by Kevin DeYoung
review by Kelly Coy

Though my children are older now, I remember well the days of seeking quality children’s books for our home. At times, we needed a fresh new devotional book. Sometimes, we were simply looking for books our children could read on their own. For these reasons and more, Kevin DeYoung’s new book, The Biggest Story, is one parents might consider adding to their family library.

In “A Note to Parents,” DeYoung says “our kids can become acquainted with many Bible stories without ever grasping the Biggest Story that makes sense of all the others.”  Woven in amid a sometimes playful retelling of familiar Bible stories, several “big” biblical themes appear in The Biggest Story—sin, man’s rebellion, and the need for redemption; Jesus, the one who would crush the snake’s head by His sacrificial death and resurrection; God’s promises of eternal life. While fun and engaging, the book is, in essence, a child’s version of chronological redemptive history.

The Biggest Story is not your typical children’s Bible storybook. The writing is lively without being childish. I encourage parents to remember this is a storybook, not the Bible itself (its opening line is “Once upon a time…”). The illustrations are incredibly unique and imaginative. Though perhaps not for everyone’s taste, there is an intentionality with which the illustrator drew them. The bright greens, reds, yellows and purples representing the garden of Eden and our future home in heaven contrast vividly with the darker images representing man’s rebellion and need for a Savior. Some of the illustrations may be too intense for very young children, but older elementary children will find them to be eye-catching and helpfully descriptive.

Whether parents seek to use this book as a supplement to family Bible reading or simply as a Christian storybook to have around the house, I trust The Biggest Story will be a useful resource in helping children understand one simple truth:  that well-known and beloved Bible stories aren’t meant to be stand-alone tales, but are actually part of ONE story that points us to ONE person—the Lord Jesus Christ—and what He accomplished for our salvation.

You can pick up your copy of The Biggest Story at Books by the Park. For more book recommendations to help you build your personal library, please visit our website.

About the Author
Kevin DeYoung (MDiv, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is senior pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan. He blogs at the Gospel Coalition and has authored or co-authored numerous well-known books such as Just Do Something, Taking God At His Word, as well as the award-winning books Why We’re Not Emergent and Crazy Busy.

About the Illustrator
Don Clark is an artist and the cofounder of Invisible Creature, an award-winning design studio based in Seattle, Washington. Don lives with his wife and their three children on a ranch thirty minutes southeast of Seattle.

About the Reviewer
Kelly Coy serves as Children's Ministry Director. She and her husband Michael have two children: Elizabeth, a student at Cedarville University and Andrew, a student at Twinsburg High School. As a family, they enjoy game nights, geocaching, and road trips. Kelly grew up in Florida where most of her family still lives. She remains a big Miami Dolphins fan, which, admittedly, allows her to feel great compassion for Browns fans.