Jonah and the Great Fish
A Bible story for kids ages 3–8. Read it together, do the actions and talk at the end.
God spoke to Jonah: go to the great city of Nineveh and speak to the people there!
But Jonah didn't want to! He got on a ship going far away, running from God.
👉 Wag your finger: no, no, Jonah!
At sea, God sent a huge wind. Whooosh! The waves went up and down: splash, splash!
👉 Make big waves with your arms!
The sailors were afraid. And Jonah? He was down below in the ship, fast asleep. Snore, snore!
👉 Go snore, snore, like Jonah sleeping!
Jonah told them the storm was because of him. The sailors threw him into the sea, and the sea grew calm.
God prepared a great fish, which swallowed Jonah. Gulp! Jonah stayed inside for three days and three nights.
👉 Open your mouth really wide and go: gulp!
Inside the fish, Jonah prayed, “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me.”
👉 Fold your hands and pray, like Jonah!
God spoke to the fish, and the fish spit Jonah out onto dry land. Bluuurp! On the beach!
👉 Jump out, like Jonah on the beach!
God spoke to Jonah a second time. This time Jonah obeyed and went to Nineveh.
👉 March in place: one, two, one, two!
The people of Nineveh believed God and turned from their wrong ways. And God had compassion on the city!
Verse: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me.” (Jonah 2:2)
To talk about with your child
- Why did Jonah run away? Have you ever wanted to run from something hard?
- God gave Jonah a second chance. How does that make you feel?
Mission of the week: When someone asks you to do something right, obey right away, without running away!