I give this resource 4 stars.
For starters, certainly the size of the book is a plus. With 220 pages worth of Bible puzzles in this 257+ page book, this is a good value. Each page contains one Bible activity page suitable for Sunday School or other children’s ministries, so you are getting over 200 puzzles.
And you are allowed to copy the pages for use in your ministry or at home with your own children (another plus).
Each Bible puzzle includes a memory verse along with a short summary of the Bible passage from which that verse is taken. The “puzzle” (which can be any number of activities, such as a crossword puzzle or a word search) requires the child to interact with the Bible story or biblical concept being presented.
Often these puzzles do a wonderful job of engaging the child with the Scriptures. For example, on page 50, the puzzle is a word search of all the words in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” The title of this puzzle is “Forgiveness.” I love that children are learning about forgiveness from one of the most amazing stores of betrayal and reconciliation in the Bible.
The cover indicates that this book is for children ages 5-10. But not every puzzle is appropriate for every age in this range. Some of the puzzles are not suitable for a 5-year old child who cannot read, such as the one mentioned above. And some of the simpler puzzles may not captivate a 10-year old.
There are also a few puzzles that didn’t communicate much about the biblical truth being taught in the accompanying Bible passage. For example, page 34 tells the story of Abraham and Sarah and how they waited patiently for the birth of Isaac. The Bible puzzle is to identify modern-day objects in the picture (“silly things” like an airplane) that don’t belong in the picture of Abraham, Sarah and Isaac. I guess I thought there could have been a more direct correlation between the puzzle and the story.
Overall, though, this is a good resource that enables children to engage in activities that promote their understanding of Scripture. And that’s a wonderful thing.
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