When God's People Stopped Listening — and What Happened Next

God's people had forgotten something important. They had stopped listening to God. And things had gone very wrong.

But then two of God's people — a woman named Deborah and a man named Barak — started listening again. And God helped them win a very big battle.

Deborah and the Very Big Battle is a bright, action-packed, and joyfully illustrated retelling of the story of Deborah from the book of Judges, written by Tim Thornborough and brought to vivid life by the fun-filled illustrations of Jennifer Davison. Designed for children aged 2–4, this innovative storybook does something particularly special: it invites children to join in with actions as the story unfolds, making it not just a book to listen to but an experience to participate in.

A Hero Worth Meeting — and a God Worth Listening To

In a world where the heroes children encounter are often the same familiar faces, the story of Deborah is a breath of fresh air. A woman. A judge. A leader. Someone who listened to God when everyone else had stopped — and whose faithfulness, alongside Barak's, led to a victory that only God could have brought about.

Tim Thornborough retells this story with the warmth, energy, and accessible simplicity that very young children need. He does not flatten the drama or soften the stakes. God's people were in real trouble. The battle was genuinely big. And the rescue was genuinely remarkable — because it came from a God who is faithful even when his people are not, and powerful enough to bring victory through those who simply choose to listen and obey.

Join In With the Actions

One of the most delightful and distinctive features of this book is its interactive dimension. The story is written with actions built in — moments where children can move, respond, and physically participate in the telling of the story. This makes Deborah and the Very Big Battle an especially engaging read-aloud experience, turning storytime into something active, memorable, and genuinely fun for toddlers and preschoolers.

For parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers, and children's workers, this interactive element transforms a picture book into a shared experience — one where young children are not passive listeners but active participants in the story.

A Clear, Memorable Central Truth

At the heart of the story — and woven through every page — is a truth that is simple enough for a two-year-old to grasp and deep enough to carry through a lifetime of faith: listening to God is always the very best thing to do.

This is the lesson God's people had forgotten. It is the lesson Deborah and Barak remembered. And it is the lesson that young children are invited to take home from this story — not as an abstract principle but as a living truth illustrated through the exciting, colourful, action-filled story of a very big battle and the God who won it.

What This Book Covers

The biblical story of Deborah and Barak from the book of Judges, retold faithfully for children aged 2–4
How God's people stopped listening to God — and what happened as a result
How Deborah and Barak listened to God and trusted him — and how he helped them win a very big battle
The central truth: listening to God is always the very best thing to do
Interactive actions built into the story so children can join in as it is read aloud
Bright, vivid, fun-filled illustrations by Jennifer Davison throughout

What Children Will Discover

That God's people need to listen to God — and that stopping listening has real consequences
That God is faithful and powerful — he rescues his people even when they have wandered away
That Deborah was a remarkable woman who trusted God and led his people with courage
That listening to God and obeying him — like Deborah and Barak did — leads to the very best outcomes
That the Bible is full of exciting, dramatic, true stories about real people and a real God
That listening to God is not just a rule to follow but the very best thing anyone can do

Who Should Read This Book

Parents of toddlers and preschoolers aged 2–4 wanting a faithful, fun, and interactive Bible storybook
Grandparents and family members looking for a bright, engaging Christian gift for a very young child
Sunday school and crèche leaders wanting an accessible and participatory retelling of the story of Deborah
Children's ministry workers building a library of gospel-centred picture books that cover Old Testament stories
Churches in India wanting quality Christian resources that introduce young children to the full sweep of the biblical story — not just the New Testament
Anyone wanting a storybook that teaches young children to listen to God in a way that is fun, memorable, and age-appropriate
Families already working through the Very Best Bible Stories series together

About the Author

Tim Thornborough is a widely respected author and editor in evangelical Christian publishing. He has written and edited a large number of children's and adult resources for The Good Book Company, where he has served in a senior editorial role for many years. His children's writing is characterised by faithfulness to the biblical text, genuine accessibility for very young readers, and a warm, playful energy that makes his stories both enjoyable and memorable. Deborah and the Very Big Battle reflects his particular gift for finding the drama and truth in Old Testament narratives and bringing them within reach of the very youngest children.

About the Illustrator

Jennifer Davison is the illustrator of Deborah and the Very Big Battle and David and the Very Big Giant — both part of The Good Book Company's range of Bible storybooks for toddlers and preschoolers. Her illustrations are bright, bold, and full of the kind of visual energy that captures and holds the attention of very young children. Her work brings the action and drama of these Old Testament stories to life with a fun, child-friendly style that makes each page a delight to look at.

About the Very Best Bible Stories Series

Deborah and the Very Big Battle is part of the Very Best Bible Stories series — a collection of innovative, interactive Bible storybooks for children aged 2–4, published by The Good Book Company. Each book in the series retells an Old or New Testament story with faithful simplicity, fun-filled illustrations by Jennifer Davison, and built-in actions that invite young children to participate in the telling. The series is designed to introduce toddlers and preschoolers to the full sweep of the biblical story in a way that is active, engaging, and age-appropriate.

Other titles in the Very Best Bible Stories series include: