A COMPARATIVE STUDY Oli' T~iE OUTSTAND.r.NG BIBLE S'l'ORY BOOKS t'OR CHILDH..I.m Agnes Penick Junkin A.B • .Mary Baldwin College A Thesis Submitted in partial f~illment of the Requirements for THE DEGREE OF M!STER 01'' RELIGIOUS EDUCATION in The Biblical Semjnary in Hew York Hew York, N.Y. April 1933 IUBI.U::AL SCHOOL Of TH£UUJGY LIBRARY. HATFIELD. PA- The Union Bible Pictures. Ottilie Roederstein. New T eo~o~r.ent Series. 156. " Suffer the Little Children to Come unto Me." TO MY MOTHER AID FATH.i:..R who through their stories kept me at the feet of Him who is the gre~test of stor,v-tellers. TABJ:Ji: OF CONTENTS Chapter Page Introduction • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 A. The Problem and Purpose of This study • • • • • • • • 2 B. Preliminary Procedure and Findings • • • • • • • • • 4 1. The Method of Delimiting the Field of Study. • • • 4 2. Summary of Findings • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 6 c. Proposed Method of Treatment • • • • • • • • • • • • 7 1. Setting Up the Criteria for Judging the Bible Story Books • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 7 2. The Study of the Bible Story Books Chosen. • • • • 8 I. Setting Up Criteria for Judging the Bible Story Books • • • 9 A. Criteria for Judging the Bible Story Books with Respect to Mechanical Features. • • • • • • • • • • • ll 1. Bases for Evaluating Type. • • • • • • • • • • • • 11 2. Bases for Evaluating the Organization and Attsactiveness of the Page • • • • • • • • • • • • 12 3. Bases for Evaluating the Make-Up pf the Book • • • 12 '· Bases for EValuating the Pictorial Illustrations • 13 s. Summary of the Criteria for Judging the Mechanical Fe~tures • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15 B. Criteria for Judging the Bible Story Books with Respect to Style • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15 1. Bases for Evaluating Literary Merit • • • • • • • 16 2. Bases for Evaluating St ary Methods •• • • • • • 16 a. Essential Qualities of the Story as A Whole • • 18 b. Essential QUalities of Specific Parts of the story • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 18 3. Summary of Criteria for Judging Style • • • • • • 20 C. Criteria for Judging the Bible Story Books with Respect to Content • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 20 1. Bas81J for Evaluating the Appropriateness of the story to the Age of the Child • • • • • • • • • • 21 a. The Story Interests of the Pr&-school Child • • 21 b. The Story Interests of the Primary Child. • • • 21 c. The Story Interests of the Junior Child • • • • 22 2. Bases for Evaluating Biblical Accuracy of Stories. 2~ 3. Summary of Criteria for Judging Content. • • • • • 24 D. A Summary of the Criteria for Judging the Bible Story Books. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 25 II. An Analysis of the Respective Bible Story Books Chosen • • 29 A. American Standard Bible Readers • • • • • • • • • • • 29 l. An Examination of the Mechanical Features. • • • • 29 a. The T'fpe. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 29 b. The Organization and Attractiveness of the Page. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 29 ii Chapter Page c. The 1~ke-Up of the Books ••••••••••••• 30 d. The Pictorial Illustrations • • • • • • • • • • • 31 2. An Examination of the Style ••••••••••••• 31 a. General Literary Merit •••••••••••••• 31 b. Story-Telling Methods • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 32 3. An Examination of Content •••••••••••••• 33 a. Appropriateness to the Age of the Child • • • • • 33 b. Biblical .Accuracy • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 36 4. An Estimate of These Books • • • • • • • • • • • • • 37 B. William Canton: The Bible Story • • • • • • • • • • • • • 38 l • .An Examination of the ~chanical Features •••••• 38 2. ~n Examination of the Style • • • • • • • • • • • 39 3. },n Examination of Content •••••••••••••• 41 4. An Estimate of the Book • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 42 c. Frances Weld Danielson: Bible Story Book • • • • • • • • 42 1. An Exami~.tion of Mechanical Features • • • • • • • • 42 2. An Examination of the Style ••••••••••••• 44 3. _.1\n. Examination of Content •••••••••••••• 46 4. An Estimate of the Book ••••••••••••••• 47 D. James Daugherty: The Kingdom and the Power and the Glory • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 48 1 • .An Examination of the :Mech&nioal Features •••••• 48 2. An Exruni~tion of the Style ••••••••••••• 50 3. An Examinution of Content •••••••••••••• 51 4. An Estimate of the Book ••••••••••••••• 51 E. Charles Foster: The Story of the Bible • • • • • • • • • 52 1 • .An Examination of the ~~chanical Features •••••• 52 2. An Examination of the Style ••••••••••••• 54 3. An Examination of Content •••••••••••••• 55 4. An Estimate of the Book • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 57 F. George Hodges: The Garden of Eden The Castle of Zion When the King Came • • • • • • • • • • • • 57 1. 1\n Examination of the Mechanical Feat1.u·es •••••• 57 2., Jm Examination of the Style • • • • • • • • • • • • • 60 3. An Examination of Content • • • •••••••• 62 4. An Estimate of the Books ••••••••••••••• 65 G. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut: Story of the Bible • • • • ••• 66 1. An Examination of the :Mechanical Features •••••• 66 2. An Examination of the Style ••••••••••••• 69 3. lm Examina.tion of Content •••••••••••••• 71 4. An Estimate of the Book ••••••••••••••• 72 H. 1~cmillan: The Little Children's J3ible • • • • • • • • • 72 The Older Children's Bible •••••••••• 72 1. An Examination of the Mechanical Features •••••• 72 2. An Exa.mi.netion of the Style ••••••••••••• 74 3. ~~ Examination of Content •••••••••••••• 76 4. An Estimate of the Books • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 77 iii Chapter Page I. Frances Jenkins Olcott: Bible Stories to Read and Tell • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 78 1. An EXamination of the Mechanical Features • • • • • 78 2. An Examination of the Style • • • • • • • • • • • • 79 3. An Examination of Content. , • • • • • • • • • • • • 80 4. An Estimate of the Book , • • • • • • • • • • • • • 82 J. Maud and Miska Petershama The Christ Child , • • • • • 82 1. An Examination of the Mechanical Features • • • • • 82 2. An Examination of the Style • • • • • • • • • • • • 84 3, An Examination of Content • • • • • , • • , • • • • 85 4, An Estimate of the Book • • • , , , • • • • • • • • 85 K. Henry A. Sherman and Charles Foster Kenta The Children's Bible • , , , • • • • • ••• , • • • • • • 85 1. An Examination of the Mechanical Features • , • • • 85 2. An Examination of the Style • • • , , • • • , • • • 87 3. An Examination of Content • • • • • • • • • • • • • 81 4, An Extimate of the Book • • • • • • • • • • • • • , 91 L. Alfred Skrenda and Isabel Juergens a Minute Stories from the Bible • • • • • • • • • • • , • • • , • • • • 91 1. An Examination of the Mechanical Features • • • • • 91 2. An Exandnation of the Style. , • • • • • • • • • • • 91 3. An Examination of Content •• , •• , ••• , , • , 94 4. An Estimate of the Book • • • • , • • , • , , • • , 95 M. Nora A. Smitha Old, Old Tales from an Old, Old Book • • 95 l, An Examination of the Mechanical Features • • • • • 95 2. An Examination of the Style • • • • • • • • • • • • 96 3, An Examination of Content. • • • • • • • • • • • • • 98 4. An Estimate of the Book ••• , • • • • • • ••• , 99 B. Eva March Tappana An Old, Old story-Book , , • , •• , 99 1. An Examination of the :Mechanical Features • • • • • 99 2. An Examination of the Style , • • • • • , • • • • • 101 3, An Examination of Content. • • • • • • • • , , • • • 101 4, An Estimate of the Book •• , •• , , , • • • • • • 102 III. A Comparison if the Respective Bible Story Books Chosen. 104 A. A Comparison of the Mechanical Features ot the _ Bible Story Books • • • • • • • • • • • • • , • • • , 107 B. A Comparison of the Style of the Bible story Books ••• 108 C.A Comparison of the Content of the Bible story Books • • 110 l,scope •••••••••••••••••••••••• 110 2eGeneral Character •••• , • • • • • • • • • • ••• 111 s.Manner of Presenting Materials • • • • • • • • ••• 112 4.A Comparative Estimate of content as a Whole • • • • 112 S,General Observations Concerning the Biblical Material Most Frequently Used • • • • • , • • • • • 113 D. A Summarizing Comparison of All the Features of the Bible Story Books • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 117 iv Chapter Page Summary and Conclusion • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 119 APpendices • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 122 APpendix I. A Complete List of the Bible Story Books Recommended by All Authorities consulted 122 APpendix II. Essential Elements of a Good Bible Story as Gathered from the Analyses of Authorities • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 128 Bibliography • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 129 v LIST 0:;!' CHARTS Chart I. A Comparison of the l[echanicd. Features of the Bible Books • • • • • • • . 107 I.a A Comparison of the Pictorial ions of the le St Books • • • • • • • • • • • 107 Chart II. A Comparison of of the :Bible Books • • • • • • . • • . 108 Chart III. A of the Content of the • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 110 Chart III.a A ':Creatment of Certain lieal Problems in the Books • • • • • • • • . 110 A Sumrnal·iz of All the Features of the Bible Story Books • • • • • • • • • • • 112 Appendix II.Chart of the Essential Elements of a Good Bible Story as G~::tthereC1 from the ..,;nalyses of Authorities •••••• ·•••••••• • • • • 128 LIST OF' TYPICAL ILLUS::'Ri,TIONS From: .American Standard Bible Readers •••••••••••••• 51 Frances Weld Danielson: Bible Story Book • • • • • • • • • 4Z James JJ~-;~.ugherty: The Ki:l:l€!;dom eJld the Power 8.nd the Glory • 49 George : The c~~stle of Zion ••••••••••••• 59 Vlhen the Cru:1e • • • • • • • • • • • • • 59 Jesse Lyman Hurlbut: Story of