Four Bible Recommendations for Kids
One of the most essential disciplines of the Christian life is scripture reading. As parents, we must intentionally point our kids to the scriptures. In a study of over 2,000 protestant parents, regular Bible reading ranked as the number one indicator of a child’s spiritual growth. “A child who read his Bible regularly while growing up has 12.5% stronger spiritual health as a young adult.” This should come as no surprise! We know that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (1 Timothy 3:16).”
We know Bible reading is essential, but one of the most common questions I get in family ministry is, “What Bible do you recommend?” Here are my four preferred Bibles for kids, along with my age recommendations.
Little Words Matter Bible Storybook | 6 months - 2 years
When is the right time to start reading the Bible to your kids? I’m not sure, so start as early as possible. I started reading this Bible to my daughter when she was six months old. We started young so that it was natural and always built into her life. We read one of these stories every night before bed.
This Bible-board book has 19 stories from creation to resurrection. It is simple and easy to read to your baby. Your goal as a parent is to lay a foundation of Biblical truth. And I cannot stress enough that you should start early.
The Big Book of Bible Stories for Toddlers | 1 - 3 years old
This 19-story board Bible is big, colorful, and easy to read. Every page has a “Big Picture Question/Answer.” These questions are beginning to teach your kids theology! These are vital truths that kids can learn at a very young age. For example, the creation story asks the big picture question of, “Who created everything?” The answer is short and powerful: “God created everything for His glory.”
It’s ALL About JESUS Bible Storybook | 3 - 6 years old
This Bible has 100 stories from creation through Christ’s return. Or, if you’re like our household, it has been so well loved and torn up that it begins with Abraham sacrificing Isaac and ends with Paul’s shipwreck. My son has loved, devoured, and literally destroyed this Bible. But he sure loves it! It is one of his favorite books to look at.
I love this Bible because it is faithful to the text, every story has a Christ connection, and it has great pictures.
CSB One Big Story Bible | Kindergarten - 6th grade
This full-length Bible is my real Bible of choice for kids. The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) is an excellent balance between readability and faithfulness to the original text. For us, this Bible matches all our curriculum and pairs with the Gospel Project. It has pictures, Christ connections, big questions, and it highlights key verses.
As you can see, there is overlap between these ages and Bibles. You can be flexible with how and when you use these options. But this is the general progression we have liked in our family. Currently, we are using the ALL About JESUS Storybook Bible each night before bed. It works great for our two and five year old. Our daughter then carries the CSB when she comes to church. And yes, just in case you are wondering, that CSB is “too heavy for her to carry.”
When spiritually leading your family, you have dozens of Bible options. These are just my favorites. The important part is to find something your kids can use and then find time and space to read it together regularly.
For more resources on parenting, visit Pastor Luke’s blog at www.thepastorparent.com.