The Blessing of the Lord: Stories from the Old and New Testaments

by Gary D. Schmidt (Editor), Dennis Nolan (Illustrator)

Retells twenty-five Bible stories, exploring the point of view of the characters in each story.

Genres: Picture Books

160 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 1997

About the author

Gary D. Schmidt is an American children's writer of nonfiction books and young adult novels, including two Newbery Honor books. He lives on a farm in Alto, Michigan,with his wife and six children, where he splits wood, plants gardens, writes, feeds the wild cats that drop by and wishes that sometimes the sea breeze came that far inland. He is a Professor of English at Calvin College.

Reviews

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

In principle I am oppose dot a book like this. It takes some of teh key Old Testament stories and imaginatively looks at them from a different angle. The last thing a small child needs is to be confused about what the inspired Word reports. So this book needs to be read to kids with care. Make sure they know this is fiction not Scripture.

BUT it is often breathtaking in its narrative power. Schmidt will look at David and Goliath's fateful day from the perspective of a fictional shield-bearer for the giant. The bearer is resentful of the borish Goliath and then terrified by David... and David's God. The scene ends with him hiding behind a rock in the rain, weeping.

This is about the most engrossing children's Bible story book I have ever seen. The illustrations are as interesting as the stories.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schmidt’s writing is absolutely beautiful, and I’m glad he applied it to the retelling of such meaningful stories. Sometimes when I read the Bible, I have a hard time seeing the people as anything but characters on the page of a story. Schmidt humanizes them by fleshing out the events with cultural details, emotions and surprising perspectives. For example, who would have ever considered the perspective of Goliath’s armor bearer?? Or King Darius upon seeing his trusted advisor in the lions’ den?

Schmidt emphasizes redemption and hope throughout all the stories, and this is his forte (Wednesday Wars, Orbiting Jupiter, et. al.).

This would be a great gift for a child, although it is not a picture book (which is generally aimed at ages 4-8). It brings the Bible to life.

I suppose my one complaint is that he didn’t end with John on Patmos experiencing Revelation. I know he would have done a fabulous job with it.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather than retelling familiar Biblical stories, Schmidt instead captures moments in them. He gives short glimpses into the minds of characters, helping readers ask questions about things that are familiar. Might be a good conversation starter for family reading or with older Sunday school classes.

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Historical fiction, emphasis fiction