The BIBLE for ME: Bible Stories and Prayers by Mike Nawrocki and Amy Parker – Christian Children’s Books, Christian Children’s Early Readers Books, Children’s Devotional Christianity Books

The Bible for Me: Bible Stories and Prayers by authors Mike Nawrocki and Amy Parker is a brightly illustrated, highly readable and listenable collection of fifty stories drawn from the Holy Bible and specifically geared for children of all ages.

The collection moves through the Bible from Old to New Testaments, with twenty-five stories from each. In the first half readers will see, through simple words and vivid pictures styled to the text by artist Taylor Thompson, how the universe was created, and the Jewish people were chosen to carry God’s word throughout the known world in their time. The language is frank and will appeal to young readers, as we learn for example, how in the Garden of Eden “Adam and Eve Mess Up.”

In “Three Friends in the Hot Seat” we see how three spiritual heroes – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – are punished by King Nebuchadnezzar for refusing to worship idols; they are thrown into a fire but are saved by an angel of the Lord.

The special place of girls and woman is extolled, with the account of Esther, “The Girl Who Saved Her People,” and later through the story of young Mary, and her role in God’s plan as the mother of Jesus. Thorny issues such as Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his own son for God are treated with wisdom and appropriate tact, as the authors follow the story with an ameliorating prayer in which the child reader may ask God “to put You first and to be willing to give up even our favorite things to follow you.”

With the advent of Jesus in the book’s second segment, the traditional biblical stories are again accompanied by these prayers that help to make the meanings clearer. When Jesus is tempted by Satan, the prayer forthrightly thanks God “for showing us how to deal with the devil.”

Both composers of these short, educational offerings have a background in writing and producing: Parker has authored more than sixty Christian-themed children’s books, and writer Nawrocki works in film and other media to provide Bible-based allegorical texts for youthful readers, watchers, and listeners, and of course was one half of the well-loved Veggie Tales creative team. Together with Thompson, whose pictorial interpretations range from puckish to powerful to awe-inspiring, a wide-ranging panorama of Christian history springs to life to help youngsters develop a grasp of higher truths.

The authors begin by informing readers (and those who may read to them) that the stories they have chosen are aimed at speaking directly to their audience. They conclude with a closing prayer and brief “sermon” to encourage young people to accept Jesus and his saving grace.

The Bible for Me by Nawrocki and Parker could be used in a Sunday school or other group context, as well as within a family, and may serve to inspire teachers, parents, and grandparents as well as their young listeners.