Bible History for Children and Youth (Text and Study Guide) begins with the story of Creation in the Old Testament and ends with a discussion of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament. This book can be read independently by third-grade students and up and was designed to improve a student’s reading skills while learning about Bible history. Each story is followed by a list of questions meant to test their comprehension over what was read. The questions can be answered individually by students while silently reading or after reading aloud, or they can be used for discussion purposes during reading groups. (Answers are available in Teacher Resources and Answer Keys to Accompany Bible History for Children and Youth, also by Habakkuk Educational Materials.) Besides the questions in the book, computer-based tests that consist mainly of multiple-choice questions are available for each Bible story and can be accessed free of charge by visiting the website of Habakkuk Educational Materials. The computer will notify users if an answer is correct or incorrect, and their grades will be displayed after completing a test. Forty Bible verses, each with its own tune to assist children with its memorization, have also been posted to the website.
Black and white illustrations are provided throughout the book to give students a visual depiction of Biblical events as they unfold, and a few even include reproductions of famous paintings in the public domain, such as Carl Bloch’s Sermon on the Mount. In addition, the stories provide the correct pronunciation of challenging Bible names, and a pronunciation guide is provided prior to the first story. The stories teach students the ways of God and how He operates in the lives of His people. In the Old Testament section, students will learn how God kept His promise to give the children of Israel the land of Canaan and how He responded to the prayers of such persons as Hannah, David, and Hezekiah when they cried out to Him for help. In the New Testament section, they will read about Jesus’ teachings, His love and compassion for all people, the sacrifice He made for us, and the mission His followers embarked on to spread the Good News. In addition, this book elaborates on Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled, including the Babylonian captivity, the Virgin Birth, and the suffering Messiah. The history behind certain Jewish and Christian holidays are also examined, such as Passover, Purim, and Palm Sunday, as well as the significance behind the Lord’s Supper.