Treasury of Bible Stories

by Donna Jo Napoli, Christina Balit (Illustrator)

Overview

The timeless tales from the early books of the Bible have captivated generations. In this lush storybook, the fresh voice of lyrical storyteller Donna Jo Napoli and the lavish artwork of Christina Balit bring classic stories to life for a young, modern audience.

Noah's Ark, Moses, David and Goliath, the ten plagues, Daniel and the lions' den, Jonah and the giant fish, and many more of the Bible's most powerful stories—27 in all—are compellingly retold in this beautifully illustrated treasury. Readers will be fascinated by the ancient people and events they encounter, surprised by some of the lesser known accounts revealed, and inspired by the lessons these tales impart. Stories cover important ground beyond religion, such as culture, history, and geography, and they touch on issues that remain relevant today—faith, loyalty, kindness, violence, generosity, greed, jealousy, and more. These accessible, readible stories give kids a rich picture of biblical times, which encourages them to think about our role in the world and to learn more.

Napoli's magicial storytelling is sure to ignite children's imaginations. Along with Balit's stunning art, this is a book kids will want to explore again and again—a classic that families can read aloud together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426335389
Publisher:	Disney Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/22/2019
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	403,942
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 12.00(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	780L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

DONNA JO NAPOLI is professor of linguistics at Swarthmore College, mother of five, grandmother of two, and the author of more than 70 books for children and young adults. While her undergraduate major was mathematics and her graduate work was in linguistics, she has a profound love of mythology, folklore, and fairy tales.

CHRISTINA BALIT is a graduate of the Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art, London. An award-winning dramatist and illustrator, Christina has painted more than 20 children's books, including Blodin and the Beast by Michael Morpurgo, Zoo in the Sky, The Planet Gods, The Lion Bible, National Geographic's treasury series: Treasury of Greek Mythology, Treasury of Egyptian Mythology, Treasury of Norse Mythology, and Tales From the Arabian Nights. Her author titles include Escape From Pompeii, Atlantis, The Legend of the Lost City, and An Arabian Home. Her plays include Woman With Upturned Skirt, The Sentence, and Needle (winner of the Brave New Role award).

Editorial Reviews

"Napoli brings her literary eye to a yet another ancient tradition. Napoli opens with ebullient prose in her retelling of Creation with a 'wondrous beginning' and 'crystalline start' leading to an Earth that is 'lush' and 'fragrant'… Balit's bold illustrations accompany each tale and feature a diversity of skin tone that reflects the many lands from northeast Africa to the Middle East where the drama unfolds… Sidebars throughout add historical and scientific context to the stories presented while backmatter includes maps, timelines, and brief biographies of the major players. A worthy cultural treasury with appeal to both the faithful and irreligious.” — Kirkus


.

From the Publisher

2019-07-28
Following her Treasury of Egyptian Mythology (2013) and Tales From the Arabian Nights (2016), Napoli brings her literary eye to a yet another ancient tradition.

Napoli opens with ebullient prose in her retelling of Creation with a "wondrous beginning" and "crystalline start" leading to an Earth that is "lush" and "fragrant," standing in pointed contrast to the sparse simplicity of the source material found in Genesis 1. Continuing onward she spends the first half of the treasury covering stories from just the first two books of the Torah, retelling the ubiquitous tale of Noah and the establishment of Jewish identity. As the Children of Israel reach the promised land, the treasury begins to diverge from a strict chronology, and succeeding entries follow the order of the Jewish canon, introducing the Nevi'im with David, Goliath, and later Jonah, then on to the Ketuvim, in which such women as Ruth and Esther shine. Title notwithstanding, this collection does not include the Christian New Testament. Balit's bold illustrations accompany each tale and feature a diversity of skin tones that reflects the many lands from northeast Africa to the Middle East where the drama unfolds; Adam and Eve appear to be sub-Saharan Africans, echoing current thinking on human origins. Sidebars throughout add historical and scientific context to the stories presented while backmatter includes maps, timelines, and brief biographies of the major players.

A worthy cultural treasury with appeal to both the faithful and irreligious. (Religion. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews