October 16, 2025
At this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair – one of the world’s largest publishing events – the German Bible Society (GBS) unveiled “Der Löwe von Juda” (The Lion of Judah), a new children’s Bible that reimagines every human character as an animal. From Moses as a hippopotamus to Noah as a beaver, and Jesus as the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” (a reference found in Revelation 5:5), this creative retelling is designed to help children engage with the Bible in an accessible way.
Conceived by Norwegian illustrator Haakon Lie, the idea grew out of his childhood fascination with Bible stories, “full of life and animals.” Influenced by the likes of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, Lie sought to rediscover the wonder of biblical storytelling through an imaginative lens. Partnering with designer Thomas S. Hansen, he founded Fennec Publishing and spent five years developing the concept. The first Norwegian edition became an unexpected bestseller, selling over 10,000 copies, prompting GBS to expand the project to a larger audience.
Dr. Christoph Rösel, GBS General Secretary, described the initiative as part of the GBS mission to make the Bible accessible in diverse and meaningful ways:
“I was thrilled when I first saw this Children’s Bible…We want to bring the Bible to everyone; that is our mission.”
GBS Program Director Michael Jahnke added that using animals to portray biblical figures makes the stories more approachable and relatable across cultures.
“Children need images that touch them emotionally and challenge them intellectually,” he explained. “This format invites them to see themselves within the stories, to understand the courage of David, the faith of Noah, or the compassion of Jesus through vivid, memorable imagery.”
The first of three planned volumes, the book’s release was met with enthusiasm at Frankfurt, where Lie and Hansen shared their creative journey. While the idea of depicting humans as animals initially surprised some, the joy it has sparked among children has won over critics. “If you placed ten children’s Bibles in a room,” Hansen said, “children would almost always reach for The Lion of Judah.”
The project reflects a profound truth, deeper than its outward appearance: the ability of God’s Word to meet every generation where they are at. As societies grow increasingly visual and digital, the German Bible Society continues to explore innovative ways to nurture biblical literacy and faith formation.
In Lie’s words, “I want readers to see that Jesus is the greatest hero of all time.” For the children who open The Lion of Judah, the story of God’s love now roars to life.
More information about this project is available, via the German Bible Society website, here.
To purchase a German copy of the new Children’s Bible, The Lion of Judah, click here.
Media
Evangelisch.de
Christian Daily
Jesus.ch
Livenet.ch
Pro-medienmagazin.de
