Talking with children about who God is through the Scriptures doesn’t have to be complicated. It isn’t meant to take place only in serious, special settings but most often happens in the day-to-day grind of daily life. As we walk, talk, sit, lie, and rise, we are given opportunities to teach his words and tell of his deeds. And as you teach your children or students, you will likely be astonished at how much they understand as they receive God’s truth with precious faith.
As adults, we often read the Bible piecemeal and forget that it is a gripping, grand narrative. We may fail to take time to read slowly or engage our imaginations. In doing so, we miss the impact of Biblical narratives, which don’t just tell but display to us the wonder of God’s power, the irrationality of our rebellion, the horrors of sin, and the beauty of our long-planned-for salvation. So reading to children of the “glorious deeds of the Lord” is good for our souls as well as theirs.
If you’re in the market for a children’s Bible, here are our family’s favorites in order of age/ reading level.
1. The Big Picture Story Bible (WTS | Amazon)
This was our go-to for many years because of the short text. Even at 2-3 years old, the kids could sit through it, enjoying the big pictures. The book traces the theme of God’s Kingdom—his place, people, and rule—from Genesis through Revelation, showing how Jesus fulfills God’s promises as Savior and King.
At two, before she could talk much, I would sometimes find our daughter flipping through a Bible saying “fwaioehgjkadlksj Sarah salihgdafoiquwr Abraham,” and I think it was from reading this storybook Bible. Our church also uses this book for teaching younger children, but it’s good for older kids too to get a grasp of some big Biblical themes.
2. The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible (WTS | Amazon)
This is our newest addition, and we’re reading this during our homeschooling time. Each Bible story has one main highlighted point and one question to discuss. It’s great at presenting Scripture’s stories in ways that inform both children’s knowledge of who God is and how they are called to obey him—i.e., right thoughts of God and right living before him.
3. The Jesus Storybook Bible (WTS | Amazon)
The power to obey God does not come from knowing his laws but knowing him. The Bible stories in this book, with their amazing illustrations, point to Jesus in every text. In seeking to make these connections to Christ, parents are helped to resist the temptation to turn Scripture into a book of morals. It is refreshing to see our children learn to understand the Scriptures with God, not human Bible characters, as the hero.
The book highlights the love of God for sinners through the drama of Scripture, climaxing in the cross of Christ. Pastor Tim Keller has endorsed this book saying all Christians should read this, not just children! The Jesus Storybook Bible has been a staple in our home and church.
4. The Action Bible (WTS | Amazon)
My daughter will sit for hours listening to the audio version of The Action Bible while following along in the book, and her knowledge of the Old Testament is better than mine was as a college student because of it. This will probably be the most controversial item on this list because it’s in the style of a graphic novel. The characters look like they are from a superhero comic and the text reads like it, with obvious creative liberties taken.
I make sure our kids know when something in the book isn’t in the Bible (for example, stories from the intertestamental period) and that God doesn’t really sound like a booming, slow-speaking comic book voice. But still, it has been wonderful for helping our girls be excited about the content of Scripture—even Old Testament history!
5. ESV Big Picture Bible (WTS | Amazon)
When our 6-year-old asked for a big kid’s Bible, we searched for a full-text ESV Bible (the version our church uses). This version was our favorite in terms of format and pictures that weren’t too graphic or cheesy. It’s simple and the font is big enough for her to read easily. There are illustrations, but they don’t detract from the text and because they are cartoonish (vs. more realistic), I’m not as wary about how it will influence my daughter’s interpretation of Scripture. My favorite illustrations are the small ones above the headers depicting the theme of each book.
When training teachers in church, I’ve often stressed that just because we are teaching children doesn’t mean we can make up answers to their questions. The youngest members of our church are not too young to understand and need the truth of God. That’s why I value good resources for children so much—they explain God’s Word in simple, engaging ways while remaining truthful.
Though it is a weighty task, it is an awesome privilege to be among the first people to inform a child’s understanding of God. As we seek to instruct the little ones, so dearly loved by Jesus, may we do so with reverence and fear, gratitude and joy.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published at the Keeping Heart blog. It has been republished here with the author’s permission.