The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross

God Said "Because of Your Sin You Can't Come In." Then Everything Changed.

There is a thread that runs through the whole Bible — from the garden of Eden, through the temple, to the cross of Jesus Christ. It is the story of a barrier between people and God, and of the one who came to tear it down forever.

In the Garden of Eden, everything was perfect. People and God enjoyed one another freely and fully. But sin changed everything. A barrier went up. God's presence became a place that sinful people could not enter — and the great curtain of the temple was the visible, vivid reminder of that truth. Because of your sin, you can't come in.

And then, at the moment Jesus died, the curtain tore in two. From top to bottom. And everything changed.

The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross takes children aged 3–6 on a breathtaking journey from the Garden of Eden to God's perfect new creation, focusing on this extraordinary moment — the tearing of the temple curtain — as the hinge on which the whole Bible story turns. Written by Carl Laferton, Editorial Director of The Good Book Company, and brought to vivid life by the stunning illustrations of Catalina Echeverri, this beautifully produced hardback shows children that Jesus breaks down the barrier of sin between us and God so that we can enjoy him forever.

This is a gospel presentation for the youngest readers — one of the most beautiful and biblically faithful children's books available anywhere.

What This Book Covers

Carl Laferton takes children through the Bible's great storyline with simplicity, clarity, and gospel focus:

• The Garden of Eden — How God made a world where people and God enjoyed one another perfectly and freely
• The problem of sin — How sin created a barrier between people and God — a barrier that could not be crossed
• The temple and the curtain — How the great curtain of the temple made the barrier visible: because of sin, people could not come into God's presence
• The cross of Jesus — How Jesus came to deal with sin — and what his death means for the barrier between people and God
• The curtain tears in two — The extraordinary moment when the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom at the moment of Jesus' death — and what it means
• God's perfect new creation — The wonderful destination the whole story is moving toward: a new creation where the barrier is gone forever and people enjoy God fully and freely
• Jesus breaks down the barrier — The central, glorious truth of the book: Jesus removes the barrier of sin so that we can enjoy God forever

What Children Will Learn

• That God made people to enjoy him — and that the Bible's whole story is about restoring that relationship
• What sin is and why it creates a barrier between people and God
• What the temple curtain meant — and why its tearing at the moment of Jesus' death is one of the most significant moments in all of history
• That Jesus came to break down the barrier of sin between us and God — through his death on the cross
• That because of what Jesus did, anyone who trusts in him can come into God's presence freely and fully
• That the Bible's story moves toward a perfect new creation where the barrier is gone forever
• That the gospel — the good news about Jesus — is the story of a God who tears down every barrier to bring his people home to himself

How to Use This Book

The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross is beautifully produced and richly versatile:

• Family reading — A wonderful hardback to read together at home, opening up gospel conversations about sin, the cross, and new creation
• Sunday school and children's ministry — An ideal resource for teaching children the Bible's big story with a focus on the cross and the tearing of the curtain
• Easter reading — A natural and powerful choice for families and churches wanting to help children engage with the meaning of the cross at Easter
• Large audience presentations — Full-size images are available for use in presentations when reading to a larger group
• Gift for children — A beautifully produced hardback that makes a perfect gospel gift for children aged 3–6
• Accompanied resources — An Easter Calendar with family devotions is available separately for a more in-depth exploration of the passages that underpin the story

Who Should Read This Book

This book is for:

• Children aged 3–6 who are ready to begin understanding the Bible's big story — sin, the cross, and new creation — in a warm, accessible, and visually stunning way
• Parents wanting a beautifully produced, biblically faithful gospel presentation to read with their young children
• Sunday school teachers and children's ministry leaders looking for a stunning resource to teach the significance of the cross and the tearing of the curtain
• Churches wanting a gospel-rich picture book to give to families at Easter or any time of year
• Any family that wants their young children to grow up knowing: Jesus breaks down every barrier between us and God — so we can enjoy him forever

A Note on Condition

If you select the slightly damaged condition option, the book will be very slightly damaged but in perfectly good condition to read and enjoy. The content is entirely unaffected.

About the Author and Illustrator

Carl Laferton is the Editorial Director of The Good Book Company and the author of several books for adults and children, including Christmas Uncut and Original Jesus. He is known for his ability to present the gospel with clarity, warmth, and faithfulness — making profound biblical truths accessible to readers of all ages. The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross reflects both his deep love for the Bible's storyline and his genuine desire to help the youngest children encounter the gospel in all its beauty and power.

Catalina Echeverri is an author and illustrator whose vibrant, warm, and stunningly beautiful artwork has made her one of the most celebrated voices in Christian children's publishing. She is the illustrator of all the books in the Tales that Tell the Truth series from The Good Book Company, and the author and illustrator of several bestselling children's books including The Friend Who Forgives and God's Very Good Idea, both available at forthetruth.in. Her illustrations for The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross are among her most beautiful and visually powerful work.