3,356 bytes added
, 13:48, 3 October 2011
{{infobox
|title=My Look and Point Bible
|author=Christina Goodings and Annabel Hudson
|reviewer=Ruth Ng
|genre=For Sharing
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-0745962061
|paperback=
|hardback=0745962068
|audiobook=
|ebook=
|pages=224
|publisher=Lion Hudson
|date=September 2011
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0745962068</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0745962068</amazonus>
|website=
|video=
|summary=If you're looking for a first bible for little ones then this is a good one to choose - full of colourful, lively illustrations and simply told stories.
}}
This version of the bible for toddlers has been cleverly retold to engage little ones, with lots of illustrations, pictures to point at and words to learn. It includes stories from both the old and new testaments, from the creation and Noah through to the birth of Jesus as well as some of his parables and the crucifixion.
The stories have been cleverly written, reduced to the simplest form possible and using easy to follow vocabulary. I particularly liked the story of Moses, when Moses approaches the King to ask him to release the slaves we read ''The King said no. 'There will be trouble,' said Moses. And there was.'' It's all kept very simple and clear, and the pictures help to tell the stories, depicting details that have sometimes been left out of the text.
When writing for small children the illustrations are key, and fortunately those in this bible have been done very well. The people depicted have engaging faces, the images are all very clear and simple, and there are lots of sweet animals scattered throughout. The colours are bright and attractive and the illustrations tie in well with the text on each page. I think the only failing I noticed was that there are far too many Caucasian characters - there are some characters included with darker skin tones but I'm afraid this is a bible with a pink-skinned, rosy cheeked Jesus. Still, I'll overlook that since otherwise the pictures are rather lovely.
I also really like the fact that often, in the pictures, certain objects are named, so in the story of Noah we see items being carried into the ark in the picture and above it we can read apples, onions and beans, encouraging children to look and point at the different things they can see and to begin that early association of words with pictures. It's not just objects either, but we also see ''bang bang'' next to the picture of a man hammering, ''heave'' as someone carries heavy wooden planks up a ladder or ''brush brush'' for the man who is painting the ark.
As there are so many stories included, and since it's a heavy hardback book, this is one you'd want to share with your toddler rather than letting them loose by themselves. But it's a rather special book to sit and read together, and each story is short so you can easily dip in and out as you fancy. It would be a lovely addition to a Christian family's bookshelf, and would make a nice gift too for a child around three or older.
You might also like to take a look at [[The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book by Bob Hartman and Krisztina Kallai Nagy]] or [[My Very First Easter - Candle Bible for Toddlers by Juliet David and Helen Prole]]
{{amazontext|amazon=0745962068}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=8564761}}
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[[Category:Christina Goodings]]
[[Category:Annabel Hudson]]