Daniel and the Very Hungry Lions - Hardback

One Man, One God, and Some Very Hungry Lions

It is one of the most dramatic stories in the whole Bible. A man who refuses to stop praying. A king who is tricked into signing a terrible law. A den full of lions — very, very hungry ones. And a God who shuts their mouths.

Children have loved the story of Daniel in the lion’s den for generations. And in Daniel and the Very Hungry Lions, that story is brought to life with all the colour, fun, and faithful simplicity that the very youngest readers deserve.

About This Book

Written for children aged 2–4, Daniel and the Very Hungry Lions is a beautiful hardback picture book that retells the biblical story of Daniel in a way that is both true to Scripture and wonderfully accessible for toddlers and preschoolers. Even the very youngest child will follow the story — and leave it knowing that God is the one true God, the God who lives forever, and the God who can be trusted when things are scary.

Tim Thornborough’s child-friendly retelling keeps the drama of the story fully intact while making it perfectly shaped for little hearts and minds. Children will feel the tension, cheer for Daniel, marvel at King Darius’s change of heart, and most of all discover the God who was there in the den — just as he is always there for those who trust him.

Jennifer Davison’s bright, vivid illustrations bring every scene to life — bold colours, expressive characters, and just enough dramatic energy to keep two-year-olds and four-year-olds equally captivated from first page to last.

The book also teaches some interesting linguistic skills to young children through its engaging interactive storytelling techniques — including the use of opposites, counting, or repeated phrases — making it as educational as it is delightful.

This is a book to be read at bedtime, in Sunday school, in crèche, and as many times as little ones ask for it.

What Makes This Book Special

A story children already sense is exciting — The lion’s den is one of those Bible stories that captures children’s imaginations naturally. This book feeds that excitement with a retelling that keeps the tension and the triumph fully alive, even for the very youngest readers.

God at the centre, not just Daniel — Daniel is brave and faithful, but the real hero of this story is God. The book helps children understand that Daniel’s rescue was not simply about his courage — it was about a God who protects his people and who alone is the living God who never fails.

Bright, bold illustrations — Jennifer Davison’s artwork is vivid, warm, and full of life. The lions are magnificently drawn — big, colourful, and expressive — and the other characters leap off every page with personality.

Interactive storytelling — Like all books in the Very Best Bible Stories series, this title uses creative storytelling techniques that draw young children into the story and help it stick in their memories.

A big truth in a small package — In just 24 hardback pages, children learn that God is the one true God who lives forever — one of the most important truths in all of Scripture, planted gently and memorably from the very earliest years.

Hardback and built to last — Durable enough for enthusiastic toddler handling, and beautiful enough to give as a gift.

What Children Will Learn

• That God is the one true God who lives forever — and that no king or power is greater than him
• That God protects those who trust and obey him, even in the most frightening situations
• The dramatic story of Daniel in the lion’s den, told faithfully and simply
• That being faithful to God is worth it, even when it is hard or scary
• Early language and literacy skills through the book’s interactive storytelling techniques

Who This Book Is For

Parents of toddlers and preschoolers (ages 2–4) who want to share one of the Bible’s most beloved stories in a beautifully illustrated, age-perfectly told edition that young children will ask to hear again and again.

Grandparents looking for a lasting, meaningful gift for young grandchildren — a book that plants the truth of God’s faithfulness from the very earliest years of childhood.

Sunday school teachers and crèche leaders wanting a high-quality hardback picture book for preschool Bible sessions. The bold illustrations are easily visible when held up for a group, and the short, engaging text is ideal for reading aloud.

Christian schools and homeschool families building a library of biblically faithful picture books for the youngest age groups.

Anyone looking for a thoughtful gift for a young child’s birthday, baptism, baby dedication, or Christmas — a book that will be loved and remembered long after other gifts are forgotten.

About the Author and Illustrator

Tim Thornborough founded The Good Book Company in 1991 and is the author of the Very Best Bible Stories series. He works to grow The Good Book Company’s international reach and has contributed to many of its books and resources. Tim is married to Kathy and has three adult daughters.

Jennifer Davison is a freelance illustrator from Northern Ireland who works from her home studio surrounded by children’s books, toys, and cups of tea. She began her career as a digital artist in an animation studio in Belfast, working on children’s television, and has been telling stories through pictures ever since. Her warm, expressive, richly coloured illustrations are the visual heart of the entire Very Best Bible Stories series.

Series Information — Very Best Bible Stories

Daniel and the Very Hungry Lions is part of the Very Best Bible Stories series by The Good Book Company — a collection of faithful, fun hardback picture books introducing children aged 2–4 to classic Bible stories.

Every book in the series features Jennifer Davison’s bright, vivid illustrations and interactive storytelling techniques that help the very youngest children enter into the story and carry its truth with them. Other titles in the series available at forthetruth.in include:

• Esther and the Very Brave Plan
• Jonah and the Very Big Fish
• David and the Very Big Giant
• Deborah and the Very Big Battle

Look for the full Very Best Bible Stories collection at forthetruth.in.