Jonah and the Whale Printable Mini Book
Whenever we explore Bible stories in our homeschool, I love finding hands-on resources that actually hold my kids’ attention. This Jonah and the Whale Printable Mini Book did just that. It combines storytelling, tracing, coloring, and a sequencing task that kept my child engaged far longer than expected.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s included in the printable, a few surprising facts about Jonah’s story, and how this activity supports early learners in multiple ways. Stick around because there’s something new here that you’ll want to try with your kids, too.
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Surprising Facts About the Story of Jonah and the Whale
The story of Jonah isn’t just about running away; some pretty wild and lesser-known parts of this Bible account make it a lot more interesting.
- Jonah’s job wasn’t preaching to Israel. He was actually called to deliver a message to Nineveh, a foreign city known for its wickedness. This made his mission incredibly unpopular among his own people.
- Jonah’s time in the fish wasn’t the main part of the story. While it often gets the spotlight, the real message lies in Jonah’s prayer and change of heart during his time inside the fish. That moment of reflection teaches more than the fish ever could.
- Jonah was angry when the people repented. After all that drama, Jonah was upset that God showed mercy. That twist often surprises kids and can spark good conversations about grace.
Recommended Bible Story Books
Bible-themed storybooks can make all the difference when you’re introducing kids to faith topics in a way they understand and enjoy.
The Biggest Story Bible StorybookThe Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible (The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible Library)By Kevin DeYoung, Don Clark The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden Hardcover – September 2015365 Bible Stories and Prayers Padded Treasury – Gift for Easter, Christmas, Communions, Baptism, Birthdays (Little Sunbeams)Best-Loved Bible Stories – 8-Book Library Boxed Gift Set for Children: Including stories of Noah’s Ark, The Birth of Jesus, The Creation Story, Daniel … Lion’s Den, Jonah, and More (Little Sunbeams)The Biggest Story ABC
Why do kids need to learn about the story of Jonah and the big fish?
This story offers some great conversation starters about obedience, responsibility, and second chances.
- Understanding consequences: Jonah’s decision to run away led to big trouble. Kids can see how choices have effects, even when they don’t expect them.
- Talking about forgiveness: God gave Jonah another chance. It’s something every child can relate to.
- Engagement during downtime: I love printing a few pages to take with us on road trips. Coloring and tracing during the drive help reinforce what we talked about at home.
My Recommended Early Learners Printable Packs
If your child enjoys this mini book, there are other printable packs I’ve used that build foundational skills while still keeping things fun.
What skills can kids build with this printable?
This mini book doesn’t just tell a story; it invites your child to interact with it in a way that builds key skills.
- Fine motor development: Cutting, tracing, and coloring all help strengthen small muscles that are essential for writing.
- Reading comprehension: The sequencing activity encourages kids to think about the order of events.
- Creative expression: The drawing activity lets them personalize what stood out most in the story.
Recommended Bible Toys
Faith-based learning is just one part of our homeschool day, but having toys that help reinforce Bible stories can make learning more memorable and fun.
BibleToys Tales of Glory Galilee Boat 15 Piece Playset by BibleToysNoah’s Ark Educational Balancing Board Game for Kids & Toddlers – Christian Bible Animal Toy with Rocking Balance – Fun and Learning for KidsWATINC Portable Bible Felt Stories Set – 6pack Religious Story Adam and Eve Learning Noah’s Ark Story Board Gift, Early Educational Travel Storytelling Interactive Play Kit for Classroom Kids ToddlersThe Action Bible Guess-It GameKangaToys Water Reveal Coloring Scripture Book for Kids Ages 3+. New Testament Bible Stories: Preschool, Elementary, Primary, Christian, ReligionKarenhi 24 Pcs Religious Finger Puppets for Easter Christian Nativity Bible Toys Felt Jesus Toys for Easter Party Easter Egg Fillers Sunday School Activity Supplies Bible Study Set, 8 Styles
Supplies Needed for This Bible-based Printable
You don’t need anything fancy to get started. Most of these are probably already in your supply bin.
- Printer (I have this one)
- Paper
- Pencil
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
I have the HP printer 8710, but it’s not available anymore. It’s been running well for years now. Look for another HP Instant Ink-ready printer so that you can use their program to send you ink cartridges whenever your printer gets low on ink.
What’s Included in the Jonah and the Whale Activity Pack?
Cover Page and Vocabulary Words
This first page features a cute title cover and a small list of words related to the story. I used it as a quick introduction to the activity and to talk about what we already knew about Jonah.
Story Pages with Tracing and Coloring (Pages 2-6)
Each page retells part of the story using simple sentences. Some keywords are left as tracing prompts, and there’s an illustration to color alongside. This kept my child focused and allowed us to stop and chat about what was happening.
Jonah and the Whale Sequencing Activity
This part was my child’s favorite. There are six picture cards that your child can cut out and glue in the correct order. We spread them out on the table and walked through the story again while figuring out where each one went.
Drawing and Bible Verse Tracing
This page encourages your child to draw their favorite scene from the story and trace the verse from Jonah 2:2. It’s a wonderful way for them to reflect and connect with what they find most meaningful.
Fun Bible Activities to Try
I have a growing collection of activities if you’re looking for more ideas to build on this story or reinforce other Bible lessons.
- Creation Worksheet for Kids
- Free Printable Ten Commandments Worksheets
- Jonah and the Whale Activities for Preschoolers
- Free Printable Bible Verses: Psalm 27:14 by 3 Boys and a Dog
- Easy Bible Crafts for Kids by Simple Everyday Mom
I hope this Jonah and the Whale booklet becomes a helpful and fun part of your lesson. I know it gave us some meaningful learning time, plus a few good laughs as we acted out parts of the story and filled in our pages. Let me know how it goes in your home.