Over the past few years, I have referred to and quoted author Emily Stimpson Chapman several times. I originally discovered her essays during COVID, on the online platform Blessed Is She, and subsequently began to follow her on Instagram and Substack. I own a few of her books, and I have used some of the writing published in her weekly newsletter Through a Glass Darkly in my work with students and parents.
Emily Stimpson Chapman was educated in theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. She has written several Catholic books of her own and has likewise co-authored numerous books with other Catholic authors, including Scott Hahn. While her education and credentials are impressive, what has always drawn me most to Stimpson Chapman is her personable style.
She writes with knowledge and insight and does not waver on, or attempt to disguise, the truths of Catholic teaching. However, her gift for writing in a relational format — weaving personal vulnerability, real-life situations, and even humour into her work — makes readers feel as though they are sitting around the kitchen table with a friend.
Therefore, when I first heard of her work on a Bible for children, sponsored by Word on Fire, I was pleased that Stimpson Chapman’s knowledge and relational writing style would reach a younger crowd. I was intrigued to see how she would use her gift of language to present the Word to children while supporting parents as their children’s first catechists.
As the launch of the Bible drew nearer, my Catholic email and Instagram sources continued to pique my interest in this project. It is advertised as “the first distinctly Catholic story Bible that tells the entire story of salvation history through beautiful illustrations, quotes from the voices of the Church, and typological references that show how the Old and New Testaments are connected.”
I was curious about the unique style of this Bible. Additionally, the glimpses of Diana Renzina’s artwork that I saw online were outstanding. A close friend was also interested in this Bible and ordered one for each of us from Holy Family Catholic Gift and Book Store in Langley. Mine, she told me lovingly, was an early Christmas gift from her. I could not think of a better gift.
The Story of All Stories is marketed as a “Catholic Bible for children ages seven to thirteen.” While it certainly appeals to this age group and prepares them to read the actual Bible, I would like to clarify that The Story of All Stories is truly “the story for all ages” and “the story for all people.” In short, it is catholic in every sense of the word.
The “key points” and “key connections” at the end of every section, and the quotes from saints, popes, and theologians, support official Church (Catholic with an uppercase C) teaching. Likewise, the book is catholic (lowercase c) in that it is universal. Young children will be entranced by the beautiful artwork and captivating storytelling, while even adults who have grown up reading and listening to Scripture will be drawn to, and moved by, the elements that clarify and weave together our salvation history. I cannot say it enough: the book is wonderful as both an introduction to the Bible and a review or support for Bible studies for everyone.
Since receiving it, I have been sharing this book in my Grade 7 classroom each day. My students read actual Scripture passages from our class Bibles and engage in Lectio Divina activities regularly; however, witnessing their engagement while I read this version of Scripture to them moves me practically to tears.
They listen intently while I read. Furthermore, their faces light up and their hands fly into the air when we reach the end of a story and they find themselves predicting, or recognizing, key connections. I think I can safely say that these young people are developing a deeper relationship with the Author of all stories, including their own, and this book supports that journey.
The Story of All Stories is currently my favourite book. I am grateful to my friend for gifting it to me; I am grateful to Word on Fire for sponsoring its production; and I am grateful to God for the gifts of writing and artistry he has bestowed upon Emily Stimpson Chapman and Diana Renzina.
Moreover, I am grateful to God for the greatest story imaginable: the story of salvation for all.
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