Story Book Bibles are a great way to introduce children to the stories of the Bible.
There are many different types of Story Bibles that cater for different purposes and age groups. The selection can be overwhelming, so we've curated this list to help you identify the Story Bible for your particular needs.
We've split this list up into two sections: Narrative Story Bibles and Theological Story Bibles.
Quick Comparison: All 9 Story Bibles at a Glance
| Book | Category | Age Range | Story Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Beginner's Bible | Narrative | 2–9 years | 90 stories |
| The Action Bible | Narrative | 8–12 years | 230 stories |
| My First Read-Aloud Bible | Narrative | 1–7 years | 52 stories |
| Bibleforce: 101 Bible Stories | Narrative | 5–10 years | 101 stories |
| The Illustrated Children's Bible | Narrative | 4–10 years | 287 stories |
| Jesus Storybook Bible | Theological | 4–8 years | 44 stories |
| The Big Picture Story Bible | Theological | 2–7 years | 26 stories |
| The Biggest Story Storybook Bible | Theological | 6–12 years | 104 stories |
| The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible | Theological | 2–7 years | 52 stories |
On This Page
A. Narrative Story Bibles
Some Story Bibles simply retell the stories of scripture! These Bibles are focussed on communicating the facts of the main narratives in the Bible but they don't interpret those events. There is great value in our children growing up knowing the flow of the stories in the Bible, and these Story Bibles serve just that purpose.
In terms of how a child learns, there is a case to be made that internalising the bare stories is a very important foundation for further theological development later on. The stories of the Bible are not just there to make a point, they are presented as historical narratives and approaching them as such must form a part of our Biblical reading habits. These Story Bibles help us to train children in how to read in this way — to let the story shape them without always needing to search for deeper meaning (see 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 and Hebrews 11).
1. The Beginner's Bible
This bright, colourful Story Bible contains 90 Bible stories told very simply. As a narrative Bible, this simply and faithfully relays the facts of the stories without additional commentary.
The illustrations are striking cartoons that have appealed to children for decades. It's the simplicity of this Story Bible that has made it a best seller ever since it was released in 1989.
This is one of the best starting places to encourage your child to be familiar with the stories in the Bible. That's what makes this the perfect first bible gift.
Age Range: 2-9 years old
Written at a year 2 reading level.
2. The Action Bible
The Action Bible is a comic book style graphic novel written to engage children aged 8-12 years-old. Over 230 Biblical stories are presented in fast-paced, action hero format. Each story is based on a section of scripture and seeks to follow the narrative as closely as possible.
The artwork in The Action Bible will likely appeal mainly to boys. The men are as presented as muscular and some of the tougher details of scripture are not shied away from. There are wars, weapons, boils and, of course, the crucifixion of Christ.
For boys who may struggle to grasp the flow of Scripture in the full text, this is a great way to engage them with the stories of the Bible.
Age range: 8-12 years old.
3. My First Read-Aloud Bible
This charmingly illustrated Story Bible retells key stories from the Old and New Testaments in simple, child-friendly language. Each story is set out on a double-page spread, with the Bible passage it's drawn from cited at the bottom of the page.
As a narrative Bible, it stays faithful and uncomplicated.
One reviewer on Koorong.com said this:
"Great first bible for kids - I chose this one after looking through a few at Koorong because I liked how the bible stories were rewritten (clear, captured the main message of the stories) with simple illustrations."
It works equally well read aloud to little ones or read independently by early readers, making it a great choice as a bedtime staple or a baptism or christening gift.
It's ideal for families wanting a first introduction to the Bible's characters and stories for children roughly 1-7 years old.
Age range: 1-7 years old.
4. Bibleforce: 101 Bible Stories (Comic Book)
Bibleforce is a graphic-novel style Story Bible written for children who are 5-10 years old.
Bibleforce presents 101 of the Bible's key stories from Creation to Revelation in full graphic-novel format, with bright, bold, superhero-style artwork. As a narrative Bible, the retellings are short and simple with each story being covered in just 2 pages.
The stories are short and simple, and the artwork is less gritty and muscular than The Action Bible (designed for 8-12 year olds), making this a great option for younger readers before graduating to The Action Bible.
Age range: 5-10 years old.
5. The Illustrated Children's Bible
This is the most comprehensive narrative Story Bible on our list. Loved for over a decade, this Story Bible contains 169 Old Testament stories and 118 from the New Testament over 608 full-colour pages.
Koorong's head of buying, Bronwyn, explains:
"This is one of my all-time favourite Bible storybooks.
J Emmerson-Hicks is well known for his editorial work on Matthew Henry's Commentary and 200 other reference works in the areas of English language and Bible reference. His children's Bible offers a very good sweep of God's Word, with all the old favourites included.
The striking cover and illustrations throughout this book are a highlight; each one not only illustrates the text, it contributes something new to the narrative.
The Anglicised English text is easy to read, and with nearly 300 individual stories it offers a version of the "read the Bible in a year" genre for children."
Age range: 4-10 years old.
B. Theological Story Bibles
Some Story Bibles don't just recount the basic story lines of the Bible, they add some simple commentary to help children understand the meaning behind the events, not just the events themselves.
The best of these show how the whole Bible points to Jesus. Instead of seeking to pull moral lessons from the Biblical narratives, these Story Bibles show that every story fits into the grand theme of the Bible - that mankind is made for friendship with God, that our sin removes us from God's presence and that Jesus is the only way back to being at peace with God.
6. Jesus Storybook Bible
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones (who is not related to the famous preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones), is one of the best-selling theological storybook bibles for kids. The point of this Bible is that 'every story whispers' the name of Jesus.
In every story, Sally Lloyd-Jones draws the connection to Jesus in a more lyrical and poetic way than other Story Bibles on this list.
One reviewer on Koorong.com said:
"the text [is] beautifully written, in an engaging storytelling style, rich with meaning, moving, and with every chapter pointing clearly to Jesus our saviour. I've many times read with tears in my eyes as the text has drawn out new connections I hadn't considered before. The beautiful illustrations are an added bonus."
Other theological Story Bibles are more rigorous doctrinally, but The Jesus Storybook Bible has won a place in the hearts of so many due to its clear centrality on the person of Jesus as the fulfilment of all the stories of Scripture, its presentation of a warm, loving God and bright, engaging illustrations.
Age range: 4-8 years old.
7. The Big Picture Story Bible
David Helm has done the hard task of presenting toddlers and early readers the Biblical theology framework of 'God's people in God's place under God's rule' (from Graeme Goldsworthy, Moore College). This Story Bible was born from Helm's desire to give the families in his church a resource to use with very young children during family Bible time.
Simple cartoon illustrations sit alongside very short stories weaving together the big picture of the Bible. This does not cover a large amount of the Biblical narratives, but it will provide a theological backbone through which young children can understand the rest of the biblical stories as they learn more over time.
Age range: 2-7 years old
8. The Biggest Story Storybook Bible
This is the theological Story Bible for older children. Pastor and author Kevin DeYoung has put this together to present the full story of the Bible through the lens of each story's fulfilment in Christ.
This story book bible began life as a series of sermons in which DeYoung showed his congregation the Biggest Story of the whole Bible. This turned into a book called The Biggest Story which gives the broad sweep of the Biblical narrative with its culmination in Jesus.
DeYoung then went further and filled out this Biggest Story Storybook Bible, covering 104 stories and giving more information around each story and how it points to Christ.
It is worth noting that the artwork in The Biggest Story books is abstract, geometrical and bold. In my experience, some families love it, and some, not so much. It's worth having a look at the internals before buying. But for those who love it, you can pick up a full set of (roughly) A3 posters with this artwork to decorate your Sunday School room at church or kids rooms at home.
Age range: 6-12 years old.
9. The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible
This theological Story Bible has been written by Jared Kennedy around the idea of God's promises. Each story from Adam to Christ has one simple question for reflection which builds up over the 52 chapters to show the good news of Jesus.
The 26 stories in the Old Testament section set up the problem (disobedience) and the promises of God (God never forgets his people, God has a plan). Then, in the New Testament, 26 more stories show little readers that Jesus is the answer and fulfilment of all the promises God has made.
Each page has vibrant illustrations that will appeal to children aged 2-5 with the stories of the Bible simplified and shortened to a length that is perfect for young kids.
It takes about 20-30 seconds to read the words on each page of The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible and the connections between the words and the illustrations will delight and engage even the youngest children.
The illustrator has purposefully built in colours, opposites, links to the text to keep kids engaged. Big and bold sight words scattered throughout the book also make this resource a great aid for children who are learning to read.
Age range: 2-7 years old.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a narrative Story Bible and a theological Story Bible?
A narrative Story Bible retells the events of Scripture in order, faithfully and without added commentary. The aim is for children to internalise the flow of the Bible's stories. A theological Story Bible goes a step further and adds simple commentary connecting each story to the person of Jesus, showing how the whole Bible fits into one grand story of salvation.
What age is the Jesus Storybook Bible suitable for?
The Jesus Storybook Bible is written for children aged 4–8 years old.
Which Story Bible is best for toddlers?
The Big Picture Story Bible (ages 2–7) and The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible (ages 2–7) are both written specifically for toddlers and early readers, with short, simple text on each page.
Which Story Bible covers the most of Scripture?
The Illustrated Children's Bible is the most comprehensive narrative option, with 169 Old Testament and 118 New Testament stories across 608 pages. The Action Bible covers over 230 stories in graphic-novel format for slightly older children.
What's a good first Bible gift for a baby or young child?
The Beginner's Bible and My First Read-Aloud Bible are both designed as gentle first introductions, with simple language and bright illustrations suited to babies through early readers.
Is The Biggest Story Storybook Bible the same book as The Biggest Story?
No. The Biggest Story Storybook Bible (2022) is a 104-chapter companion to Kevin DeYoung's earlier picture book The Biggest Story (2015), which began as a sermon series DeYoung preached to his own congregation. The Storybook Bible expands that original story into a much fuller, Genesis-to-Revelation resource for children aged 6–12.
