Grand Rapids, Mich., November 19, 2008 –  The Jesus Storybook Bible by bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones is quickly becoming a favorite for Christians of all ages-from children and families to educators and theologians. The popular storybook Bible has sold more than 130,000 copies since releasing in March 2007 and consistently claims spots on the CBA Bestseller list throughout 2008.

“I'm blown away by what's happening with this book. And by the terrific word of mouth it's getting. And by how many children (big and small!) are reading it. It's very exciting. And I'm so grateful,” says award-winning author Sally Lloyd-Jones.

Written for children ages four and up, The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the story underneath every story and points to the birth of a child, the Rescuer. The text is faithful to the Bible, while guiding children and parents through “redemptive historical” meaning – using the entire Bible to reveal God’s plan to send Jesus – in a way that readers of all ages can comprehend.

“Zonderkidz is so excited about the success of The Jesus Storybook Bible,” says Alicia Mey, Vice President of Marketing for Zonderkidz. “Sally didn’t intend to write this book for all ages, but it has truly inspired people from all walks of life. Every week, we track dozens of online reviews and blog recommendations from parents, educators, and more. It is becoming a part of church small groups and families’ daily devotions. We even had a request for permission to use text from The Jesus Storybook Bible for a summer children’s musical. It’s amazing to see so many people rallying around a children’s storybook Bible.”

Children usually learn Bible stories in individual snippets, not chronologically, so they miss the Bible’s larger narrative and purpose. The Jesus Storybook Bible captures the plotline of the Bible in 46 individual stories, each part of a single, cohesive narrative, and shows that Jesus is revealed in all of Scripture – even in the Old Testament. From creation to Revelation, The Jesus Storybook Bible invites readers young and old to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of our redemption.

“When I was young, I thought the Bible was a book of rules I had to follow so God would love me. But the Bible isn’t a book of rules, it’s a story – the wonderful story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them,” Lloyd-Jones says. “It takes the whole Bible to tell this story, and at its center is a baby, the child upon whom everything would depend. From Noah to Moses to the great King David, every individual story in the Bible whispers his name – Jesus.”

The Jesus Storybook Bible paints a beautiful portrait of Jesus and invites children to see that not only is he at the center of God’s great story of redemption – he is at the center of their story too. Parents and children will enjoy The Jesus Storybook Bible for its simple, page-turning narrative and its original and unique illustrations by accomplished artist Jago. Lloyd-Jones’ gift as a storyteller draws the reader into the greatest of all adventures, with the greatest of all heroes. Parents (or anyone in a teaching position) will find that it is a unique tool to help them explain the gospel in all its fullness.

The Jesus Storybook Bible (ISBN: 978-0-310-70825-7) is a 2007 Moonbeam Award Gold Medal Winner in the religion category and was featured in USA Today. It is available in hardcover wherever books are sold and retails for $16.99 The Ebook format (ISBN: 978-0-310-71751-5) is also available for $9.99.

Biblia para niños – Historias de Jesús (ISBN: 978-0-829-75606-7) is the brand new hardcover Spanish Edition of The Jesus Storybook Bible that will be available in stores in December 2008 for $16.99. This edition is a partnership between Zonderkidz and Editorial Vida, Zondervan’s Spanish imprint.

“Editorial Vida is so excited to introduce a Spanish version of The Jesus Storybook Bible. The heart of a child perceives and understands the spiritual truths from the Bible no matter the cultural or ethnic background. The fantastic illustrations and selection of passages will be really appealing for our Hispanic young readers.” says David Coyotl, Marketing Director for Vida.

For more information about all three versions of The Jesus Storybook Bible, visit www.zonderkidz.com

About the Author
Sally Lloyd-Jones is a leading writer of inspirational books for children, with an expertise in conveying biblical truth to young children. She is the author of three bestselling children’s Bibles, including the Gold Book Award-winning Baby’s First Bible and, most recently, the Moonbeam Award Winner—The Jesus Storybook Bible. She has written many picture books for children, including Handbag Friends, Time to Say Goodnight and the critically acclaimed, How to Be a Baby: By Me, the Big Sister. A native of England, Sally now lives in New York City. For more information, visit www.sallylloyd-jones.com

About the Illustrator
Jago is an accomplished illustrator with several prestigious awards to his credit, including a Macmillian "Highly Commended" Award for Children’s Illustration in 2003, an AOI Silver Award in 2004, and the National Literacy Association Wow! Award. Jago lives in Cornwall, England, with his wife and daughter.

Recommendations
“I would urge not just families with young children to get this book, but every Christian—from pew warmers, to ministry leaders, seminarians and even theologians! Sally Lloyd-Jones has captured the heart of what it means to find Christ in all the scriptures, and has made clear even to little children that all God's revelation has been about Jesus from the beginning—a truth not all that commonly recognized even among the very learned.” ~ Dr. Timothy Keller; Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC

“The Jesus Storybook Bible is unlike any other storybook. True, that’s to be expected when you combine the mesmerizing illustrations of Jago and the award-winning writing of Sally Lloyd-Jones, a Brit with an uncanny knack for storytelling. Not only is each story vividly illustrated as it is portrayed, but also each tale is telling one Big Story–the story of Jesus.” ~ More to Life Magazine

"The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name disproves the adage that you can't judge a book by its cover. Jago's award-winning cover art is a foretaste of the whimsically insightful and richly colored drawings that await you on every one of the book's 351 pages. The illustrations alone are worth the price of the book....Jago the illustrator, and Sally Lloyd-Jones the author, are a good pair. She brings the same creativity and sense of humor to her telling of the Bible's stories....But Lloyd-Jones's writing isn't cutesy. She has a grasp of the profound. How does one explain to a child the agony of Jesus in Gethsemane, and his prayer of surrender to his Father? Lloyd-Jones does it as well as any biblical commentator.... The title and subtitle are even better than the book's delightful illustrations and narrative—because they provide, in one deft stroke, the interpretive key that unlocks the meaning of the whole Bible. 'The Jesus Storybook Bible' says it all: The Scriptures are not merely a collection of stories designed to teach moral lessons. As Jesus explained to the men walking the road to Emmaus on Resurrection Sunday, the whole Bible is about Jesus. In the words of the subtitle, every story whispers his name.... Lloyd-Jones manages to show again and again the presence of Christ in all the Old Testament Scriptures, and the presence of the Old Testament Scriptures in the life of Christ." ~ Christianity Today

“Perhaps the greatest value of this book is how it can train parents (and anyone in a position of teaching) to teach the Scriptures rightly to their children.” ~ WTS Bookstore