Book Club Time: The Story of the Bible

You all know my love for God’s Word.  I’ve written about it more than any other topic here at The Littlest Way.  I write about Inspiring Bible Quotes, Bible Journaling and Daily Affirmations using the Scriptures.  So when Tan Books and Publishing Homeschool department asked if I would be interested in reviewing their new Bible curriculum, The Story of the Bible for my Book Club Time series, you know I said “Yes!”  They were particularly interested in seeing how I would use this curriculum along with my plans to include Bible journaling in our homeschool this year.  And I have to tell you, this Bible curriculum has fit perfectly into our homeschool.

 

 

Once I started the spiritual practice of Bible journaling, I knew I wanted to introduce it to my children.  First, I wanted them reading and meditating on the Word.  Second, I wanted them literally all over God’s Word and finally, I wanted them to learn early on that not only was spending time with God in His Word important, I also wanted them to feel comfortable finding their own ways of spending that time.  I don’t want them growing up thinking they have to handle the Word of God with kid gloves; I don’t want them to be afraid of their Bible.

 

So this is how it all began, me–a very non crafty person who easily begins to feel uncomfortable when children break out art supplies, laid out all my Bible journaling supplies, turned on the audio version of The Story of the Bible and let my children have at it.  They could use any supply I had–and they did, while we listened to CD’s.  Grace y’all…pure grace…because I actually enjoyed our Bible journaling time together.  The story was adventurous and exciting, the children engaged and entertained and the momma–me, pretty relaxed and even distracted from the glue and paint spills during the whole process.

 

Relaxed and entertained; these dramatized stories are fantastic.  I can easily see putting these in the car for road trips or even just back and forth between lessons, Mass, work, grocery shopping.  And for those times when we want to curl up in front of the fire, sipping hot chocolate and listening to a story, the book will be just right; it has already served its purpose here.

 

The other day Maximilian asked me why God made him.  He has the catechism memorized, “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.”  But Max wanted to know why God made him.  Providentially, it was the day our book, The Story of the Bible, arrived in the mail and we were just getting ready to sit down at lunch and read it together.

 

“Because God is good, He wanted others to share in His happiness.  That’s why He created heaven and earth.  He made them out of nothing, not because He needed them, but so that creatures could share in His happiness and glory.”
–The Story of the Bible, volume 1, The Old Testament

 

What a beautiful explanation of why God made us. And I know Max felt the same way by the wide smile across his face.

 

I mentioned these are part of their new Bible curriculum but don’t let the word “curriculum” throw you non-homeschoolers.  Like I said, these books read like an adventure and the dramatized audios are exciting and engaging–perfect for any age, perfect for homeschooler and non-homeschoolers.

 

Although Tan Homeschool sent me the book and audio for free to review, the opinions stated above are strictly mine…and we loved it!  As with any books I review or mention in my Book Club Time posts, I’m going to talk to you girlfriend to girlfriend.  Nobody wants to spend good money on a bad book.