Choosing the right Bible for your child can feel overwhelming, especially with the endless assortment available today. From colorful storybooks to age-appropriate translations, the options seem limitless. But how do you find the one that resonates best with your child's needs? I’ve done the research and compiled a list of the best children’s Bibles categorized by age, along with my favorite resources for family devotions. In this guide, you'll discover essential tips for selecting a Bible that not only teaches but also inspires a lifelong love for God's Word in your child or classroom.
Specifically for toddlers, this children's Bible is simple enough to understand yet engaging to give the child a solid understanding of the Bible stories.
This is the suggested Bible for the Complete 1 Year and 2 Year Preschool Curricula as well as the Basic 1 and 2 Year Curricula for family use.
Introduce little ones to God’s truths with our Bible Song Packets! Each packet features fun, age-appropriate Bible songs in both travel and posters sizes. With colorful images and simple actions, help young hearts hide God’s Word through engaging music and playful movements!
The Beginner's Bible is my absolute favorite for preschoolers! Its beautifully illustrated pages complement the simply written stories, making them engaging and easy to understand. Unlike many other children’s Bibles, this one presents the Bible stories authentically, without adding extra, unbiblical details. The Deluxe Edition contains the Bible and two narration CD's of all 94 Bible stories. Read my review ...
This Bible is suggested in the Basic and Complete 3 and 4 Year Curricula.
Written by Kenneth Taylor, this children's Bible has been a gold standard for generations and is a revision of the Bible I grew up with. Each straightforward story is accompanied by three simple questions to reinforce understanding. Read my review ...
This Bible is referenced in the free Basic 3 and 4 Year Curricula for family use.
I absolutely love this Bible by Godfrey and Grudina! Although I'm not usually a fan of story Bibles, the stories are both easy to understand and enjoyable to read, all while staying true to the Scripture. Each story spans two pages and features charming illustrations that bring the narrative to life. Additionally, the storytelling style lends itself well to acting out the stories or encouraging children to listen for repeated words, making it an engaging experience for everyone. Read my review...
This Bible is used in the Basic 3 and 4 Year Curricula for family use.
For late preschool to elementary-aged kids, check out the new Hey-O! Stories of the Bible. While the blocky characters are different from traditional preschool illustrations, they beautifully show emotions and bring the stories to life.
I always compare children’s Bibles with Scripture, and Hey-O! stayed true to the biblical text, using key verses and only adding details to provide background or clarity. Each story includes access to a free animated video that reads the story aloud and enhances key points for understanding. A QR code makes it easy to access the videos—no subscription needed.
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I absolutely love this Bible! It uses Scripture from the New Living Translation rather than retelling stories, and includes activities, songs, questions, prayers, and a "Jesus Connection" to help children engage with the text on a deeper level. Read my review ...
This Bible is used in the Basic Curriculum as well as the 4 and 5 Year Complete Curricula.
This children's Bible is an excellent bridge from simplified Bibles to direct text. Utilizing the International Children's Bible version, it features original ideas that help apply biblical concepts in relatable ways. Read my review...
This Bible is used in the Basic 5 Year Curriculum.
For elementary-aged children, I recommend checking out the best-selling The Biggest Story Bible Storybook by Kevin DeYoung. The storybook begins, “The Bible is filled with many stories – some sad and some scary, some happy and some holy. There are lots of styles and lots of stories. But ultimately there is one story. And it’s a true story right down to the smallest details. The one story is the Biggest Story, and it’s all about Jesus.”
Written in conversational tone, resembling a father telling a story to his children, each of the 7 parts begins with an introduction, and each chapter concludes with a short prayer. The writing is informal and laced with humor. With 104 chapters, this storybook contains stories not commonly told, enriching your child’s understanding of the Bible. While it doesn’t dwell heavily on the specifics of each story, it offers significant transitions between chapters, emphasizing Christ’s role and illustrating how the Bible stories connect.
Read some cautions about this story Bible.
Introduce your preschoolers to the God's love with our fun and engaging New Testament Curriculum. Filled with interactive Bible stories, play-based activities, and learning crafts, this Curriculum brings the teachings of Jesus to life in a way young children will understand and enjoy.
This is the sister version of my favorite preschool devotional! With shorter, less detailed entries, it’s perfect for bedtime or family devotionals. The 90 undated devotionals include a short Bible verse, a brief reading, and a prayer.
One of my favorite features is the simple question that engages the child and encourages discussion. Sometimes it prompts the child to examine the accompanying image closely (a great way to build pragmatics!), while other questions help the child apply the main lesson of the devotional.
A few years ago, my parents gifted each of our children a copy of Our Daily Bread for Kids devotional, and I absolutely love it! We use it together as a family during breakfast, but it’s also perfect for independent reading for those who are strong readers.
The 365 dated devotionals include a key verse, devotional message, main point, fun fact, optional additional Scripture, and a discussion question or takeaway. What I really appreciate is that the devotional doesn’t water down Scripture—it helps children understand the Bible story or message and offers practical ideas for applying it to their lives. This devotional is ideal for elementary-aged children.
Written specifically for children ages 4-8, The Day by Day Begin-to-Read Bible combines children’s favorite stories in a daily-reading format. Each day’s story covers one or two pages short enough for an early-elementary child to successfully read. The stories are written in chronological order (the order in which they happened historically) and contain Scripture references.
The next step is The Day by Day Kid’s Bible, which breaks the Bible into 7-minute, 2-3 page reading sections. With 365 readings, it allows a child at a 2nd-grade reading level to read through the entire Bible in one year. The text has been simplified (e.g., "tabernacle" becomes "worship tent" and "God’s people" becomes "Jewish people") to help young readers grasp the meaning. Some passages, like genealogies, repetitive texts, or graphic content, have been excluded.
I personally see this book as more of a devotional than a Bible, given its chronological story order, omitted sections, and dated entries. One of the highlights is the 14-page timeline in the center, which compares Bible events with world history—such a fascinating resource! I’d love to have it as a poster for both adults and children to enjoy. The “world events” even include fun facts like when hopscotch and leapfrog were invented, the creation of the first Chinese dictionary, and the Romans learning to use soap.
The Big Picture Story Bible does an excellent job of showing God's hand in every detail of the Bible, His love for His people, and the reason for Jesus' life on earth. I love how this Bible weaves a thread from Genesis to Revelation. Read more..
This Bible is suggested in the Basic 5 Year Curriculum for the unit on the Bible.
I believe using flannelgraph figures and props is one of the most effective ways to teach Bible stories to children. When kids take the lead in retelling the story with these visual aids, it not only deepens their understanding but also boosts retention and brings their learning to a whole new level.
Betty Lukens sets are specifically referenced in each of the Preschool and Bible Curricula as an optional supplement.
Although not a children's Bible, The Jesus Book: The Ultimate Who, What, When, Where, and Why Book by Stephen Elkins makes the Bible accessible to kids. What really drew me to it is the simplicity of the stories, with the author breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand explanations. I also love the inclusion of maps and timelines, which pair perfectly with school history lessons. Read more...
Because of its straightforward approach, this book is used as a supplement to the Bible stories in the Basic Curriculum.
Update: This book is no longer in print and is available in Kindle edition only.
While I’ve recommended my favorite children’s Bibles by age, the final choice is up to you. It's crucial not only for children to read the Bible but to have one that is age-appropriate, biblically accurate, and relevant to their lives. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you make your decision.
View a Live Broadcast Heidi created on choosing the right Children's Bible.
When choosing the right children's Bible for your family, I encourage you to think about the following points:
I also believe that it is very important for a child to have a Bible of his/her own. Although Bible stories are readily available on the internet for free, I encourage you to spend the few dollars to give your child a Bible to hold, to take to church, and to sit on his/her nightstand.
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