Let’s talk about the best children’s Bibles! From the time my oldest was a baby, I have made it a priority to regularly read some type of children’s Bible with my kids. My goal is that my kids will be familiar with the stories of the Bible from a young-age, giving them a foundation of Biblical illiteracy on which their own relationship with God could grow. Through the years we have read many different Bible story books and in this post I’ll be sharing some that we have enjoyed!
The Children’s Bible Book List
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Read-Aloud Bible Stories by Ella K. Lindvall
I have loved this five book set of simple books of Bible stories for my little ones! With large, colorful pictures and simple, short text on each page, this series is perfect for kids as young as 1 year-old. Some of the stories also have sound effects (i.e. “step, step, step”) that help keep the story interesting and the kids engaged. In addition, there are simple question and answer prompts at the end of each story that help you recap the story with your child.
The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm
The Big Picture Story Bible includes some stories that are not included in many children’s Bibles while skipping some of those that are normally included. This made it fun for my kids when they were already familiar with many of the commonly covered stories. This is a big Bible story book with colorful pictures covering every page. The text is simple, but not overly so. The Big Picture Story Bible is good for toddlers up to early elementary.
The Early Reader’s Bible by V. Gilbert Beers
The Early Reader’s Bible has simple stories and application-type questions after every story. This Bible is designed for kids who are just learning how to read (as the title suggests) and includes “words to know” at the start of each story. The Early Reader’s Bible would be an ideal children’s Bible for a younger elementary student who is learning to read on his own or to be read aloud to younger kids.
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
I love the Jesus Storybook Bible! My favorite part of this children’s Bible is the way each story is tied back to Jesus. Starting with the very first story of creation, Sally Lloyd-Jones helps children (and adults) see how each and every story leads to Jesus. The illustrations in the Jesus Storybook Bible are unique and visually interesting. With longer and more complex text, this Bible would work best for kids in early elementary and above.
The Beginner’s Bible
The Beginner’s Bible is a classic. This is the children’s Bible I remember most from my childhood. Cartoon-style illustrations and clear and simple text make the Beginner’s Bible perfect for toddlers to early elementary. There are also activity books and felt figures that correspond to the illustrations in The Beginner’s Bible for those looking for more hands-on activities to go along with your Bible reading.
The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible by Janice Emmerson
The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible has beautiful, life-like illustrations. Each story is only a two-page spread with a single picture. However, the illustrations are so detailed and gorgeous, I found that they could hold my children’s attention for the entire story. As a word of caution, his Bible includes essentially every story in the Bible and might require some creative editing depending on what you feel your children are ready for. All the stories are told tastefully without too many details. This Bible would be appropriate for early elementary and above.
The Epic Bible by Kingstone Media Group, Inc.
The Epic Bible is the Bible in comic book form. This unique children’s Bible is a good one for elementary aged kids. I love how the Kingstone Media Group has created a Bible in a format that appeals to kids who are interested in comic books. With illustrations by comic book artists from DC and Marvel, the visual appeal of this book is amazing! The text in the Epic Bible is adapted from the New Living Translation.
One Big Store: Bible Stories in 5 Minutes by B&H Kids Editorial Staff
One Big Store: Bible Stories in 5 Minutes covers several key Bible stories with engaging text and cute pictures. My favorite thing about this book is that there is a Christ Connection at the end of each story that connects the story to the Gospel. If you are familiar with the The Gospel Project For Kids curriculum used in some children’s ministries (one of my favorite children’s ministry curriculum of all time), you will recognize that this Bible book is similar to that curriculum. One Big Store: Bible Stories in 5 Minutes also has an interactive app feature that corresponds to each of the stories!
VeggieTales Bible Storybook by Cindy Kenney
The VeggieTales Bible Storybook features key Bible stories with that very fun VeggieTales twist. Bob and Larry introduce each story (similar to the old VeggieTales shows) and then retell the Bible story as a VeggieTales modern parable. Following each VeggieTale retelling of the story, the real Bible story from the NIrV is included. Finally, each story finished with Bob and Larry helping kids connect the Bible story to their own lives (and seeing how it relates to the problem presented in the opening). The VeggieTales Bible Storybook gives kids a chance to see how the Bible can relate to real-life problems and how these true stories might look in a modern context.
Lift the Flap Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
I’ve mentioned how much my kids love lift the flap books and this Bible fits right into that category! Perfect for babies and toddlers, the Lift the Flap Bible tells several key Bible stories with lots of opportunities for kids to lift the flaps and reveal extra details. Each story is only a few sentences long and is presented with cartoon-style illustrations on a two-page spread. Short, sweet, and interactive, the Lift the Flap Bible is a fun way to introduce little ones to God’s Word.
Two-Minute Bible Stories by Elena Pasquali
Two-Minute Bible Stories is another Bible storybook that is perfect for younger listeners. Each story is only a few pages long and can be read in two minutes (hence the title). The pictures are colorful and kid-friendly and the text is simplified for younger preschool and below. This book contains ten well-known Bible stories from both the Old and New Testaments in chronological order.
Best-Loved Bible Stories by Dave & Neta Jackson
Best-Loved Bible Stories is an older children’s Bible first published in 1978. I was pleasantly surprised to find how engaged my kids were with this children’s Bible. Each story is a two-page spread with text on the left-side and a classic illustration on the right-side. The illustrations are from various artists and are in the old-time style of Biblical illustrations of the mid 1900s. Best-Loved Bible Stories contains over 70 stories from the Old and New Testaments. The text is closer to a real Bible, but is simplified for older children. Each story ends with “Something to Think About” including a few questions to help kids connect to the story. If you are looking for a Bible that is less of a storybook and more of a child-friendly Bible retelling, Best-Loved Bible Stories would be a good one to try. Good for early elementary aged listeners or mature preschoolers.
Let’s Get Reading!
I love to introduce my kids to a wide variety of children’s Bibles and the list above contains all our favorites! Allowing our kids to hear the Bible told and illustrated in different ways gives them a more robust understanding of each of the stories. Happy Reading!