The Lion Bible for Children

The Lion Bible for Children: A Classic is Born

September 2002 saw the launch of a new Bible from Lion Publishing called The Lion Bible for Children. This major new retelling includes more than 200 treasured tales from the Old and New Testaments in one beautifully illustrated book. As well as gripping accounts of all the great stories, there are accessible paraphrases of a number of popular Psalms, Old Testament words of wisdom and prophecy, stories from the Book of Acts, the Epistles and the Book of Revelation. What perhaps makes this Bible so engaging is the way in which it is written, as Su Box, Lion’s Commissioning Editor explains:

‘We were aware of the growing interest in storytelling and wanted to publish a retelling that covered not only the key events of Bible history but also conveyed something of the mood and emotions of each story. The Lion Bible for Children works for readers who may not be familiar with the Bible because of its compelling and evocative storytelling. It lets each story speak for itself rather than being explained, which today might seem a little didactic.’  

It’s certainly a comprehensive and accessible volume, aimed at children aged 8 to 12, which includes Bible references and indexes of people and places so that any child, whether or not they come from a religious background, can learn about some of the most exciting characters and events in history.

‘It took a long time to choose an author who had both a love and wide knowledge of the Bible and the necessary writing skills. We were looking for a writer who would share our vision for a Bible that children of any background would enjoy and want to keep on reading. Murray Watts fitted the bill on all counts and we were delighted when he accepted our commission,’ says Su Box.

Certainly, acclaimed screenwriter and playwright, Murray Watts, knows how to captivate an audience. He studied English Literature, Art History and Theology at University and began his career as a playwright. He was a founding member of Riding Lights Theatre Company and has written film scripts for numerous books but is probably best known as screenwriter of the award-winning film, The Miracle Maker, which has reached over 50 million people in 33 countries. It is these skills as a screenwriter and his love of the Bible that he has masterfully employed in this retelling of the Bible:

‘I am often asked in interviews, “Why do you write?” or “Why do you do theatre? Do you write to make people think?” and I say that you cannot make people think, but you can move them so deeply that they can’t help thinking. So I’m hoping people will listen to me, that they will listen to what I’ve got to say in that sense. And I hope that in a lovely way with The Lion Bible for Children, that sort of entertainer’s instinct or actor’s instinct, becomes a channel, hopefully, for spiritual reality, as if God is whispering in the mind of a developing child in the most loving way and saying, “Here. Look. Listen. Stop for a moment. Enter another world. Get under the bed where all the books are, get into the safe place, and come with me.”’

In The Lion Bible for Children Watts gently draws in his reader and awakens the mind, imagination and senses to characters, places and events which might otherwise seem hard to relate to or understand. Even the most well known stories will interest and inspire children and adults alike. The result is a book that is engaging, exciting, compelling and memorable, while remaining faithful to Scripture:

‘It’s about colour and depth, it’s about richness… It’s about helping the text to breathe, to sizzle, to explode. Children don’t paint the world as they see it, they paint the world as they feel about it… And I hope that anyone who reads this book may later look back and see the power of God, or God meeting them in different ways in their lives. They’ll say, “Didn’t my heart burn within me when I read that book when I was a child or it was read to me?” And it’s the burning heart, the image of that passionate, emotional experience, that matters to me.’

The illustrator, Helen Cann, had already illustrated several books for Lion when she was approached to undertake this new project. She grew up in Bristol, studied Visual Art and Illustration at university and has exhibited widely in Europe and America. Her illustration style is influenced by decoration and design from around the world, using such diverse sources as tiles, textiles, calligraphy and jewellery, and so she was an obvious choice for a book rooted in so many different cultures and times:

‘Before I start illustrations for a new project, I usually research any relevant details, often very small things like the style of pottery that was used at the time, for example. I always enjoy this stage. Many of the books that I illustrate contain stories from different cultures and times and it’s a privilege to be able to learn so much in my job. Working on this book has given me a new interest in the archaeology of ancient civilizations and I found I learnt more about the Bible working on this project than years of Sunday School when I was a child!’ The illustrations are warm and inspiring and the characters seem vivid and real, not just historical figures on a page. Each page provides its own interest:

‘My biggest challenge with this book was keeping variety in the images whilst not losing touch with the message of the text. Illustrating a Bible is so different from illustrating a general picture book, there are more sensibilities to bear in mind. I hope that my illustrations bring colour and excitement and complement the text which is so beautifully written.’

Certainly it seems this new publication has a bright future. With a first print run of over 130,000 copies, this is going to be a major Bible for the next generation of young readers. Harrods of Knightsbridge, London clearly agree, and have already commissioned 250 leather bound copies to be published and sold in the lead-up to Christmas. So, if you are looking for a Bible that you hope your child will read and treasure throughout childhood and beyond, The Lion Bible for Children should be your first choice.