Storytelling: Creating Bible Storybooks Illustrated by Kids

Sample Creation Storybooks

When I start teaching a Bible story, I almost always lean into classic storytelling techniques. These tried-and-true methods are simple, effective, and a perfect starting point. But because we spend multiple weeks on each story—committed to the philosophy (and proven reality!) that repetition is a powerful tool—we have the gift of time to explore the story from many angles. We can tell it, hear it, and even experience it in new and creative ways.

If you’ve been following along, you know how much I value helping children actively engage with their faith. Too many Sunday school curriculums unintentionally leave kids as passive listeners, prioritizing entertainment over meaningful interaction. But God’s story is too big and beautiful for that! Children need opportunities to explore it for themselves, to connect the story to their own lives in ways that inspire them to know and walk with God. That’s where this storytelling technique comes in.

One of my favorite storytelling techniques is Creating Bible Storybooks Illustrated by Kids. This simple yet powerful method has become a highlight of our Sunday school program, engaging children of all ages—from preschoolers with their adorable scribbles to high schoolers with detailed illustrations. It’s inclusive, creative, and can easily fill an entire lesson time.

We begin by telling the Bible story, using a classic storytelling method or my “modern-day flannel graph” technique. After discussing the story with wondering questions, I introduce the project: we’re going to publish a book together. This isn’t just any craft project—it’s serious business. I explain that each child will be an illustrator for our book, and I set high expectations for their work.

While I never criticize a child’s artwork, I’ve found that framing it as an important task inspires most kids to put in their best effort and makes it more exciting too. Others who don’t love drawing still enjoy the experience and contribute in their own way. Every child’s art is celebrated, and every contribution is valued. Kids love being an important part of publishing a real book.

The rest of the process is just as fun and meaningful—assigning scenes, creating illustrations, compiling the book, and finally sharing the finished product with the class and their families. It’s a technique that brings the Bible story to life, encourages creativity, and helps kids connect with God’s Word in a deeply personal way.

Ready to dive into the details? Keep reading to learn step-by-step how to create these storybooks and inspire a love for God’s story in your classroom.

Step 1: Start with Storytelling

Begin your lesson by telling the Bible story in focus. Keep it simple and engaging—use classic storytelling methods or your own creative flair, like my “modern-day flannel graph” technique. Afterward, ask wondering questions to help the kids reflect and engage with the story.

Examples:

• "I wonder how Moses felt when he saw the burning bush?"

• "I wonder what your favourite part of the story was?"

• "I wonder if anything surprised you?"

• "I wonder if anything confused you?"

• ...you can add additional questions that are specific to the story in focus

  
  

Step 2: Announce the Project

Tell the kids they’ll be creating a real book together—a Bible storybook they’ll illustrate themselves. Make it exciting and emphasize the importance of their role as illustrators. This framing sparks enthusiasm and inspires even reluctant artists to join in.

Set the tone with high but supportive expectations. Let them know you’ll celebrate every effort.

Step 3: Assign Illustrations

Walk through the story scene by scene. For example:

• Creation: Assign scenes like “Day 1: Light” or “Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars.”

• Moses and the Burning Bush: Scenes might include “Moses tending sheep,” “the burning bush,” and “Moses removing his sandals.”

Ask for volunteers for each scene, or assign scenes to kids who prefer guidance. I don't worry about doubling up on pictures if multiple kids choose the same scene and I don't worry about missing pictures, words can easily fill in the story. If needed, I’ll also help a child brainstorm ideas on how to get started.

Step 4: Illustrate

Lepers from the story of Jesus Healing the 10 Lepers

Provide pre-cut square paper (I love a square book - there is just something about this orientation that feels less like I stapled paper together and more like a real book. Kids seem to agree. Because of this I take an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and cut of the ends to create an 8.5 x 8.5 square.). If you can afford it, cardstock is lovely to draw on and scans with a more crisp white background. Fine tip markers work best for vibrant images. Encourage older kids to outline their drawings in black for a professional touch. Make sure to tell children to fill the entire page for their picture!

Let the kids work at their own pace, and when they finish, collect their illustrations for the next step.

Illustration of plagues in Egypt

Step 5: Publish the Book

This process of turning the pictures into books does take a little bit of time but my creativity feeds on it and kids love the final product.

1. Scan the Illustrations - Use a free app like Genius Scan to digitize the images. This app makes backgrounds crisp and white, perfect for a polished look. If you’re detail-oriented, you can edit images in a photo editing app, but this step is optional.

2. Layout the Book - Use Canva (I've made a free template you can use) to create a square page layout. Arrange the illustrations in story order, leaving space for text. I

3. Add Text - Once my illustrations are all lined I start adding text. I like to paraphrase the story, helping to retell it in a kid friendly and sometimes adding text to match the images. Sometimes I even go the extra mile to make the story rhyme. (You can take a look at one of our completed examples of the Good Samartan here or our Creation Book here.) If I have less time available, I'll just stick to the biblical text.

4. Print and Assemble - The last step of publishing is the printing. I print double-sided, cut the pages into squares with a papercutter and and staple them together (three staples on the side to create a binding). Always be Voila! You’ve created a real book.

Step 6: Share the Story

Once printed the book becomes a key part of our next Sunday school lesson, offering yet another way to tell the story (here's that repetition strategy showing up again). Kids love when we flip through the pages, spotting their illustrations, and discovering the words added to bring it all together. This technique combines so many ways of entering the story - they hear it, discuss it, illustrate it and then hear it all over again!

I send a book home with every kid and these books are shared all over again with their families, keeping the story alive once again. Even adults in our church, without kids in the program, have shown interest in reading them! To include everyone, we place copies on our round tables each time a new book is published, so the whole community can enjoy them.

Sample template when making mini books.

Tips for Success

• Adapt for Any Group Size: With small groups, assign multiple illustrations to each child. For larger groups, consider creating two books and compare the final products.

• Budget-Friendly Printing: I always print on plain printer paper (cardstock is only used for the initial illustrating). I use an Epson EcoTank refillable printer for vibrant and economical color prints. For tighter budgets, mini-books with smaller pages can be just as engaging. Mini books can be printed with four pages to a sheet but the process is a little more complicate laying it out so that it all folds together in order. Sorry, no template provided for this style because it needs to be customized for every book!

• Digital Books - If your budget is simply too small to print the books, you can create a digital book to share. Format a presentation on Canva and share a link with every family.

• Celebrate Beyond the Classroom: Send copies home with kids and display the books during church events. Adults in our congregation love flipping through them and seeing the kids’ creativity!

• Including "Hard to Identify" Artwork: Sometimes, artwork can be tricky to interpret, especially when it’s drawn by younger children or those who find illustrating challenging. No problem! I simply ask every child to describe their picture for me and jot down a short note on the back. This helps ensure every image is placed correctly and lets me add captions or integrate the description into the story text.

  
  

  Asking every child ensures no one feels singled out and that I’ve understood everyone’s work. (I once received a "scribble" of plants from a toddler for the creation story. After the book was published, she proudly showed it to everyone, announcing it was her plant picture. Every drawing matters!)

One final element of this project deserves it own focus. Embrace humour - Children’s creativity truly shines in their illustrations, and often, their unique sense of humor makes its way into the artwork. Whether it’s a subtle nod to pop culture, an inside joke, or even a cameo by their favorite stuffed animal, I embrace it all. The goal is to see the story through their eyes, connecting God’s word to their world.

Of course, sometimes their humor or artistic choices need a bit of redirection. If something goes too far or feels out of place, I gently guide the child, acknowledging their creativity and offering suggestions. That said, my threshold for excluding anything from a book is pretty high—I’ve rarely had this become an issue.

The plague of Frogs.

In fact, the variety kids bring to these projects is part of what makes them so special. Some children pour sensitivity and emotion into their drawings, while others weave humor into the scenes. I treasure both approaches.

For instance, one time a child drew stacks of toilet paper being used as bandages for a leper. It was so hilarious and fitting that it even made its way into the text of the book! Another time, a child added a nametag to the priest in the story of the Good Samaritan. The nametag read, “I help people.” The irony? Perfection.

These moments of humor, alongside the heartfelt illustrations, make these books unforgettable. They’re not just stories—they’re their stories, full of personality, perspective, and connection.

This storytelling technique goes beyond hearing the story—it allows kids to experience it, create it, and retell it. The stories become a treasured part of their faith journey, sparking conversations at home and in church.

A man headed out on a journey from the parable of the Good Samaritan.

You’ll see this technique featured in the Incredible Story curriculum from time to time, but feel free to use it on your own too! I typically publish 3-4 books with our kids each year. I like tell stories through a variety of experiences, so they stay excited and engaged every time we do it. By the end of their elementary years, they’ll have built quite the collection! If you give this a try, I’d love to hear how it works for your group! Happy storytelling and stay tuned for even more techniques for bringing God's incredible story to life.