BOOKS ABOUT THE BIBLE AND ITS PEOPLE - OLD TESTAMENT - NEW TESTAMENT - ALL AGES

Book titles are in dark blue and underlined. Click on them to learn more about the books and how to buy them.
To retell the stories below word for word, get permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain. The Bible itself is in the public domain.
In performance, always credit your sources.
Alphabetized with short descriptions for your convenience and to save you research time.

Adventure Bible for Young Readers, NIrV (The) by Lawrence O. Richards. (2008 - Ages 9-12) Based on the best-selling Adventure Bible, this new book is designed especially for young readers who are ready to explore the Bible on their own. Introductions to basic facts about each book of the Bible (who wrote it, where it took place, and why it was written), and full-color pages throughout with more interesting information about the Bible and what it means to be a Christian.

Bible Bad Guys by Bob Hartman with Ron Tiner and Jeff Anderson (illustrators). (2000 - Ages 9-12) These are the tales of bad guys turned good, good guys making bad choices, and truly terrible guys getting what they deserve. Stubborn Pharaoh, Power-mad Herod, Misguided-but-reformable Zacchaeus, and Cowardly Peter. Ten stories, drawn from the Old and New Testaments, will appeal to children and parents alike as they bring new understanding to biblical stories and characters. This is a great family book.

Bible For Children (The) by Murray Watts. (1969 - Ages 4-8) Vividly captures the eternal theme of God’s unending love and the many people and occasions that fill the Old and New Testaments. The Bible for Children contains more than 200 Bible stories, retold by playwright and filmmaker Murray Watts and elegantly illustrated by beloved artist, Helen Cann. The stories comprehensively cover key themes of the Bible; they are faithful to the meaning and spirit of the original Scripture.

More Bible Bad Guys and Gals by Bob Hartman with Jeff Anderson (illus). (2001 - Ages 9-12) A collection of imaginative tales based on biblical stories about “bad guys and gals.” This is another set of entertaining, enlightening stories from master storyteller, Bob Hartman. Fresh and appealing, these stories offer new insights into biblical characters as well as glimpses of God’s compassion, love, and justice.

	New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes Gift Edition (The) by Kenneth Taylor with Annabel Spenceley (illus). (2004 - Ages 4-8) The greatest gift any child can receive is an introduction to Jesus Christ and an understanding of His unconditional love. Parents and friends can give these first Bibles with perfect confidence that the Word of God will reach little ears honestly and lovingly.

Rhyme Bible Storybook (The) by Linda Sattgast. (2000 - Ages 4-8) Boys and girls -- even toddlers -- love the soothing sound of rhyme! And now they can enjoy thirty-five delightful, classic Bible stories retold in lilting verse and rollicking, read-aloud rhyme in The Rhyme Bible Storybook. Rhyming books are always among children's best-loved treasures, and The Rhyme Bible Storybook is certain to become a well-worn favorite!

Rhyme Bible Storybook for Toddlers (The) by (2000 - Baby-Preschool) Now toddlers have a Bible rhyme book designed just for them! From the story of creation ("In the beginning God made the light. The light was for day. The dark was for night.") to the resurrection of Jesus ("All his friends were happy then. Jesus was alive again!"), this is the perfect choice for parents who want to introduce their toddlers to the Word of God.

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BIBLE - BIBLICAL TOYS, GAMES, COSTUMES, GIFTS FOR CHILDREN

Toys, Games, Costumes and Gift links are in blue and underlined. Click on them to get more information.
Alphabetized with short descriptions for your convenience and to save you research time.


• Active Pad Story of Moses Interactive Book & Cartridge 7199900 by Active Minds.
Active Pad Story of Moses Interactive Book & Cartridge 7199900 Jonah and the Whale Active Pad Interactive Book & Cartridge. Help your child learn the story of Jonah and the Whale with this fun interactive book and cartridge set.

• Bible Charades Game for Kids by University Games.
3 years & up. Children of all ages will love getting in on the fun. No reading required! Each player takes a turn acting out animals, objects or actions from the Bible while the other players guess. A creative way to encourage confidence and develop communication skills in young children. Includes 60 topic cards, game board, playing pieces and instructions.

• Bible Pin The Tail on the Lion! by greenbrier.
Bible Pin the Tail on the Lion! Supplies Needed: Tape Objective: Each Player takes a turn at being the closest to pinning the lion's tail in the right spot, making sure that they are about 3 feet from the poster when they start.

• BibleQuest - Stationery - Paperie Note Cards by BibleQuest.
Looking for the perfect note card to express your thoughts and sentiments? These beautiful and elegant note cards are printed on linen-weave card stock and inscribed with Biblical passages that focus on values such as courage, wisdom, truth, forgiveness and victory. This spiritual and inspirational collection is sure to bless both the giver and the receiver.

• BIBLE STORIES & CRAFTS by Teacher Creative Resource.
GRADES 1-5 Dozens of stories about Bible characters and events are accompanied by discussion questions, memory verse, craft patterns, and more.

• Bible 20-Questions Game by University Games.
Bible 20 Questions® is the fast-paced game where players work together to identify people, places and things from the worlds most important book. Its great for beginners and Bible scholars alike. During each round, one player is the clue giver and the other players try to uncover the secret identity. Each clue that's read reveals more hints the fewer clues you need, the farther you advance! Bible 20 Questions is great for families and perfect for Bible study groups.

• Bible Woman by PuppetPartners.
Bible Woman puppet is 20 inches high.

• CHILDRENS HOLY BIBLE COLORING MINI-BOOKS by McToy.
12 Mini Books/Pamphlets - Measures: 5 inches x 3.5 inches - 6 pages each.

• Daniel & The Lion's Den Puzzle by Melissa and Doug.
5 years & up. Promote faith-based learning with colorful illustrated Bible stories in puzzle format. The 30 piece wooden puzzle has narrative text and reference notes for introducing the story of Daniel and the Lions' Den.

• Guidecraft Noah’s Ark Director's Chair by Guide Craft.
Celebrate the story of Noah with this stunning collection of hand crafted and hand painted room furnishings. Images of the Ark, Noah and the animals that sailed with him abound throughout the collection in hand carved relief. This colorful, sturdy director's chair features a side storage pouch for books, snacks, and more. Assembly required. Seat height 12.5". 16"W x 12"D x 22.5"H. 8 lbs.

• Holy Folks Mary 9" Doll by TaliCor.
3 years & up. Inspired by your favorite scriptures, Holy Folks bring smiles to all that hold them. This high-quality huggable character was designed for children of all ages. The 9" doll comes with magnetic play and pray hands and accessories. Surface washable.
Also:
• Holy Folks Noah 9" Doll

• Jesus 14" Puppet by Sunny Puppets.
4 years & up. Bring the love of Jesus to the classroom with this 14 inch full bodied puppet. The puppet comes complete with robe and sandals. Suitable for children and adults alike. Colors on fabric may vary.
Also:
• Peter 14" Puppet
• Mary 14" Puppet
• Noah 14" Puppet

• Messengers of Faith Jesus 12" Doll by Messengers of Faith.
5 years & up. Effectively teach Bible stories to children with this hand crafted 12" talking, poseable figure. It recites scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. A perfect tool for Bible storytelling!
Also:
• Messengers of Faith David 12" Doll
• Messengers of Faith Esther 12" Doll
• Messengers of Faith Peter 12" Doll
• Messengers of Faith Paul 12" Doll
• Messengers of Faith Moses 12" Doll

• Noah's Ark Book - 3 Minute Bible Stories by World Rights.
3 -minute Bible stories - Children's chunky board book. This book introduces young children to Noah, Daniel, Johah, and more. This 3-D rubberized Noah's Ark book cover is colorful and fun to touch. The pages are sturdy "chunky" pages for durability.

• One World Magnet Set (17 Pcs) by None.
3 years & up. Jesus loved all the children of the world. Encourage verbal communication and story telling by talking about what makes us the same and what makes us different. This 17 piece set includes a reusable vinyl pocket for storage. Can be used with any magnetic surface.

• Play & Learn Bible Games by Carson Dellosa.
3-7 years. Sixteen reproducible games to play at school, church, and home to help children grow in their faith. Fruit of the Spirit Spinner Game to Bible Picture Bingo, the majority of the Bible games do not require reading and are simple enough for children to play alone. Have fun and reinforce God's Word by playing the games with your children. 160 pages.

• Stories of Jesus Active Pad Interactive Book & Cartridge 7200100 by Active Minds.
Active Pad: Stories of Jesus by Active Minds 7200100 Jesus' gentleness and strength are emphasized in this collection of stories about his miracles. The re tellings of parables emphasize the lessons to be learned from Jesus's teachings. Stories of Jesus Active Pad Interactive Book & Cartridge. Help your child learn the Stories of Jesus with this fun interactive book and cartridge set.



BIBLICAL COSTUMES FOR CHILDREN:

• Balthazar Child Costume (Large)

• Child's Moses Shepherd Biblical Costume (Size: Large 12-14)

• Gaspar Child Costume (Medium)

• Melchior Child Costume (Medium)

• Shepherd Boy Child Costume (Large)

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ONLINE LINKS TO STORIES AND INFORMATION - BIBLE - OLD TESTAMENT - NEW TESTAMENT

Online links are in blue and underlined. Click on them to get more stories and information.
Short descriptions are included for your convenience and to save you research time.

• http://www.eldrbarry.net
A guide to analyzing the Bible and Biblical narratives for their story structures is at:

• The Lion Children's Bible
Here is a version of the Jonah story in the bible by Pat Alexander.

• http://www.nobs.org/
Start with NOBS (Network of Biblical Storytellers).

• http://www.mssscrafts.com/oldtestament/
Old Testament Bible Stories including Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah's Ark, Moses, Judges, Kings and Queens, King Saul and David the Shepherd, Prophets, Tower of Babel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph's Beautiful Coat, Joseph in Egypt, the Ten Commandments, Ark of the Covenant, Ruth, Sanmuel, Esther, Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel in the Lion's Den, Jonah and the Whale, and much more.

• http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,8187-1-4473-5,00.html
Old Testament Bible Stories from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Includes Before the Old Testament, Jesus Makes the Earth, Adam and Eve, Enoch, Noah, The Tower of Babel, Abraham, Jacob and Esau, Joseph in Egypt, Joseph's Brothers in Egypt, the Baby Moses, the Prophet Moses, the Passover, the Israelites in the Wilderness, the Ten Commandments, the Golden Calf, the Tabernacle, Forty Years in the Wilderness, Joshua, Ruth and Naomi, Samuel, King Saul and Young David, David and Goliath, King David, King Solomon, the Temple, the Divided Kinigdom, the Prophet Elijah, Elijah and Elisha, Jonah, Daniel in the Lions' Den, Esther, Job, and much more.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament
History and description of the Old Testament, including the construction of the Bible and the authors of the Biblical books, the Septuagint, Latin translations, other traditions, relationship between Old and New Testaments, Christian views on Mosaic Law, Historicity of the Old Testament narratives, many external links and references.

• http://www.ewtn.com/gallery/oldtest/index.htm
A collection of selected Biblical images and corresponding Bible passages from the Old Testament. Classified as "Heavy" anad "Lite" graphics, most of the illustrations are in sepia tones and very elaborate, with the stories and scripture passages accompanying each image.

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SOS: SEARCHING OUT STORIES AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIBLE - BIBLICAL STORIES
Advice, Comments and References from Storytellers, Teachers and Librarians
(excerpts from Storytell posts plus original research)

Book titles, movie titles and online links are in blue and underlined. Click on them to get more information.
Story and song titles are in italics.
To retell any stories, obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain.
Posts are added chronologically as they are received by Story Lovers World

1) From Doriss H .— the calming the waves is hard for very young children to get interested in - it's always a struggle I'm usually telling biblical tales to mixed ages 5-12 so to engage the younger children I work in lots of participation particularly with Bible stories older children may have heard many times. To calm the waves, 4 children are selected to shakes 4 corners of a long length of lightweight blue cloth so it rolls in waves. I play my drum while other children slap their thighs thunderously. The drum sets the pace slower & clothes waves lower & slower while thigh slaps move to finger snaps to simply brushing fingers as rain diminishes and quiet returns. I give the instructions first then tell the story till the storm bursts, we do the storm, and then I finish the story. Listen to the soft beat of the drum. Listen to the soft beat of your heart. Listen to the voice of God telling you that you are safe. You are loved.


2) This version is not for kids, but it helped me see the Jonah story in a whole new way. It is from our church web site, and the creator of this review of the ancient text is a former-presbyterian-minister/Ph.D. -now-Unitarian-Universalist-and-also-an-M.D.-psychiatrist. You may know that Ninevah is in present-day Iraq.
(URL no longer valid.)

Books and CDs about Jonah and the Whale and other Bible stories, told for children.

• Rabbit Ears Heroic Bible Stories: Jonah and the Whale, Joseph and His Brothers (Rabbit Ears) (CD)
Rabbit Ears Heroic Bible Stories enlightens and entertains with these classic tales fromt he Old Testament--read by your favorite stars and featuring original music by some of today's greatest artists.

• Jonah and the Whale
Read by Jason Robards
Original Music by George Mgrdichian
Jonah attempts to flee when he is summoned by God to preach his Word to people of Nineveh and finds himself being swallowed by a whale. After the whale spits him out, Jonah fulfills his mission and learns a valuable lesson about obedience and forgiveness.

• Joseph and His Brothers
Read by Ruben Blades
Original Music by Strunz & Farah
Rediscover the story of Joseph, a young man who is sold into slavery by his brothers. Many years later he forgives their betrayal and saves them from the famine that is ravaging their homeland. This tale of family love and redemption is sure to inspire everyone who listens.

• Jonah and the Whale (and the Worm) by Jean Marzolo.
PreSchool-Grade 3–Marzollo continues her series of accessible retellings of Bible stories. After God releases Jonah from the whale, the prophet remains reluctant to fulfill God's mandate that he preach to the Ninevites. He finally does so, and although they change their ways, Jonah still feels that they should be punished for their past sins. As he waits outside the city, hoping that God will destroy at least part of it, he observes the actions of a humble cutworm and learns a lesson about God's love that convinces him to forgive his enemies. The expressive watercolor illustrations and gentle text provide a solid starting point for collaborative reading and discussion. The text alternates between omniscient narration and dialogue between Jonah and God. Tiny octopuses in the margins also comment on the tale, foreshadowing events and prompting page turns. This book is a fun, unpretentious take on a favorite old story.–Anne M. Holcomb, Los Angeles Public Library

• Jonah and the Whale (A Chunky Book(R)) by Mary Josephs, Benrei Huang.

• Jonah and the Whale (Pop-Up Books) by Little Moorings.

• Jonah the Whale by Susan Richards Shreve.
Jonah is lonely, overweight, and the new boy in school. To escape the taunts of his classmates, he reinvents himself as a talk show host and turns his fantasy into reality by getting real celebrities to talk to him.

• Jonah and the Whale (My Very First Bible Stories) by Lois Rock and Alex Ayliffe.

• Jonah and the whale (Dear God Kids, are you telling me something?) by Anne Fitzgerald.

• The Hard to Swallow Tale of Jonah and the Whale (Tales from the Bible) by Joyce Denham and Amanda Hall.
Children love the story of Jonah for its qualities of adventure and daring: a dangerous mission, a runaway prophet, danger at sea, and an incredible rescue. Joyce Denham’s stylish rendition of Jonah’s story is fresh and appealing.

• Jonah and the Whale by Bernadette Watts.
When Jonah, refusing his Lord's request to spread the Word to the people in the corrupt city of Nineveh, heads for the high seas, the Lord summons up a terrible storm that threatens all aboard and sends Jonah into the watery depths where he is swallowed by a whale. Trapped for days in the belly of the whale, Jonah sees the error of his ways and is mercifully set free to fulfill his mission. The story of Jonah is an exciting tale of danger and adventure that offers children a direct and satisfying lesson in disobedience, punishment, forgiveness, and redemption. Bernadette Watt's illustrations, done in a gentle naif folk art style, exude warmth and childlike appeal, making this simple retelling of the Old Testament story accessible to a young audience.


3) The story of Jonah has been reframed for me so I approach it as a story about the effects of prejudice more so than just not going where God calls you. I usually tell the stories and leave them alone---Though I do much interpretation in the way I tell the story---The way I say the words that are spoken, how I image the story myself. If a lesson is to be extracted---I extract it in discussion not by telling them how to understand the story or what it means. I am more interested in them learning the story---than some interpretation of the story's meaning. If they learn--own the story--they will be able to use it in many ways in years to come. I will spend the time having them retell the story--rather than moralizing on it. This equips the child with a powerful tool--a story--they can use in many situations throughout thier life. Rather than encapsulating that story in a plastic shell. My hackles go up when I hear people forcing adult interpretations---way beyond the children's mental comprehension---onto stories I see this happening more with Bible stories than any other type of story---they don't do it with the Three Little Pigs, or Cinderella, or Brer Rabbit. All teaching stories. These people have no understanding or appreciation of "story and the power of stories" ---


4) I tell Moses from the viewpoint of his older brother Aaron - there's a new baby in the family, Aaron is jealous and resentful but comes around when he thinks the baby may come to harm floating in the river. I think Jonah needs to carry on through the end - younger children don't get the final point (we need to follow God's plan with sincerity and be grateful when anyone is spared, i.e., love your neighbor), but the older ones are beginning to grasp the concept and I think that is better than the admonition that you will get swallowed by a great big fish if you do wrong - I consider the story a long term investment and actually usually tell it from the viewpoint of a small girl in Nineveh who meets Jonah on the street as he is prophesying - describing a person who has been spit out of the belly of a fish is fun - think how stinky he would be! I like the fishes and loaves story from the viewpoint of the little boy with the basket - imagine his hesitation in offering and his amazement at the miracle - pretty exciting.

5) A great resource for this age group ( and MOST age groups) is Does God Have a Big Toe?: Stories About Stories in the Bible. It is a book written by a Jewish Rabbi, Marc Gelman, who takes the Jewish Bible stories and does Midrash on them to bring them up to the current time. Great Stories.


6) I co-taught First Day School at Palo Alto Friends Meeting once a month last school year. Each time we started with a parable from the book Parables: Stories Jesus Told by Mary Hoffman. Mary gives a brief intro and follow-up including queries for each of eight stories. After I shared the story, the other teacher took the six to ten year olds to do an activity that explored the meaning of the parable. I took the eleven to fifteen year olds and explored the life and teachings of Jesus using the book Jesus: What He Really Said and Did by Stephen Mitchell. It is an adaptation for teens of the work he did to write The Gospel According to Jesus.

• Parables: Stories Jesus Told by Mary Hoffman and Jackie Morris.
Jesus taught his followers through the use of parables; seemingly simple tales that reveal a deeper, more complex meaning. Christians the world over continue to tell and to ponder these timeless lessons. Now Mary Hoffman recounts eight of these important stories in accessible, beautiful language, perfect for sharing with a child. Every parable features an introduction and an afterword that convey Ms. Hoffman's insights into the parables and helps to make them understandable in the contemporary world. These lovely, eternal stories are marvelously complemented by the soft, richly colored watercolors of Jackie Morris. This is a treasure for readers both young and old.

• Jesus: What He Really Said and Did by Stephen Mitchell.
"The book you are about to read is a portrait of one of the most beautiful men who ever lived. He himself would probably not have considered himself beautiful or even special. He would have said that we are all beautiful, we are all special, because -- and he did say this -- we are all children of God..."
"When you're able to look inside yourself deeply, you'll find that the teacher who taught Jesus will teach you."

• The Gospel According to Jesus by Stephen Mitchell.
Following the example of Thomas Jefferson's The Jefferson Bible and modern humanistic scholarship, Mitchell ( Parables and portraits, HarperCollins, 1990) here examines Jesus as a person. He retains only the passages concerning moral instruction, and therefore considers only Jesus' teachings of unconditional love and forgiveness to be authentic and essential. Mitchell draws parallels from these teachings to modern-day, ancient Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, and Jewish traditions. His guide is recommended as a good source for studying the religious beliefs of our founding fathers.

The year before, we used a section from the book The Philosophers' Club by Christopher Phillips, and I found a story, usually not from the Bible, to introduce each query. We then split the group by age and I led the older kids in a 30-minute Socratic seminar using the guidelines in the Phillips book Socrates Cafe: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy.

• The Philosophers' Club by Christopher Phillips.
What is silence? What is wisdom? How do you know you’re here? Socratic dialogue—for kids? At least the answer to this last question is an easy, resounding Yes! The rest you’ll have to think about and discuss with your friends, which is just what philosopher Christopher Phillips is hoping for. He has long been leading thinkers of all ages on a thoughtful and thought-filled quest for knowledge, and this picture book models for young children that mulling over some of life’s big questions can be done anytime, anywhere.

• Socrates Cafe: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy by Christopher Phillips.
Christopher Phillips is a man on a mission: to revive the love of questions that Socrates inspired long ago in ancient Athens. "Like a Johnny Appleseed with a master's degree, Phillips has gallivanted back and forth across America, to cafés and coffee shops, senior centers, assisted-living complexes, prisons, libraries, day-care centers, elementary and high schools, and churches, forming lasting communities of inquiry" (Utne Reader). Phillips not only presents the fundamentals of philosophical thought in this "charming, Philosophy for Dummies-type guide" (USA Today); he also recalls what led him to start his itinerant program and re-creates some of the most invigorating sessions, which come to reveal sometimes surprising, often profound reflections on the meaning of love, friendship, work, growing old, and others among Life's Big Questions. "How to Start Your Own Socrates Café" guide included.


7) QUERY:
I don't know why, but recently, I have had a calling to re-write Biblical stories of strong women in the Bible from their point of view. So far, I have written the story of Lilith (yes, I know she isn't mentioned in the Bible except briefly, I found several references to her in Jewish folklore and found some of her story translated from the Hebrew Midrash. I am planning on doing Judith next, but can't remember where exactly her story is located in the Bible. Will someone please help me out?

RESPONSES:

a) Here are some websites which offer a wealth of information on Judith with some specific references to passages in the Bible. The last one is a library reference list which will lead to you books on the subject as well. I hope this helps.
http://www.specialtyinterests.net/judith.html
http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/judith.html
Karen C.

b) The book of Judith is in the Apocrypha. The Apocrypha is not part of the Jewish or Protestant canon of the Bible. It is part of the Catholic Bible. The LCC number is BS 1692 for the English translation.
Daniel S.

The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Augmented Third Edition, New Revised Standard Version, Indexed
Countless students, professors and general readers alike have relied upon The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha for essential scholarship and guidance to the world of the Bible. Now the Augmented Third Edition adds to the established reputation of this premier academic resource. A wealth of new maps, charts, and diagrams further clarify information found in the scripture pages. In addition, section introductions have been expanded and the book introductions have been made more uniform in order to enhance their utility. Of course, the Augmented Third Edition retains the features prized by students, including single column annotations at the foot of the pages, in-text background essays, charts, and maps, a page number-keyed index of all the study materials in the volume, and Oxford's renowned Bible maps. This timely edition maintains and extends the excellence the Annotated's users have come to expect, bringing still more insights, information, and approaches to bear upon the understanding of the biblical text.

 

BIBLICAL WOMEN

Online links are in blue and underlined. Click on them for more information.
Posts are added chronologically as they are received by Story Lovers World.

1) QUERY:
Has anyone read the new article entitled Women in the Bible in the new Newsweek magazine? Absolutely fascinating!!! It's about time that someone took the women in the bible and made them real people instead of paragons of virtue or victims!!! I'd like to hear what my storytelling brothers and sisters have to say. Especially those of you who tell biblical stories.

RESPONSES:

a) Someone already has taken women in the Bible and made them into real human beings. Barbara McBride-Smith and Corinne Stavish have a tape called Hussies, Harlots, Heroines: Shady Ladies of the Bible and they have done workshops on the stories of Biblical women for a couple of years. The stories on the tape include Lilith, Eve, Sarah: The First Jewish Mother, Mary & the Teen-age Jesus, Leah & Dinah: A Mama Always Knows, Corinthian Woman Preacher, Cain's Wife: Noda from Nod, Woman Clothed in Purple & Scarlet and Rachel and Leah. Seems to me either Corinne or Barbara also wrote an article on the subject for Storytelling Magazine - some time in the last five years. Anybody remember when that was? Then, of course, there is the novel listed in that Newsweek article and as word-of-mouth favorite, The Red Tent.

b) At the risk of being a mere "Me, too!" I have to say AMEN! ! While I was busy worshipping St. Mattress, she said exactly what I wanted to & managed to give even more info than I would have included. I try not to listen to tapes lest I accidentally mimic them. (Who but somebody in TX or OK could mimic Barbara McBride-Smith?!) I've taken Barbara's Biblical workshops twice now -- 1t was an intensive equal to at least 2 -- & Corinne is local to the southeastern Michigan area, so I can't guess how often I've been influenced. They demonstrate so much about what is possible in the range from literal telling from the text to the edge of what the Bible may be telling us. Thanks for pointing us to the article. I will look it up at the library Monday, but I will be replaying in my mind the views that Barbara & Corinne have given me. While they definitely present a woman's point of view, I think every woman (& man?) can relate to their look at the devil in Eden, as well as why Judas might have done what he did for reasons other than those traditionally mentioned.

c) I don't know why, but recently, I have had a calling to re-write Biblical stories of strong women in the Bible from their point of view. So far, I have written the story of Lilith (yes, I know she isn't mentioned in the Bible except briefly, I found several references to her in Jewish folklore and found some of her story translated from the Hebrew Midrash. I am planning on doing Judith next, but can't remember where exactly her story is located in the Bible. Will someone please help me out?
Response: Here are some websites which offer a wealth of information on Judith with some specific references to passages in the Bible. The last one is a library reference list which will lead to you books on the subject as well. I hope this helps.
http://www.specialtyinterests.net/judith.html
http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/judith.html
http://www.imcpl.org/ss_religion_booklist.htm
Karen C.

d) The book of Judith is in the Apocrypha. The Apocrypha is not part of the Jewish or Protestant cannon of the Bible. It is part of the Catholic Bible. The LCC number is BS 1692 for the English translation.
Daniel S.

e) Judith is one of the books in the Apocrypha, which is a section of the Old Testament in Bibles used by many Catholics and Episcopalians, and occasionally by some other Christians. Here is a link with many be very helpful, as it includes a connection to the text in three Bible versions, and a lot of other material. I hope this helps.

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Created 2002; last update 7/11/09

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