As much as we have enjoyed utilizing Bible story books for our kids, we also want them to be exposed directly to scripture. More than anything, we want each of our kids to have their own Bible and learn to read it and cherish it as their most prized possession! But with all the Bibles available out there, which Bible translation is best for kids and which Bible should you pick? What is the best Bible for kids?
Let’s break down our top picks for Bibles for kids for every age level. Then, keep scrolling for how to choose a Bible for kids why we go with the NIrV as the best Bible translation for young kids and the ESV for older ones.
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Top Picks: Bibles for Kids
Bibles for Kids from Birth to age 5
My mother bought each of our children a little Bible similar to this and gave it to them on the day they were born. It was a cute, tiny baby Bible! Some of these baby Bibles only include the New Testament plus the Psalms and Proverbs, but that’s okay! They can’t read yet anyway so it’s the owning and loving of the Bible that is so important. Our littles patted their Bible, hugged it, slept with it, and turned the pages with tiny pudgy baby paws. By the end of the preschool years, their little Bibles were well worn! Over its little pages they learned to lisp the sweet name of Jesus.
Bibles for Kids Ages 5-10
By the time early childhood was drawing to an end, I knew they needed a new BIG kid Bible. So we started the tradition of presenting our kindergarten children with a brand new big kid Bible on the first day of big kid school. In our house, it’s a really BIG deal! For this special occasion, we give a NirV (New International Reader’s Version). The NIRV is an easy-to-read version of scripture specially formatted for beginning readers. It uses language they can understand while also being very careful not to stray from the word-to-word translation. We have found it in large print and in a smaller backpack size.
NIrV Bible for Kids, Large Print by Zondervan
While at first drawn to the backpack size because it’s so comfortable for small hands, we quickly learned that the font size in the large print version is much more readable for beginning readers.. So, if you’re goal is to have your kids actually read the text (yes, please!), consider the large print version. The large print NIrV is available in pink, blue, peach, gray and possibly other colors as well.
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NIrV Giant Print Compact Bible by Zondervan
Here’s the best of both worlds! Giant print plus compact size makes this Bible a fabulous option for young readers. The text is quite large and friendly for beginning readers. Plus, its available in kid-friendly adorable colors and patterns.
>>> READ: Bible Story Books for Kids – My 10 Minute Quiet Time with God
NIrV, Adventure Bible for Early Readers
The NIrV adventure Bible is another good Bible option for kids. It comes in multiple fun, engaging colors of covers that kids will love such as green, purple, brown lion paw print, coral llamas, blue, periwinkle, and gray. The Adventure Bible also has colored text inside and extras such as explanations of Bible characters, maps, charts, and introductions to the Bible books. I have not read all of the “extras” so I can’t vouch for if they are all scriptural. If that concerns you, stick with the version above that does not include the extras.
NIrV, Discoverer’s Bible for Early Readers, Large Print, Hardcover
This is the workhorse Bible that we keep in our homeschool classroom. The kids use it for various assignments. It has a strong, sturdy hard cover that is great when you know the Bible is destined to be thrown around a bit! No extras inside – just the Bible text, which is all we need.
>>> READ: Making Kids Bible Study Happen Everyday
Bibles for Kids Ages 11-18
For their 11th birthday, we present our kids with an official “grown-up” Bible. At this age, we move to the ESV version or the NASB. Both translations are renowned for thorough translation and readability.
ESV Journaling Bible
For our kids who have already passed this landmark, we’ve chosen a journaling Bible with large margins. This gives them the opportunity to write in notes or jot down favorite scriptures in the blank spaces. These come in so many colors but have a more grown-up look that older children will appreciate and can carry through their teen years and into adulthood.
ESV Holy Bible, My Creative Bible For Girls
This unique journaling Bible includes pages of illustrated end pages and line drawings for older kids who enjoy creativity and coloring. Also available in a glittery purple cover.
NASB Journaling Bibles
There are also some wonderful journaling Bibles available in the NASB translation. Click the text above to see a whole collection!
How to Choose a Bible for Kids
What version of the Bible is good for children?
When choosing a version of the Bible for kids, you want one that is easy to read but stays true to the meaning of scripture. One of the best Bible translations for kids is the NIrV, or the New International Readers Version. Based on the NIV, the NIrV uses a simplified version of English while maintaining the integrity of the text. The straightforward language is written at about a 3rd grade reading level, but even younger readers will enjoy being able to read short passages directly from the Bible themselves.
What’s the best Bible translation for kids?
The NIrV (New International Readers Version) is our top pick for elementary readers since it is written at a 3rd grade reading level using simplified easy-to-understand language but stays true to the original text of scripture. After elementary school, older readers are ready to transition to an even more accurate translation of the Bible such as ESV or NASB. Both the ESV and the NASB are literal word-for-word translations of scripture making them one of the best Bible translations for older kids and adults. While both are word-for-word translations, the ESV is more readable for older kids and adults.
>>> Need Bible Songs for Kids? View hundreds of lyrics for Bible class and Sunday school songs
At what age should children start reading the Bible?
We want to introduce children to the characters and stories from the Bible at a very young age. However, asking beginning readers to read directly from scripture, especially a difficult translation, is apt to turn into a frustrating reading lesson rather than an inspiring Bible lesson. Instead, try making the Bible stories and characters more accessible to small children and beginning readers through Bible storybooks like these and by listening to the Bible read aloud. Once a child is a firm reader – usually around 3rd or 4th grade for most kids – gradually encourage them to read directly from scripture. By middle school, children should be able to read the Bible by themselves.
What is the easiest version of the Bible to understand?
Finding the easiest version of the Bible for your child may depend on how they learn combined with their age. For true literal Bible translations for kids, our top pick is the NIrV, as mentioned above. However, never forget that children can hear and absorb text at a much higher level than they are capable of reading. So, don’t shy away from reading God’s word out loud or using audio versions of the Bible such as the free YouVersion Bible app. For younger kids, find a Bible or Bible storybook with engaging illustrations to keep your child focused on the Word.