Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Family Illustrated Bible

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 15 ratings · 13 reviews

An inspiring, insightful, and exquisitely rendered retelling of the Bible for the whole family! Filled with vivid, full-color photos and illustrations. Easy-to-read text that describes biblical history clearly for all ages. Discover exciting facts about the people of the Old and New Testaments. See the people, culture, and events of the Bible come to vibrant life through i...more

Hardcover, 356 pages

Published July 15th 2011 by New Leaf Press (AR)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-16 of 16)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 26, 2013 Anne Campbell rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Family Illustrated Bible is a huge hardback full-color collection of Bible stories, timelines, facts and background information, a glossary of people of the Bible, an index, maps, and illustrations and photographs. Published by New Leaf Press and DK, this book resembles the DK Eyewitness books with its "encyclopedia" pages interspersed between the Bible story pages. These help to bring the stories to life and add much appeal to both young and older learners. For example, after the story of J...more

like · see review

Jan 12, 2013 Joy Ellis rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I saw the Family Illustrated Bible, I was excited to review it. The Family Illustrated Bible is written by Sally Tagholm and published by New Leaf Publishing Group. The book is hardcover and is 8.5×11 inches in size. The illustrations in the book are beautiful, being in detail and in very bright and vibrant colors. It is written in a storybook formation with the stories written in 1-3 pages.

You will find that the major stories of the bible are in here, like Adam and Eve, Moses, Noah and bir...more

like · see review

Dec 22, 2011 Haelie rated it 3 of 5 stars

How would I describe this book?
Well, first here is how the publisher describes it:

The Family Illustrated Bible is designed to engage every age in the beautiful truths of God's Word. This special Bible is packed with:
- exciting facts about the people of the Old and New Testaments
- vivid, full-color photos and illustrations
- detailed maps of the lands of the Bible
- clear timelines
- and a thorough index

Children will find each biblical account is easy to read. Adults will enjoy its beauty whi...more How would I describe this book?
Well, first here is how the publisher describes it:

The Family Illustrated Bible is designed to engage every age in the beautiful truths of God's Word. This special Bible is packed with:
- exciting facts about the people of the Old and New Testaments
- vivid, full-color photos and illustrations
- detailed maps of the lands of the Bible
- clear timelines
- and a thorough index

Children will find each biblical account is easy to read. Adults will enjoy its beauty while leading their family in devotions. The Family Illustrated Bible is an excellent resource to establish the family's foundation on the Bible. Once in the home and hands of inquiring minds, this Bible will not be ignored.

The Family Illustrated Bible was designed by Sally Tagholm, an award-winning author who has written numerous children's books on history and animals.

Now, for my thoughts:

Yes, this is a beautiful book that is packed with both photographs and beautiful illustrations that enhance the reading of the Bible lessons. I do think this book is what I would call a "nice to have" but in my opinion it is not a "must have."

I do like that there are many Bible stories in this compilation book that are not included in many Bible storybooks. However, it is called by title a "Bible" and I do disagree with that designation. It is a Bible story book in that it retells and paraphrases multiple Bible stories, but it is not an all-inclusive, word-for-word Bible. Additionally, some of the content is theologically questionable (such as a reference to "The Gospel of Thomas"). One other qualm I have with the book is that it is difficult to tell what the target audience is. It seems as if it is intended for children (potentially young children), but much of the wording and content seems more directed at and understood by much older children or even adults. I do realize the Bible has content that can be difficult to discuss with young children as well, but this book being described as a "Family Illustrated Bible" seems as if it would be geared toward families of young children. That may just be a misunderstanding on my part, though.

Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think if you do.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from New Leaf Publishing Group. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review.(less)

like · see review

Nov 22, 2011 Brenda Casto rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book really reminds me of a children's storybook Bible. The first thing that jumped out at me with this one was the beautiful illustrations, and eye catching colors. The way this book is presented is also quite user friendly. Instead of reading this book from cover to cover I preferred to use the table of contents and choose which stories I would read, and speaking of table of contents this book is broken down into two sections with stories from the Old Testament and New grouped separately....more

like · see review

Oct 10, 2011 Soaring Eagle rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was previously published under DK Publishing and was called The Children's Bible. It is a hard-cover book with 356 pages. When I first leafed through the book, my first impressions were positive. Illustrations were appealing and colorful. There are photos of actual places such as a view of the Promised Land, the City of David, the Garden of Gethsemane, etc....Included throughout the book are facts about the Old Testament/New Testament, countries such as Mesopotamia, people: pharaoh, Ch...more

like · see review

Oct 07, 2011 Writerrani rated it 5 of 5 stars

What C (girl, age 5, Kindergarten) thought- I liked this Bible. I liked the stories of “Moses in the Bulrushes” and “The Golden Calf.” I liked the illustrations, especially of Samson and the lion.

Kids my age would like this book.

What B (boy, age 7, second grade) thought- I like the front cover with Noah and the ark. Flowers and an elephant are in the background. My two favorite stories are, “The Good Samaritan” and “The Unmerciful Servant.” I like the reference section called, “Exile and Return...more

like · see review

Sep 09, 2011 Cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Family Illustrated Bible

I love the look and feel of this hefty hardbound book. It’s solid, over 300 pages, and it is very beautifully illustrated. I couldn’t find a two-page spread that did not have a picture on it and the illustrations seem to go perfectly with the story on that page.

This would make an excellent read-aloud story book for your young children or grandchildren. It says it’s for the “whole family” but if you have readers, don’t you want them to get into the habit of reading the...more

like · see review

Jul 28, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bible, bible-history, children, christian-non-fiction, christianity, i-own-this, juvenile, homeschool, master-books, religion, review-books

The Family Illustrated Bible is a beautiful addition to any Bible collection especially if you have children at home and having a narration of the Bible histories of the Creation, Ruth and Naomi, Jesus Calms the Storm, Peter in Prison and of course all the other historical events covered in the Bible. Beautifully illustrated, the children will remained engaged while the stories are being read and stay focused.

Scattered through out the Bible are facts about the time period that is covered. There...more The Family Illustrated Bible is a beautiful addition to any Bible collection especially if you have children at home and having a narration of the Bible histories of the Creation, Ruth and Naomi, Jesus Calms the Storm, Peter in Prison and of course all the other historical events covered in the Bible. Beautifully illustrated, the children will remained engaged while the stories are being read and stay focused.

Scattered through out the Bible are facts about the time period that is covered. There is some great background information on how the written Bible came to be and even some facts about the books that weren’t included as Inspired Scripture. These pages are beautifully illustrated and while simple information is given it’s good for a beginner Bible study or as a jumping point for an older child to pursue more independent research on Biblical history. There are detailed timelines if you’re interested in seeing how other world events played out during the same time as Biblical history. A thorough index is also included if you are looking for something specific to a subject or person or place along with an extensive table of contents.

I only have three concerns, the first being the removal of Christ from the timeline – instead opting for CE (Common Era) or BCE (Before Common Era) instead of the Christian way of BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, Latin for “year of our Lord”). However, most parents can easily explain this to their older children and continue to use the Christian terms for the passing of time. There is mention that Paul gave Christianity a new start, some may find fault with this, but I saw this as more of to explain that the first Christians were Jews and after Jesus’ Resurrection and Accession the Gentiles didn’t follow certain dietary and other restrictions instead following the Salvation that Christ taught and Paul sought to make them two distinct groups. My third is this quote: ” It’s (the Bible) vision of a single, all-powerful God, concerned with individual human behavior, underlies three world religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.”

Otherwise, this is a beautiful way to give the Bible even more historical basis and understanding, while bringing the stories to life in the hearts of our children. For older children, as I stated above, some of the cautionary notes I made, can actually be made positive by opening dialogue as to why omitting Christ from the timeline is a grave error and discussing why some think Paul gave Christianity it’s second start and even how Islam does not coincide with a Christian view of Salvation and a loving, just God.

I also think that while New Leaf Publishing has re-published The Family Illustrated Bible keeping in mind that it was originally published by DK (a secular publishing company) under the title The Children’s Bible. It all comes down to knowing that originally this Bible was printed by a secular company and to keep the integrity of the original some things had to stay the same. For my family, this Bible will be much cherished and if my children don’t wear it out we’ll pass it down for other generations to enjoy.

**I was provided a copy of this Bible from New Leaf Publishing Group in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given or implied.(less)

like · see review

Jul 17, 2011 Edie rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Family Illustrated Bible arrived at our door last week! My kids squealed and grabbed for it as soon as I opened the package! Our children LOVE LOVE LOVE to receive new Bibles. They get passed back and forth between their rooms as the fight over them. It's one thing I'm glad they are both eager to get their hands on!

Speedy loves the illustrations in this Bible. From the front cover to the resources in the back the pictures draw you in. There are a variety of styles from cartoon to realistic...more

like · see review

Jul 14, 2011 Wanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have just finished perusing my review copy of The Family Illustrated Bible. The first description that comes to my mind is visually stunning. This 356 page book is not the ordinary and sometimes boring Bible story book that I remember from my childhood. Each and every page is meticulously crafted to be a stunning creation of photos, colorful illustrations, and artistic designs that compliment the text. The layout reminds me of an encyclopedia rather than a story book.

Features include 18 doubl...more I have just finished perusing my review copy of The Family Illustrated Bible. The first description that comes to my mind is visually stunning. This 356 page book is not the ordinary and sometimes boring Bible story book that I remember from my childhood. Each and every page is meticulously crafted to be a stunning creation of photos, colorful illustrations, and artistic designs that compliment the text. The layout reminds me of an encyclopedia rather than a story book.

Features include 18 double page reference spreads that give in-depth information on various subjects from the Bible with actual photos as well as illustrations. These cover:
Books of the Bible, Covenants, Lands of the Bible, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Canaanites, The Philistines, The temple in Jerusalem, The Assyrians, Exile and Return, Hellenism, King Herod, Galilee, Jewish Sects, Roman Judea, The Christians, and The Church and Rome.
There are also several two page spreads of photos of the lands of the Bible as well. The book also covers 74 Old Testament stories and 64 New Testament stories that are completely illustrated and presented in one, two, or three page spreads so each story can be completed in one reading.

I think that the main thing that needs to be noted about this book is that it is a reprint from the 2008 version titled The Children’s Bible which is a DK discovery book. That explains why the book is so beautiful—Dorling Kindersley is noted for their wonderfully detailed books. However, they are not a Christian company and therein lies the problem. While this volume gives a lot of interesting information it is important to note that it is written from a purely secular point of view and is not all accurate according to scripture. For example, I personally do not care for the use of BCE & CE instead of BC & AD in the reference pages. That may not bother most people but it is a sore spot with me. The new dating system simply leaves Christ out of the equation and should not be used in a Bible text. Also, the reference pages about the Christians have several statements that many will find troublesome such as Paul giving Christianity a “new start” and Thomas having written his own gospel that did not make it in the Bible. Most disturbing are statements that say the disciples “believed” that Jesus performed miracles—which allows room for doubt that the Bible is true and Jesus really is the Son of God.

The Bible Stories are retold based on the NIV. While they are fairly accurate, parents should be aware that there are some slight changes that deviate from the actual scriptures. Some may argue that since this is a story book instead of an actual Bible, the changes are just a retelling of old familiar stories. My problem with that is the fact that some accounts actually contradict scriptures and would therefore be teaching children a false history of the Bible. In the telling of the Garden of Eden we are told that God worried. God does not worry. Another example is the parting of the Red Sea. The Bible plainly states that the Israelites walked across the sea bottom on dry ground while this author tells of them crossing a muddy bottom. Actually, the more I read the more little problems I found with the scriptural accuracy of the book. This was disappointing as I was initially very excited about this book and wanted to give it a great review because it is so beautiful.

Bottom line—for layout, design, and visual appeal, I give the book five stars. For accuracy of content and being scripturally sound I would have to give it three stars. In my opinion this book is a watered down version of the wonderful history that is so important to both Jews and Christians. If the beautiful illustrations, photography, and layout of this book had been paired with a carefully written, biblically accurate text, this book would have been a winner. As it is I feel that families who believe that the Bible is divinely inspired by God will be disappointed with this book in spite of its “eye candy” appeal.

I received this complimentary copy from New Leaf Publishing for this review. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed here are my own.
(less)

like · see review

Jul 13, 2011 Tammy rated it 5 of 5 stars

We're one of those families who enjoys reading together, especially the Word of God. Every evening my husband reads a portion of Scripture out loud to our family as we prepare for evening prayer time. So, I was excited to review The Family Illustrated Bible.
Our son loves pictures to go with a story or lesson....actually I think we never out grow the pictures....for pictures enhance the story! This illustrated Bible has beautiful pictures. Sometimes the pictures are in vivid color and then there...more

like · see review

Jul 27, 2011 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: apologetics, children-s-must-reads, bible

One thing I look for in a Family or Children's Bible is accuracy. It is one thing to tell children the stories of the Bible, and it is another to make sure the Word of God isn't misrepresented. This is a beautifully accurate retelling of the Word of God. Not babyish in anyway, perfect for a family devotional. The drawings are gorgeous and artistic. The stories are alive and concise. This Bible is one I am not using for my 2 youngest before settling in for the evening. They keep asking to read an...more

like · see review

Jul 16, 2012 Margaret rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Margaret by: Katie Gumm

Shelves: bibles, newleaf-press, homeschooling, favorites

Including an index and people glossary. This Family Bible is full. While not a complete text of scripture this book is packed with pictures, paintings, illustrations and drawings of all types and varieties. Reference sections and novelizations of Bible stories. To me, well I would almost call this a Bible Encyclopedia with all of the information and visual facts shared on these pages. Compared to others I have seen I think I could call this a storybook Bible encyclopedia. The Family Illustrated...more

like · see review

Apr 28, 2012 Dawn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-adult, read-child

Apr 18, 2012 Thomas Feller rated it 3 of 5 stars

Oct 07, 2011 Anna T marked it as to-read

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

Popular Shelves

bible

2 shelves

read-child

1 shelf

read-adult

1 shelf

favorites

1 shelf

to-read

1 shelf

newleaf-press

1 shelf

homeschooling

1 shelf

bibles

1 shelf

review-books

1 shelf

religion

1 shelf

About New Leaf Press

New Leaf is dedicated to ink on paper to impact eternity, reaching hearts across the world to know Him and make Him known as our Savior.

More about New Leaf Press...

Books by New Leaf Press

The Joyous Gift Of Puppy Love: Images Of Life Celebrations

Simple Tips for Simple Living for Couples

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Family Illust...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: The Family Illustrated Bible
avg rating	preview: The Family Illustrated Bible Goodreads rating: 4.07 (15 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12030301-the-family-illustrated-bible?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348625813l/12030301.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12030301-the-family-illustrated-bible?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Family Illustrated Bible by New Leaf Press[/url]

The Family Illustrated Bible

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

Popular Shelves

About New Leaf Press

Books by New Leaf Press

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Family Illust...

new topic
Discuss This Book