"I got a chance to review this book the summer before it was officially released during Clergy-Laity in 2006. With so much material available to choose from - and a lot of questions from parents regarding what was and wasn't included - I decided to read through it myself and see. Overall I found that the iconic illustrations were well done and inspirational. There are a lot of icons (especially of Old Testament stories) that don't surface too often and they are treated with a classical sensitivity to the spirit of iconography - a lot of thematic resonance is brought out through the icons - with accurate and subtle similarities between parallel stories clearly visualized.

The stories themselves are well-phrased, conservatively tied to the original stories - and the cross-reference for each story to the biblical text is included. With regard to some of the more sensitive (and possible scary) topics connected to the Old Testament and also the Second Coming, the volume doesn't present issues to the kids that you would rather bring up in your own time as a parent. In particular, I felt the treatment of Revelation brings out a lot of the hope that the faith offers - in contrast to being a time of desperate conflict. In general, I believe this theme of pressing onward toward the eternal Kingdom of God is preserved throughout the book - and that this message will come across to kids as they read and re-read this book.

As an added comment, we've had numerous comments on how many kids bring this book to church and connect the icons in the book to the icons in the church - and to the stories behind the icons. They have credited this book with helping their kids connect their experience in Church with the Bible."

– Jacob Gorny