Book Review: Love Thy Neighbor – Bible Stories & Coloring Book by Grandma Peggy

Grandma Peggy’s Love Thy Neighbor is a coloring book for ages 7 and up, presented as a heartwarming exploration of biblical stories, colorable sketches, bible verses, encouragements, and timeless lessons.

Each story consists of a short narrative with a drawing or two, plus a relevant scripture. The 8.5 × 11 inch size is standard for many coloring books, and the 70 pages offers various coloring options and stories. The hand-drawn illustrations are well-done, and suited to young readers. It also includes little encouraging notes from Grandma Peggy, such as:

“How are you getting on with the coloring? Your pens still going strong? So, we’ve looked at some examples from the Bible teaching us about kindness and respect and then we moved onto the values of faith and courage.” (p57)

The stories are mostly from the Bible, interspersed with comments or explanations for Grandma Peggy. For example, there are retellings of the Good Samaritan parable, Ruth and Boaz, and Jonah and the whale. Occasionally, Grandma Peggy tells a story from her own life, giving some modern-day examples of the themes and lessons.

A good example is the story of Goliath. It begins with a title page, “It is not by the sword or spear that God saves,” with scripted text and coloring designs around the page. The next page is a passage from 1 Samuel. 17.47: “All those gathered here will know that it is not by the sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” A short retelling of the story of David and Goliath follows.

Another begins by telling the story of Joseph and his brothers, ending with a drawing of Joseph’s “many-colored coat.” (A great idea for coloring!)

Some children could work through this book on their own, but a parent and child might also read the stories together or the parent could read, and then the child color the accompanying drawings.

I wish this had been available when my children were young, I would have appreciated such am activity book. Unlike many that merely tell a story (or just the pictures), this book engages the mind as well as fun coloring activity with its delightful stories rooted in biblical principles. Highly recommended.