Book Review: My First Hands-On Bible

   My First Hand's-On Bible contains 85 Bible stories in actual Bible text from the New Living Translation, including verse numbers, and though the text is abridged, the experience is more like reading from the full Bible than from a Bible story book.  This Bible is geared toward younger kids, from preschool through primary ages, and it includes "Jesus Connections," colorful illustrations on every page, prayers at the end of each passage, and activities and games to enrich each story.  Both Old Testament and New Testament stories are included, and each page includes opportunities for hands-on and imaginative activities as you read the passages to your child, such as "Pretend you're gathering grain like Ruth did," "Roar like a lion," and "March your fingers around the wall in the picture."  You can either stop and do these as you come to them, or wait until the end of the story and go back and use them to review what you've read.  There are so many things to do with this that it can be revisited again and again, and you can choose the parts to do that appeal to your child's style.

   I love this book and cannot say enough good things about it.  We have read several different Bible story books in our family, and this one is unique because even though it is geared toward younger kids, it is more like a "real" Bible in the format it is written in, and it includes so many enrichment activities of substance.  You could even use it as a Bible "curriculum" for your youngest learners.  I like that the stories are written in the original text without including the scary or more mature parts found in certain stories.  Two characters, a kangaroo named Pockets and a lamb named Cuddles appear at the end of each story with a prayer/life lesson and an activity, and children will enjoy looking for them each time and discovering what they get to do.   For example, the story of Joseph's Colorful Coat includes these activities within the pages of the story:  "Pretend you're a shepherd.  Take out a stuffed animal, and gently guide it across the room."  "Shake your finger back and forth."  and "What colors do you see in Joseph's coat?  Which is your favorite color?"  Then at the end of the two-page story, Pockets shows up and says, "'It's time to pray!'  Lord, you have given us so many wonderful things.  Please help us to be happy when other people get gifts too.  In Jesus' name, amen."  There is a "Jesus Connection," which says, "Jacob loved Joseph and gave him a coat.  God loves us and sent us a special gift--Jesus."  Cuddles appears with a coat-wearing activity, there are some discussion questions, and there is an art activity as well.  Each story has so much to do, that every child will be drawn in, and Mom will love it too.

{Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.}