A Big Book For Small Hands: Bibles for Kids

-- Críticas, 11/15/2007

Christianity, and particularly Catholicism, is a cornerstone of Hispanic culture. Most children grow up attending Sunday mass, preparing themselves for the First Communion, and praying every night with prayers they’ve learned from mom, dad, or abuelita. Spanish-speaking parents wishing to introduce the stories of the Bible to their kids can now do it in their own language thanks to a few publishers offering a number of solid titles. The following are authoritative, well-written, and skillfully translated books that do a great job at making the complex Biblical stories accessible to children. Librarians wishing to serve their young Christian patrons and their parents can find here something for all ages. Bookstores serving the Hispanic community will benefit from carrying these “first Bibles” that make great presents.

Davies, Rhona. La Biblia en un año para niños. (The One Year Children’s Bible) tr. by Adriana Powell Cabral and Mayra de Ramírez. illus. by Marcin Piwowarski. U.S.: Tyndale Niños: Tyndale. 2007. 349p. index. ISBN 978-1-4143-1500-3. $19.99

K-Gr 3–Starting with the Creation on January 1 and ending with God’s revelation to John on December 31, this hefty volume offers a reading for every day of the year. Narrated in a straightforward manner, with biblical notations on the margins, the stories are brief enough to allow for a subsequent meditation or discussion. The well-translated text includes dialog, and the sparse gouache illustrations transport readers to biblical times. At the end of the book, a handy encyclopedia provides the historical, social, and political background for these stories. The section covers food, agriculture, civilizations, family structure, religion, and daily life in the times of Jesus. Recommended for bookstores, this volume is ideal for home use.—Ximena Diego, Críticas

Gr 3+–Lottridge and Wolfsgruber have won numerous awards for their work, and their talents show in this compilation of well-known stories that follow the life of Jesus. In line with the oral tradition of the first centuries, these vignettes are meant to be read aloud. As the author explains in the prolog, the stories are based on the four gospels and adapted to give them context and “a satisfying beginning-middle-and-end structure”. Biblical notations in the margins provide the sources. Complementing the narrative’s fresh take, the artwork uses unconventional spatial and artistic approaches, such as a beardless Jesus in a robe made of brown-and-golden tapestry. Wolfsgruber gives medieval sacred art a contemporary twist: her earth-toned dry-point etchings incorporate other media, such as torn pieces of paper to represent rocks and the moon. The huge, black rooster overshadowing a grieving Peter is in itself quite striking. The Spanish translation is clear, yet the unusually small font may be problematic for beginning readers. This precious little book that fits into one big hand will appeal to anyone who wants to experience the life of Jesus in a new way. Recommended for bookstores and public libraries.— Cristi Jenkins, Access & Programs, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, WA

Rikkers, Doris & Syswerda, Jean E. Leamos juntos la Biblia: Historias de la Biblia para niños (Read with Me Bible: Bible Stories for Children) tr. by Juan Padilla Moreno. illus. by Dennis Jones. U.S.: Grupo Nelson. 2006. 444p. glossary. index. ISBN 978-0-88113-152-9. $16.99

K-Gr 3–This inviting Catholic Bible for young readers gathers 105 well-known stories from the Old and New Testaments. The text is based on Saint Paul’s Holy Bible and it has been approved by the International Catholic Society (SOBICAIN) in Spain. Narrated in a traditional manner, with short, rhyming sentences, the accessible compilation includes important stories such as the Creation, the flood, Daniel in the lion’s den, and the life and miracles of Jesus. The watercolor cartoon illustrations emphasize the actions, and they carefully avoid nudity in Genesis and overly graphic representations of the passion and crucifixion. Though some of the vocabulary may be challenging for beginning readers, an appended glossary provides the meaning of dozens of terms like mirra (myrrh), lepra (leper), and langosta (locust). Recommended for public libraries and bookstores.—Bianca Elliott, Lansing High School, KS

Wright, Sally Ann. Biblia para niños. (A Child’s Bible) tr. by Grupo Nivel Uno. illus. by Honor Ayres. U.S.: Grupo Nelson. 2007. 141p. 978-1-60255-012-4. $13.99.

PreS-Gr 1–With simplified versions of basic Bible stories, this compilation targets the very young. Beginning with God creating the Earth, the first half of the book recounts key stories from the Old Testament, like the Creation, Noah’s ark, and the escape from Egypt. The second half focuses on the New Testament: the birth of Jesus, his life and teachings, death and resurrection, and the works of his apostles. Pleasant watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations grace each page. Rounded, bearded faces, happy animals, and smiling people dressed in colorful traditional robes fill the pastoral landscapes splashed with pastel hues of pinks, greens, and sky-blues. The translation is clear. However, the text takes a few liberties in emphasizing that the God of the Old Testament is amicable and quite compassionate, which may be problematic for those expecting a more authoritarian approach to interpreting the Bible. Overall, the gentle tone and pleasant ambience of the stories will appeal to most parents wanting to introduce the Bible to their children. Recommended for public libraries and bookstores.—Cristi Jenkins, Access & Programs, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, WA