The Big Picture Interactive Bible Story Devotional (5 stars)

The Big Picture Interactive Bible Story Devotional

by B&H Publishing 

Children's Devotional

Available February 2015

224 pages

About the Book
The Big Picture Interactive Bible Story Devotional is the perfect way to bring the Bible to life in a kid's heart! This unique 52-week devotional is packed with value and includes interactivity kids will love. A Bible story is at the center of each weekly devotion, and a two-to-four minute video is available by scanning a QR code. Plus, a free downloadable app lets kids experience a digital "pop-up" (using Augmented Reality) of each Bible story along with narration by Jenna Lucado Bishop. Get more info here.

My Thoughts
I'm always looking for new books that will help kids grow in their relationship with God, and The Big Picture Interactive Bible Story Devotional is a resource I can recommend. The book is divided up into 52 short devotions for elementary-age kids. Each devotion is divided up into several sections: a one-page devotion, a short "augmented reality" clip that they can watch and hear using the mobile app, a passage of Scripture, questions for further thought, a video clip, and more. While it's intended for children to use on their own, I can see how this could also be used in family worship or even in homeschooling. One "devotion" could easily be stretched into a week's worth of discussions.

The devotions themselves are short, easy to read, and straightforward. If read in order, they will take a child through the entire Bible, showing how the Bible tells one complete story. This is something that I've only learned as an adult, so I love the emphasis on teaching children from a young age.

I definitely recommend this devotion and will confidently give it to the littles in my life. [5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.

When it's been nine months of silence . . .

About nine months ago, I disappeared from this space I'd carved out for myself on the world wide web. I didn't plan it or even notice right away. And then when I did, I found that I just had nothing that I wanted to say.

I stopped reading. I started binge watching Criminal Minds on Netflix. My personal life felt very off limits.

So what was left? Not a lot that I wanted to share.

For the first time since 2005, I didn't have a blog where I was sharing all my thoughts with my friends and anyone else who stumbled upon them.

And it was glorious.

But now I feel like I want to share again. So here I am. Thanks for sticking around.

And if you're an author or a publicist and I totally dropped the ball on reading your book or writing and posting a review that I owe you, I apologize. I certainly didn't intend to let anyone down, but this break has been incredibly healthy and helpful for me.

I'm working on another post to share a little more about the past nine months. Stay tuned!