Recently, I’ve been looking for a Bible story book for my youngest son. One of the things I looked for was how each book dealt with various passages. For example, the creation account. Here are two different story books, and their explanation of the creation of Adam and Eve:
But God saved the best for last. From the beginning, God had a shining dream in his heart. He would make people to share his Forever Happiness. They would be his children, and the world would be their perfect home.
So God breathed life into Adam and Eve. The Jesus Storybook Bible, 9-10
And
God made human beings to rule over the animals and to take care of the whole earth. God made Adam from the dust of the ground and he breathed life into him. God did not want Adam to be alone. He made him fall into a deep sleep and removed one of Adam’s ribs. From this rib, God made a woman called Eve. She was Adam’s wife and helper. 365 Great Bible Stories, 11
Notice anything significantly different between the two? Maybe it’s just me, but it seems to me that the first example leaves out the very important part about how God made Adam and Eve. Given the current discussions over the historicity of Adam, I thought the omission rather interesting. What do you think?
A Daughter of the Reformation 
Agreed. Lots of interpretive wiggle room for the little wigglers.
The lines: ‘God had a shining dream in his heart’ and ‘to share his Forever Happiness’ sound like a 60’s advertisement for a commune. Either that, or lyrics from Sesame Street.
I know that there are age appropriate considerations, but too often, books talk down to them. If you give them fuzzy feel goods they will end up with fuzzy concepts.
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I like each one from a different perspective. The first really gives the impression that God’s people are set aside, created for His purposes, to have a relationship with Him. I love that. The second is a little more literal, focusing on specific events, rather than the intent behind the events. This is a beautiful picture, to me, of God’s intentionality in His creation, and how even the smallest details matter.
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