Heroes and Villains of the Bible is not your average bible stories book. The content focuses on specific individuals who were either heroes or villains. These people can be role models for the children to emulate or serve as cautions about how not to behave. Many of the stories are those that are expected in any collection of bible stories; however, less well-known ones are included too. Each of the accounts includes a villain or hero icon (snake or lion), a title, a short intro, the biblical citation, the actual text, and then a commentary about the hero or villain and why that person was designated as such, as well as a statement at the end that is meant to help the reader live heroically.
While it is a children’s translation of the bible (International Children’s Bible), the stories are actual biblical texts, not fictionalized accounts created for children. This makes it easy to find the corresponding text in another bible to read the preceding/following context for the story or simply a different translation.
Each story ends with a one sentence “take home message.” I like the simple reinforcement that this provides. Sometimes the children get so caught-up in the action that they might forget to take note of the moral of the story. It is clearly stated but not too heavy-handed.
I am pleased with this addition to my library of Saint books/stories. It has been well-received by my elementary school-aged CCD students. Most of the stories are short enough for them to read in five to ten minutes (before class, waiting for other students to complete work, etc.). I expect that it will see much use in the years to come.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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