*The Storyteller’s Bible by Kathryn Butler

The Storyteller’s Bible weaves the gospel into 35 theologically-rich stories from scripture.

*The Storyteller’s Bible: Celebrating the Greatest Storyteller of All by Kathryn Butler. B&H Publishing Group, 2025, 265 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10

Recommended for: ages 4-10 as a read-aloud

In her introduction, Kathryn Butler writes,

Something wondrous occurs when we read stories to children. Research tried to quantify the magic. Just twenty minutes of read-aloud time a day, studies proclaim, nurture literacy and cognitive development. Yet those of us privileged to crack open a book with a child see something more. Something enchanting.

“Enchantment” may not be the first word that comes to mind when we crack open a Bible storybook. We want our kids to absorb the gospel narrative and understand their place in it as redeemed sinners—aiming often for the head rather than the heart. But when well told and beautifully illustrated, the Bible stories we’ve heard dozens of times can offer that “something more.” Not by any means replacing the Bible itself but illuminating it for young minds.

The 35 stories follow a similar pattern as other Bible storybooks, beginning with creation, the Fall, Noah, and Abraham. One distinctive is that they are all about five minutes long, a perfect length for bedtime or evening devotional. Call-out questions embedded in the text allow room for discussing how a character might have felt or what they should have done. (Unlike The Book of Belonging, The Storyteller’s Bible doesn’t shy away from sin but consistently points out the way the characters behaved vs. how they should have behaved.) At the end of each story, two questions prompt further thought and a related scripture verse shows how the story foreshadows or supports a truth later revealed. A final question is the same for each chapter: “To whom can you tell this story today?”

The book is beautifully produced in full color with thick pages and a sturdy hardcover. An especially attractive feature is the plethora of illustrators: 32 of them from all over the world, each with their own style and choice of media. You’ll want to take time to browse their biographies in the back pages as you and your listeners compare styles and preferences. The appendix includes Ten Tips for Reading Aloud as well as ways to enhance the gospel through stories and “graduate” older children to read the Bible for themselves.

Bottom Line: An outstanding Bible storybook, theologically sound and physically attractive, good for several readings.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: Toddling into the Word, a roundup of Bible storybooks for the littles.
• Review: This Bible storybook may still be around, but don’t buy it.

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