I was once a new mom wondering how to share the word of God with my child and worried if I chose the right Bible. I wasn’t sure how much to share with them and which Bible was the right one to read. But now that I look back at that day, I realize that I should have relied more on God to deliver his word and focused less on how to do it. We don’t always need a physical book to tell stories to little children. Try telling them the story of David’s courage against Goliath, and it will fascinate them. However, we still need the Bible, but we don’t have to fret over it when starting this journey. And because this post is about Children’s Bibles — let’s talk about it.
To start with, I have too many of them to keep track of at this point, and no matter how much I want to use them all, we tend to gravitate to a few that are easy to follow and that the kids enjoy the most.
In this post, I will be sharing more about what we love and how we use them, but before that, I would like to answer a few common questions on the topic of Children’s Bibles.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Is there a right or wrong choice when picking Bibles?
The answer is no. It comes down to personal preference. It is similar to the Bible versions we read as grownups. Some Bibles water down the story to the bare minimum, and others tell it as it is. But if you use a Children’s Bible, you can rest assured that it will not shed light on mature topics. You need to decide how you would like to share the word of God with your children and know that there is no wrong way to do it. Start small and build up from there or start big.
When do I start reading the Bible?
If you read books to your baby, you can also read the Bible. There are many Bibles intended for the little ones with bright, colorful illustrations that will capture their attention and have them come back for more. You can also teach your children the discipline of Bible reading early on. Find a time of the day, like morning or evening, and stick with it. My 7-year-old continues reading the Bible before bedtime every day. It has become a habit since she was young.
Which book should I read first?
Start at the beginning. There is a chronological aspect to the story of the Bible. It is a true story, and understanding how it all started will give your child a greater understanding of what will lie ahead. Promises are made, prophecies foretold, and God’s mighty hand unfolds in this big book of life.
When do I switch to a Big Bible?
It depends on your child. Around 6-7 is a good age to consider if your child is mature enough to take in the big truths from the Bible. Pray for your child to recieve wisdom to understand. The Bible does talk about many grownup topics that your child may not understand, which is why parents hesitate to share the entirety too young. That was me as well two years back. But let’s not forget the work of the Holy Spirit as we read the word of God. My child is afraid to watch many Disney Movies, but the story of the Bible does not frighten her one bit. It is amazing how God allows you to grow in his word with wisdom and courage.
I knew my oldest was ready when she asked many deep questions. She also understood that the Bible is one big story that occurred a long time ago yet tells the account of God. The Bible is real, and we know this as believers. We also know that history can teach us valuable lessons, especially about the men and women of faith who taught us to be bold, courageous, loyal, faithful to God, and strong leaders.
It would help your child to have a foundation before introducing the big Bible as they can relate to it personally. I have a separate blog on when to transition to the new Bible if you are interested in reading it.
CHILDREN’S BIBLES WE LOVE
Published by Parragon
This is a sweet Bible for the little ones. You can read them to your 6-month-old or even 3-year-old, and they will learn some of the most popular stories. It has 12 stories, including Creation, Noah, Moses, David, Jonah, the Birth of Jesus, and his resurrection. Each story is one page with appealing illustrations for a child, and the best part is that it ends with a one-sentence prayer that you can have your child repeat. Little children need to learn how to pray, and listening to prayers is a way to model what prayer looks like.
Published by Scholastic
This Bible can be used with your toddler or even your early reader. You could skip the above Bible and purchase this as your first Children’s Bible. Each story includes many illustrations, and I love the simplicity of the language used. They also cover the same stories as ‘Baby’s First Bible Stories,’ but with a little more detail.
Read and Share Bedtime Bible and Devotional
Published by Thomas Nelson Inc
This is our first true Children’s Bible and the most used in our home. I say ‘true’ because it almost covers the entire Bible. You will journey through Genesis to Jonah, which then switches to the New Testament. There are 200 Bible Stories included.
My oldest built her foundational knowledge of the Bible heroes through this Bible. The stories are well written and accurate to the Bible story. Each chapter is short; it references the book, Chapter, and verses to find the story. I love each reading because it includes a box at the end with questions for discussion to help your child understand the true underlying message in that story.
There is more – it includes 50 Devotionals that I think are perfect for family devotional time. It starts with a Bible verse on a particular topic, followed by a bible story demonstrating it. It then ends with a sharing time with questions for discussion, activities, and a prayer. We love this book and have read it so many times that it is in shatters.
It’s All About Jesus Bible Storybook
Published by B&H Publishing Group
It is the perfect transition to a big kid Bible when your child is ready to read independently. Here are a few things you will find in it
- Each story has a Christ Connection corner that helps your child see how this one Big story leads to Jesus’s coming and resurrection.
- Includes questions for your child to ponder upon after reading the chapter
- Includes simple illustrations that are child friendly.
- You will find longer passages to read and chapter and verse references.
- There is a cool project if your kid is handy and enjoys art that shows how the story comes around full circle to Christ.
My oldest has read this over and over, so it was time to get her the next Bible.
The Children’s Bible in 365 days.
I only recommend this book because it has been in my family for decades and is one of those Bibles that I read as a kid in undergrad and found helpful to learn the stories of the Bible in a simple way. This Bible has mature illustrations that are for the slightly older kiddos. It does tell the story as it is in the Bible with fewer coverups. But if your kid is not ready for the big Bible, this is a perfect transitional Bible.
The best part is that it is a daily reading Bible with 365 days of Bible Stories. Your kid can essentially read through the Bible in one year. This is also a good Bible to use for family devotions.
Published by ZonderKidz
We have finally landed on the big Bible. This Bible is one of the most recommended Bibles for children. . I love NIV (New International Version) and came to the faith learning the word of God with it. This book is a kid’s version of a Study Bible. You will not find commentaries here but plenty of nuggets of information for your child to understand the background and context. They have a map index, a feature I haven’t seen before; it is intended to guide your child using the maps at the back of the Bible.
I hope this has been a valuable post to you. Leave a comment if you have any questions or email me using our contact page.
