How to Choose the Right Bible for Your Kids and Encourage Them to Read It
This article may contain resources with Amazon affiliate links. If you click the link and buy anything through Amazon, my website will receive a small percentage at no additional cost to you.
Knowing when and how to choose the perfect Bible for your child can be a bit overwhelming. You may not know what options are out there, or perhaps you have searched the internet and found way too many Bibles to choose from. You may also worry that your child will not be interested in reading the Bible, it may be too difficult for him or her to understand, or the translation may not be exactly accurate. These are all valid concerns, which is why I am sharing some tips to help you choose the right Bible for your child.
The first factor to consider when choosing a Bible is the age and development level of your child. Picking an age-appropriate Bible will not only ensure that your child will find it interesting, but it will also help them to understand and apply God’s Word to their lives. Below are some recommendations and considerations for preschool through teens when choosing a Bible based on your child’s age and/or developmental level.
Toddler/Preschool Picture Bibles
If your child is a toddler or preschooler, he is going to be more engaged with a picture Bible which contains appealing images and fewer words. This will allow him to understand the Bible stories better than a full text Bible with a lot of words but no visual support. For toddlers it is best to find a simple board-book Bible with some of the major stories and Biblical themes on each page. A Bible with a handle is a nice way to introduce God’s Word to little ones and encourage them to take it along with them as you venture out. Baby’s First Bible is one such Bible with the perfect amount of Biblical truth and stories for little ears to enjoy. Using a Lift-the-Flap Bible is another fun way to engage toddlers and keep their hands busy while reading.
For preschoolers, picture Bibles with a little more text than toddler Bibles are ideal. Some fun ones to look into include:
The Beginners Bible has simple text for littles ones and more pictures per story than the Read and Share Bible reviewed below. This Bible also has a Spanish version.
Read and Share Bible is also simple yet more comprehensive than others in the amount of stories it contains. Read and Share Bible DVD’s are a perfect addition to hear the Bible story come to life on a screen.
The Rhyme Bible is complete with 35 cute rhyming stories from the Bible with precious illustrations. While putting the stories into a rhyme, they still maintain the stories’ Biblically accuracy quite well!
My First Bible Stories contains the most common Bible stories with colorful pictures that little ones will enjoy hearing over and over again.
The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes is very comprehensive, classic children’s Bible that also includes questions which will engage your little ones to go deeper in their understanding of God’s Word.
Engaging Toddlers and Preschoolers in Bible Reading
It is important to note that some toddlers and preschoolers are naturally more active and have shorter attention spans than others, so they may not sit for a Bible story for very long. If this is the case with your child, start small and work up to more time rather than giving up completely. Even if your toddler will only sit on your lap for one or two pages, that is better than nothing at all.
You can also try reading the Bible while your little one is strapped into a high chair eating a snack or in the car seat on a road trip. For sensory-seeking kids, little tickles or added hand motions during the Bible story can help them stay focused and engaged.
As your kids go through the elementary school years, the type of Bible needed will change as they become readers and understand more complex language. Bibles with pictures and some text are ideal for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. As they transition to a Bible with less pictures and more text, they will they become stronger in their language and reading skills, eventually ending up with a full-text Children’s Bible. Below are some elementary-aged picture Bibles and full text Bibles to consider.
Elementary Picture Bibles
The Big Picture Interactive Bible Story Book is a great picture Bible for that next step up after preschool. It contains a Christ Connection section for each story and an app that will allow you to see a 3D image and hear an audio recording of the story with an audio QR code.
For Picture Bibles with a little more text, consider The Jesus Storybook Bible. This one paraphrases the Bible into story-like language and emphasizes the need for a Savior throughout each story, always pointing your kids to Jesus. It is very popular among families these days!
The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible contains a short summary of each Bible story. Because the vocabulary level is more advanced than most preschool Bibles, it is a good choice for the elementary years.
The Story Bible is another great picture Bible with realistic graphics and lots of text for each story. Each story contains a Word Key to learn new vocabulary and Questions to discuss after each story.
Graphic Novel Bibles are also great for this age group, such as The Action
Storybook Bible for 5-8 year-olds and The Action Bible for 9 and up. Many boys who don’t like to read typical books will be motivated to read a comic Bible as they are drawn to graphic novels. While they are a paraphrase of the Bible, they are consistent in drawing the content straight from God’s Word.
Elementary Full Text Bibles
Once your child can read simple chapter books independently, a first full text Bible to consider is Discoverer’s Bible for Early Readers (NIrV), which uses NIV’s Easy Read Version. This version is still accurate but uses simpler words to make reading easier for young readers.
The Big Picture Interactive Bible for Kids is another great Bible for younger readers because it includes an app that will show pop-up graphics for some stories with an audio retelling of the story you click on. There are also Christ Connection and Parent Connection sections as an added bonus.
The ICB, Butterfly Sparkle Bible, Hardcover: International Children’s Bible is perfect for girls 7-10 and is written at a 3rd grade reading level. It includes special features, including a Bible timeline, Key Verse Highlights, and Topics to Find in the Bible. There are also special inserts throughout the Bible including “How Do I Know Jesus Loves Me?” “How Do I Pray?” and “How Do I Study the Bible?”
Adventure Early Readers Bible, NIrV and Adventure Bible, NIV are also great Life Application Bibles that contain sections of Key Verses, Interesting Facts, and a “Live It” section to help kids learn how to apply the Bible to their own lives.
CSB Explorer Bible for Kids is a newer Bible that is full of amazing features many Bibles don’t have, including a Christ in Context section to learn how each story points to Jesus, Discovering the Truth messages to point out God’s truth from the text, Excavating the Past to learn how archeology and history prove the Bible is true, Exploring Creation with facts about God’s world, and even QR Codes placed throughout the Bible with online videos to learn more.
Engaging Elementary Kids in Bible Reading
Elementary-aged kids are usually excited to read their own Bibles once they begin to read independently if you give them one that engages them well. Help them get started by reading with them at first, and then as they become more independent, help them pick books from the Bible to read on their own each morning or at a certain scheduled time of the day.
To help them learn to apply God’s Word to their lives, have them write down promises they learn from God and thank God for those promises. Likewise write down God’s commands they find in Scripture and encourage them to ask God to help them obey those commands. Once they are reading independently, ask them what they learned and discuss the topic together.
If your child does not enjoy reading or reading is a struggle for him, it is okay to stick with picture Bibles or graphic novel Bibles longer. You can also continue to read the Bible with them or have them listen to God’s Word through a Bible app like biblegateway.com. Reading God’s Word shouldn’t feel like a chore to our kids, so the more you can make God’s Word fun and relatable, the better.
Middle School/High School Full-Text Bibles
For middle and high schoolers, there are great full text Bibles that help them connect with God and apply His Word to their lives.
The NIV Bible for Teen Guys and NIV Bible for Teen Girls are great options to consider. They include daily devotional readings from well-known male/female authors, sections on godly advice, and Bible insights related to common teen guy/girl issues. They also include profiles of men and women from the Bible and book introductions to help your teen understand the Bible more in depth.
The NIV Teen Study Bible, a gender-neutral version of the Bibles above, includes a summary of the Apostles’ Creed explaining the foundations of the Christian faith, Biblical advice related to teen issues, topical indexes, book introductions, and highlighted key Bible verses to memorize. There is also a question and answer section in this version to test Bible knowledge.
The Tyndale Boys Life Application Study Bible and Girls Life Application Study Bible are great for middle school ages and early teens. In addition to using the NLT, a great translation for teens, this Bible features Book Introductions and Timelines, Personal Stories from older teens, Amazing Facts, Lessons to be Learned from famous women/men of the Bible, and Scenarios to help teens make good choices.
The Tyndale Teen Life Application Study Bible, a gender-neutral version of the NLT Life Application Bible is best for older teens, whereas the girls/guys version reviewed above is more suited for younger teens. There are fewer fun graphics in this Bible, and the application sections are geared more towards older teens than the Girls/Guys’ Life Application Study Bible. This Bible does have great study and application components, such as book Introductions, Personal Profiles of people from the Bible, and Real-life scenarios related to the text. These scenarios help teens think more about their choices from a Biblical perspective. If your teen is older and/or more mature, this may be the best choice for you.
The TEXT Bible is a great choice for older teens and includes a method to study the Bible, called TEXT: T-Talk to God, E-Encounter God and Humanity, E-Examine Your Heart, T-Talk to God and Others. Additional features include an Anatomy of the Text section where literary elements are explained, a Get to Know the Text section with explanations of people and events, Who is God section which contains devotionals on God’s character, and Terms of the Text that provides definitions of difficult words.
She Reads Truth Bible, is a women’s Bible, but it is also great for older teen girls. It encourages teens to go deeper into God’s Word by providing features, such as a Custom Reading Plan, Colorful Timelines, Charts, and Maps. Book Introductions provide cultural context and Devotionals help girls apply God’s Word to their own lives. There is also plenty of space in the margins for teen girls to take notes as they study God’s Word.
Engaging Teens in Bible Reading
For teens, social media can be a big distraction from spending time with God and His Word. Talk to your teen about their goals to spend time with God and ways they can minimize distractions and stay accountable to those goals. Remind them that reading God’s Word is more about growing in your relationship with God than checking off a box.
Guide them in finding ways to study God’s Word that will lead them to hear the Holy Spirit speak to them through it. Foundations: Old Testament and Foundations: New Testament are great reading plans that will help your teens understand and apply God’s Word in their lives (Girls, Guys, and Gender neutral versions available). Some other ways to apply God’s Word include praying for God to show them a verse He wants them to obey or a promise He wants them to receive when reading through a chapter or section of Scripture. The TEXT model discussed in the TEXT Bible review above is another great way to encourage your teens to engage deeper with God and His Word.. devotionals thaAsk them what God has taught them in their time in His Word, and discuss what God is teaching you as well.
Once you have chosen the perfect Bible for your kids or teens, present it to them in a special way such as for their birthday, Christmas, Easter, or even Valentine’s Day. Other important times to consider giving your child a new Bible include when he or she accepts Christ, is baptized, or goes through confirmation. If the Bible is leather/imitation leather, consider having their name engraved on the front, and write in the front of the Bible a special note of dedication to your child. Go with preteens and teens to a Christian book store or Christian online store and let them be a part of picking out their Bible. Whatever you do, let them know how special God’s Word is and how it helps us stay focused on God and His ways when we read it.
