The Book of Belonging: Bible Stories for Kind and Contemplative Kids by Mariko Clark, illustrated by Rachel Eleanor
The Book of Belonging is designed for families seeking a Bible storybook that reflects the diversity of God’s people and for every reader seeking a more expansive and wondrous view of God. The thoughtful text and rich illustrations present some of Scripture’s most important and overlooked stories—including many female-centered ones—alongside old favorites reimagined to convey greater inclusivity, diversity, and historical representation.
Through narratives, mindful practices, and guided wonder moments, children and grown-ups alike will learn who God is and be reminded over and over that God tells each of us, “You are Beloved, you Belong, and you are Delightful.” Because when it comes to the love of God, everyone belongs.
For the past year I have been reading from “The Book of Belonging” with my child (6) at special times throughout the year. This children’s (or really all ages!) bible is based on the idea wonder. The stories are rich with narrative texture (using all our senses) and include midnfulness moments to prompt a deeper dive into the text.
The book also lifts up often forgotten figures in the stories, focusing especially on women and children in the text tradition. I cannot stop gushing about its version of the Luke Christmas story, where we follow the grubby and exuberant shepherds–children who were often the youngest members of their families–running wild through Bethlehem searching for the newborn baby!
But it is so much more than just a bible that features kids, it also tells some of our more challenging stories while treating the hard stuff with nuance. This past Holy Week, I was really moved by their Good Friday and Holy Saturday story called “The Messy Middle”. I felt my eyes getting watery, imaginging how hard that period of grieving was for Jesus’ friends. It also opened up a space for good conversation with my kid, whose classmates have experienced some significant losses over the past two years.
I have used these stories in all-ages worship and in adult-only worship times. Sometimes we just need to use our imaginations to bring a well-known story to life again, like Jesus’ baptism. – Tori
As an Amazon Associate, BibleWoolies does earn commission from qualifying purchases through our referral links. Note that Amazon tracks referral data even if a purchase isn't completed. We always encourage borrowing from our local library, purchasing used or from independent retailers before making a purchase through Amazon. Revenue from the Amazon Affiliates program goes to support our free app and caregiver resources.