Soul Sustenance: The Laugh & Learn Bible for Kids

I recently got to see a copy of The Laugh & Learn Bible for Kids. Although my kids are older than the target age range, it was nice to see what's available for younger kids now. It has fun illustrations and is a great way to introduce younger kids to Bible stories.

The book is a passion project for VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer. He explains why:

“It’s hard for kids to make sense of a book as big and complex as the Bible. That’s why we often just tell our kids a few of the simpler stories, and then skip the rest. But kids need more than snapshots from the Bible, they need to see how the whole Bible fits together to tell one amazing story. That’s what I tried to do with my video series What’s in the Bible?, and it’s what I’m doing now with the Laugh & Learn Bible for Kids. By helping kids see the big picture, we help them find their own place in it,” said Phil Vischer, author of The Laugh & Learn Bible for Kids. “After all, we know kids love big, exciting, redemptive stories. That’s why superheroes, Star Wars and, Harry Potter are so popular. With this Bible we’re actually IN that kind of epic story, and every kid can be a part of it.”

Not only does the Bible share the stories, but it also answers questions that explain the basics of ideas like sin and the Trinity in ways that kids can understand. There's a family connection for each story that encourages further Bible reading and applies the Bible stories to daily life.

I had a chance to interview Jess Wolstenholm, Laugh & Learn Bible editor, to learn more.

1. Why did you decide to be involved in the Laugh & Learn Bible? Being a part of the team that developed the Laugh and Learn Bible for Kids has been such an honor. I had taken a break from my career when my kids were born but I continued to write during that time and as my kids grew, so did my passion for developing content that helped kids understand God and His Word - the Bible. I had the opportunity to return to work as the Editorial Director of a new children's book company and I jumped at the chance. We've created 19 kids books over the past 18 months - from board books to picture books, faith-based middle-grade novels to the Laugh and Learn Bible. I've always been a big fan of Phil Vischer and his ability to share big faith concepts with kids. Taking his gospel-focused Bible narrative and bringing it to life within the pages of this book has been such a privilege.
2. What sets it apart from other Bibles for kids? The Laugh and Learn Bible is unlike any other children’s storybook Bible! Our goal was to turn Bible storytime into a life-changing experience for kids. The Bible includes bonus content such as maps, charts, and other visual aids to help the Bible come alive for readers. Broken into sections (The Pentateuch, Historical Books, Writings and Prophets, The Gospels, Acts, Letters, and Revelation), it guides readers on an exciting journey through God’s story. Each Bible story ends with a Family Connection page that offers prompts to help parents and caregivers take the conversation further. And of course, as the name suggests, the Bible has lots of laugh-out-loud moments that will keep kids engaged. Even for the stories that are more serious, the illustrations are so beautifully whimsical that the reading experience feels lighthearted and fun.
3. Why is it so important to incorporate fun, even in a topic that might seem "serious" like religion? Let's face it, in today's culture, our kids are constantly seeking the next fun experience or thrill. Often times, faith and God seem like antiquated, irrelevant ideas to kids, an outlook that is usually supported by the dusty old King James Bible sitting on their parents' shelf. Not to mention the Bible is full of tough stuff! There's no doubt about it, there are many hard and seemingly "boring" moments in the Bible story. But the overall message of God's Word is one of love, adventure, and redemption. So even as we read about Jonah's unfortunate incident inside the belly of a whale or even Jesus' death, we can be filled with joy and hope because, at the end of the story, love wins! 

If you're a VeggieTales fans, you'll look forward to this:

• NEW VEGGIE EPISODES—There are 18 new episodes of Veggie Tales being produced. The first new show—The Best Christmas Gift—will be available starting 10/22 (see details below)
• ON TV, YOU CAN SEE THEM ON TBN—TBN is the world’s largest faith and family broadcaster reaching over 175 nations on 32 global networks - TBN’s US reach is over 100 million households. The air date has not yet been announced. 
• IN STREAMING & DVD—Available on DVD in WalMart, Target, CBA channel retail stores, on JellyTelly, and on most digital platforms and multiple SVOD platforms.