Lloyd Jones keeps each story with a definite "story book" feel but adding in more detail from original, formal translations letting parents ask more intentional questions and engage with their children on a different level than books aimed at the 2-5 age group. The stories cover a wide variety of both old and new testaments and I was  excited to see less covered stories (like the prophets) showing up between these covers.
4.5 out of 5 stars 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”