*The Biggest Story Advent by Kevin DeYoung

The Biggest Story Advent carries on Kevin DeYoung’s Biggest Story series with a lift-the-flap advent devotional for younger children.

*The Biggest Story Advent by Kevin DeYoung, illustrated by Don Clark. Crossway, 2025. 60 pages.

• Reading Level: Picture books, ages 4-8
• Recommended For: Ages 0-10

Fans of The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brought Us Back to the Garden, which debuted in 2016, will recognize the style and format of this advent book right away. The stylized illustrations and child-friendly text are unmistakable throughout the series’ many manifestations as a Bible, Bible storybook, ABC board book, and family devotional. This advent guide, targeted at children from a preschool to early-elementary age range, includes one extra feature: each brief daily reading includes a flap the children can lift to reveal that day’s illustration and a scripture reference.

It’s a board book to end all board books: 60 pages long with the shelf width of a complete Bible. The text focuses not so much on the nativity story as on the many prophesies of that event and how Jesus himself fulfills all biblical expectations of him. This takes us back to the garden, and God’s earliest promise that a “Snake Crusher” would undo the work of the devil: “It would take some waiting, but eventually, one day, many days and centuries later, the woman would be rescued, the dragon would be slayed, and the King would come.”

Abraham, Moses, David, and most of the prophets would hear other promises expanding on the King’s identity, for “God’s Deliverer would be not just one thing but many things.” A prophet, a priest, a prince of peace, a light, a shepherd, and a sacrifice. Even unfaithful prophets like Balaam spoke of him, although “one time, when Balaam wasn’t listening to God, he got yelled at by a donkey!”

Each devotional takes only a few minutes to read, followed by a short prayer. I recommend reading the page first before letting the listeners lift the flap, then ask them what the picture shows and talk about the symbols represented there. All the Bible references are from the Old Testament except the very last, reinforcing God’s long-term plan to remedy the effects of the Fall and reclaim his people. Older children can participate by taking turns reading the text and adding their thoughts about the pictures. Then put the book away and wait until next year to pore over it again.

Considerations: none

Bottom Line:  An original and refreshing addition to the advent genre, with many years of potential usefulness.

*indicates a Redeemed Reader starred review, an outstanding example in its field.

Recommended Reading at Redeemed Reader

• Book Reviews: For other titles in the series, see The Biggest Story Bible, The Biggest Story Bible Storybook, The Biggest Story Family Devotional, and The Biggest Story ABC.
• Resource: Browse our Advent Family Devotional List for more ideas!

You may purchase The Biggest Story Advent from Amazon.

We received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair, unbiased review.