Gritty and Graceful: 15 Inspiring Bible Stories for Young Readers

15 Women

From Eve to Mary Magdelene, readers will hear from women across the Old and New Testaments. Hagar and Sarah, Rahab, Naomi and Ruth, Queen Esther … even the nameless Bleeding Woman and Woman at the Well show up here. These women summarize their stories—with just enough detail, but not too much—of how God touched their lives. Some of them disobeyed, others faced challenges, while God called out a few of them for special tasks. No matter what, God worked in them and through them to accomplish something great. Each woman culminates her story by saying, “God did great things for me—and I did great things for God.”

Each vignette tops out around 100 words and include an anchoring Bible verse that readers can memorize. The simple structure and repetitive endings, along with the vibrant illustrations, make this an ideal read for young readers. Boys and girls will be encouraged by the stories and will learn that God can use anybody, in any circumstance, if only they are willing.

Published by Beaming Books, you can find Gritty and Graceful in hardback form on all the online book-selling sites, and hopefully in your church library soon (I’ve got a signed copy going to my children’s pastor). It would make a great addition to your favorite child’s Easter basket! Which child in your life could use a creative new introduction to women in the Bible they may not know as well as you think?