Recently
I wanted to base a preschool lesson on this scripture: “Before God, no creature
is hidden.” (Hebrews 4:13). During the first year of PBT in which I featured a
new book every day, I had offered a picture book based on the popular hymn All Thing Bright and Beautiful. I was
stunned to discover that now there are many picture book versions of this hymn.
Two of them are board books, appropriate for toddlers & preschoolers. I’ve featured those below and
shown you a few of others. [Here’s] my earlier PBT post which features my favorite version for school-aged children and older.
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander
Illustrator: Dawn Machell
Hanna’s Comments: Your youngest children will love these bright colors, busy pages, and the handle on the side for easy carrying.
Original Publisher & Date: Thomas Nelson, 2016
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 2 and up, Toddler and up
Formats other than Book: None at present
Picture Book: All Creatures Great and Small
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander
Illustrator: Naoko Stoop
Hanna’s Comments: Notice the change in title. These illustrations are more subdued and seem to have an anime influence. Kids will think they're cool!
This author has 2 other books inspired by the Bible: Love is Patient, Love is Kind and Jonah and the Big Fish. These are also board books.
Original Publisher & Date: Sterling, 2012
Age & Grade Appropriateness:
Formats other than Book:
Picture Book: All Things Bright and Beautiful
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander
Illustrator: Katy Hudson
Hanna’s Comments: This is a big book full of illustrations children will enjoy. Some are quite beautiful.
Unfortunately, the 3 characters are all white despite this book being published recently.
Original Publisher & Date: Worthy Kids, 2016
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Preschool and up
Formats other than Book: None at present
Picture Book: All Things Bright and Beautiful
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander
Illustrator: Preston McDaniels
Hanna’s Comments: The illustrations here are more fantastical and complicated, but you and your children will have fun with them. This book may be harder to find.
Original Publisher & Date: Morehouse, 2000
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Preschool and up
Formats other than Book: None at present
Picture Book: All Things Bright and Beautiful
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander
Illustrator: Bruce Whatley
Hanna’s Comments: In this book, the illustrations are more naturalistic and feature an older girl who lives on a farm. Beautiful!
You'll also find the score to the hymn in the back.
Original Publisher & Date: Harper, 2001
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Preschool and up
Formats other than Book: None at present
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander
Illustrator: Helen Lanzrein
Hanna’s Comments: This book is quite different. It is a collection of poems. prayers, and pastoral illustrations that just happens to have the title of the hymn as it's own title. The version photographed above is a big, padded board book with card-stock pages. It's also available in paperback. One of the poems is Alexander's hymn. Here's that page:
It has some beautiful poetry and prayers and might be a nice baptism gift for a child.
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Preschool and up
Formats other than Book: None at present
Authors & Illustrators: Jan & Mike Berenstain
Hanna’s Comments: Last and most confusingly is this Berenstain Bears book in which verses from Alexander's hymn...
Original Publisher & Date: Zonderkidz, 2012
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Preschool and up
Formats other than Book: Tablet
Glad to hear it, David. I have over 700 books here, mostly secular, and tie them to scripture. Keep coming back and please tell others!
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