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One of the first books Christian parents buy for their child is a Bible storybook. Many Bible storybooks contain a collection of several stories from the Bible and will have bright and fun illustrations. It’s important to remember that Bible storybooks are not really Bibles. Rather, they paraphrase Bible stories and can be helpful for young children because they introduce them to the major stories and themes of Scripture. A good first storybook Bible to consider is The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm.

Helm’s book is not just a random collection of stories, but a very intentional collection that tells the story of God's love and His plan for redeeming His people. The Big Picture Story Bible starts at creation in Genesis and ends with the New Heaven and New Earth in Revelation. The illustrations are well done and engaging for little readers from infancy through pre-school.

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While pre-schoolers will continue to enjoy Big Picture, you may also consider a next-step story Bible, The Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Vos. Like Big Picture, The Child’s Story Bible also follows the chronology of real Scripture; however, it also notes the book and chapter in the Bible on which each story is based. The collection of stories is more detailed and includes many that are not traditionally included in story Bibles. The Vos book is a great read-aloud and will also serve as a good transition for early readers.

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By the time a child reaches Kindergarten, it is time to have a real Bible. By real, I mean the entire text of Scripture in a good translation. Early readers will certainly need help with some words, but they will be able to follow along. Kindergarteners should begin bringing their real Bibles to church and Sunday School. This will help them begin to learn how to navigate around Scripture when their teachers ask them to look up verses or to follow along when a passage is being read to them. Our early elementary teachers are happy to help children with this process and your child will have a real sense of accomplishment when they learn to find things in their own real Bibles. Kids can certainly continue reading and enjoying Bible storybooks, but early elementary kids are ready to have their own copy of the whole Bible.

You may be wondering what Bible to choose for your new reader. There are several children's Bibles available on the market and choosing one can be difficult. In order of importance, here are four things to look for:

1. Choose a version that includes the whole Bible, Genesis to Revelation, not a
book of stories.

2. Pick a good translation and not a paraphrased version. I usually recommend that parents buy their children Bibles in the same translation that they use so that kids can follow along when you read the Bible to them. Having the same version is also helpful when your family memorizes Scripture together—everyone learns the same wording. Please note, though, that if you use the NIV, I don't recommend buying your child the TNIV. The TNIV changes God's Word to make the text gender neutral. In case you wonder, my family uses the New American Standard Version (NASB), which is also the version Pastor Davey preaches from.

3. Select a Bible that includes study helps and guides especially for children. Many children's Bibles come with dictionaries, devotional thoughts, application questions and other resources.  These tools are useful; just be sure that they are accurate and age-appropriate.

4. Consider the aesthetic elements that make the Bible bright and fun. The cover, illustrations and page layout are all elements to review. However, I encourage parents to be very careful with illustrations - especially ones that tend to be cartoon-ish. We don't want to give the impression that the Bible is pretend, and the quality of artwork can impact your child’s perception in that regard.

Not sure which Bible to choose? My favorite is the ESV Children’s Bible. (The ESV is very similar to the NASB.) The version includes: the English Standard Version text; high-quality artwork; large, clear chapter divisions; an introduction to each book; excellent Bible study helps; charts for daily Bible reading; suggested verses for memorization; and a simple-language Bible dictionary.