Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary For Kids

The "Camp of Israel"

Have your children ever asked you what Holy, Righteous, Justified, or Mercy and Grace mean after reading verses in the Bible? Ever wished you could show them exactly what "The Camp of Israel" looked like during the 40 years wandering in the desert? How about a semi-detailed map of Jerusalem?  

The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids from Lifeway Christian Stores can help you with all of these and more! There are 750 Bible words with "Kid friendly" definitions, with scripture references that go along with each word included at the end of the definition. There are at least 500 full color photos, illustrations, reconstructions and maps, which according to my math means that there are only about 250 words without an illustration. Excellent! :)

There are some "Special Features" that include charts with:

• "Names of God"
• "12 Apostles"
• "Jewish Festivals and Feasts" (I like this one... it includes the season, a description, and references for each occasion)
• "Parables of Jesus" (There are 25 listed with the occasion, the lesson taught, and of course, the references)
•  



Portion of the "Seasons Chart

• A really neat chart with the "Seasons" followed by the Hebrews. It includes the months we know, the Hebrew names for the Lunar months, Feasts and Rainfalls, Agricultural Activities, and Shepherding Activities. I have never seen this information put to paper like this, and it really helps to get an idea of exactly when the month of Kislev(Chislev) is, etc. 

My son used the Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids almost as soon as it arrived, to help him with some historical facts/reconstructions for a short story he was writing on Moses' parting the Red Sea. I expect that this will become a useful tool for various reports, and answering questions that come up during devotions or AWANA.

If you are studying the Ancient World, you might enjoy the map that is shown with the entry of Sennacherib, which shows the various campaigns against Judah. There are many maps like this, which I have NEVER seen included in the maps found at the back of the typical Bible. Very cool!

There are a few caveats that I thought I should mention briefly, but please be aware that 2 of these are fairly specific to my "family filter". I only include them in case you have the same sensitivities in your home.

• There are some photos/illustrations that don't match up quite as well as they should (Kind of like "Typos"~ "Graphicos"?) but they are a very small exception to the rule of excellent illustrations found throughout the book. (This one is a general point)
• There were a couple of entries that I was less comfortable having in a dictionary intended for 5-10 year olds~ Harlot/Prostitute and Virgin. Our family doesn't "go there" until the kids are heading towards puberty and have a reason to know(Or if they ask, but so far, they haven't!). Of course, you may have an entirely different "Family Filter", but I thought I should mention it. 
• The picture accompanying the entry "John" is an illustration of the bleeding feet of Jesus on the cross, with John, the disciple whom Jesus loved comforting Mary his mother. Somehow, I didn't find this as fitting as another option.  I wouldn't have minded, except for the fact that my children have tended to be fairly "Sensitive" and this illustration is set apart by being on a page with a fair amount of text. Again, not a deal-breaker, but it was something that I noticed in the first few minutes of looking the book over.

The Nitty Gritty on The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids 
Hardcover book with a list price of $14.99
Intended most specifically for ages 5-10
Download a 22 page pdf sampler here 


As always, I hope that this review is helpful to you as you explore new products, and try to decide where to spend your homeschooling budget. Please visit the TOS Crew blog, and see what other TOS Crew Members had to say about the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids.


Blessings~

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this/these item(s)/service for free as part of the TOS Crew Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."