Every child I have cared for loves a good story, but when considering a Bible for my grandson I didn’t search for a collection of Bible stories. This time I wanted an actual Bible. The New International Reader’s Version Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids meets my criteria.
I have to admit I have it easy when it comes to finding gifts for this particular kid. He lugs his favorite books everywhere, often finding them more desirable than eating (a trait he did not get from me).
Who ordered this book?
His Grandma Kathy likes books, too. In fact, when one arrives in my mailbox I usually scratch my head wondering what in the world I ordered now. This happened again last week as I carried a brown package as heavy as a college textbook into the house, scrutinizing the label to be sure it was for me.
Tearing the package open brought a splash of color to my delighted eyes, but I still thought there might be some mistake.
Oh yes, now I remember
Since I’m a member of the Bible Gateway blogger grid, and a #BibleGatewayPartner , they offered to send a free copy of The New International Reader’s Version Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids in exchange for a review. I jumped at the chance to see what Zondervan had come up with for our youngest readers.
Though my first impression was that the book was too beefy for children, my opinion changed when I remembered lifting my grandson’s backpack. And when thumbing through the pages I found nothing that should be cut. All its components would contribute to a great reading experience.
I was happy to see that difficult subjects lined up with truth and were handled beautifully for a child’s sensibilities. I checked the account about Adam and Eve’s sin, because really, that subject has to be clear for the whole thing to make sense. I wasn’t disappointed.
Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart . . .
Jeremiah 15:16a ESV
The font, maps, pictures–everything is geared to please my favorite 8-year-old. I’ve even used it myself for night time reading.
For kids who to read on their own or with an adult nearby, this is a wonderful resource. I received my first Bible at the age of nine, and I cherished it early on. This illustrated Bible is also one a kid couldn’t help but love.
by Kathy Sheldon Davis
From the publisher’s back copy:
The NIrV, The Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids is a brand-new kind of Bible. It allows kids ages 4-8 to read the full Bible without chapter and verse numbers or footnotes that are helpful for adults but can be very distracting for kids.
This Bible presents the story of God’s people in a single column format with an extremely legible font. With nearly every turn of the page, children encounter full-color illustrations and kid-friendly maps that illuminate the Bible stories within.
Features of the NIrV, The Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids include
- Bonus full-color double-sided poster
- Over 750 full-color illustrations
- Full-color, child-friendly maps
- Single-column text
- Easy-to-read exclusive Zondervan NIrV Comfort Print(c) typeface
- The complete text of the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) of the Bible, created at a third-grade reading level just for developing readers
kathysheldondavis.com 