I thought I might become a mystery writer, or maybe a poet. But obviously, given that I’ve spent my entire professional career writing about faith and spirituality, the amazingly illustrated volumes of Scripture stories had the most profound impact on my life. Among my favorite stories was the one about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were thrown into the fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon, for refusing to bow down to a golden statue of the king. When the king looks into the furnace, he sees the young Jewish men walking around in the flames unharmed. There is even a fourth man with them who looks like “a son of God.” My book depicted an angel walking behind the young men, the angel’s wings seeming to form a shield of protection around them. When I actually began to read Scripture for myself, I was reminded of that powerful image when I read the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, when he returns to Jerusalem for the last time and is lamenting, “… how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings …” For me, both as a child and later as an adult, these were images of being under the cover of God’s love; images that became my experience on a journey filled with both joy and pain. Scripture stories hold a lot of value for young children, shared at the right time and in the right way. I have given many Bibles as gifts to my children and grandchildren, for birthdays, for Christmas, and when receiving a Sacrament, but in looking back at how much I loved and re-read the illustrated Bible story books I was given as a child, I now start my gifts of Scripture for my youngest grandchildren with similar gifts, beautifully illustrated and simply translated for a young age. If you are looking for a simple, perfectly illustrated book of Scripture stories for your classroom, or to use with your family, or to give as a gift, be sure to check out The Bible for Little Ones, from RCL Benziger, developed especially for children ages three to seven. My favorite part of this book, and there is much to choose from, is the engaging artwork, and especially, the expressive faces of the characters—a range of emotions that bring the stories to life and make them memorable for children. Each Scripture story is presented with a simple teaching process that can be used in the classroom or with families, and is designed to help children come to know, love and live the Word of God. Click here to see The Bible for Little Ones Sampler.
Mary Regina Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to nine, is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.