Kids Bible Buying Guide for 2025
I frequently see questions about what kind of Bible to get kids. When I originally wrote this post 10 years ago, my son was just a baby. While I’ve been in kidmin for over 15 years, seeing what actually engages a kid at home brings a different perspective.
While there may not be perfect Bible out there for your kids, some are certainly better than others. It can be confusing with so many different translations and Bible types. I want to help you make the best decision possible.
Pick the Right Translations
Before 1973 there weren't a lot of options out there. You read King James Version (KJV) or do your own translating. Thankfully, Zondervan put out the New International Version (NIV) and turned the Bible world up on its head. Now, there are hundreds of versions ranging from old school KJV to paraphrases like The Message by Eugene Peterson. Which one is right for your kids? It really depends on their reading ability and comprehension; however, there are a few versions that have stood out to me in the past few years. They are:
New International Version (NIV)
English Standard Version (ESV)
New International readers Version (NIrV)
New Living Translation (NLT)
I've used each version kidmin. Each is much easier to understood than a more scholarly translation like the New American Standard Bible (NASB). However the ESV is the hardest for kids to read because it’s written on an eleventh grade level. Let me show you what I mean. Here's John 3:16 in
ESV, NIrV, NLT, and KJV.
ESV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
NIrV
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.
NLT
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
As you can see each version is similar. The NIrV is written on a third grade level and is easy to understand for younger readers. While many churches prefer ESV or my personal favorite NIV, these are not as easy for kids to grasp.
The NLT is very different but also very approachable for all ages. If you really want to go with KJV, be prepared to answer a lot of questions. Both you and the reader could end your time with God's Word in frustration.
Two Kinds of Kid’s Bibles
While there is a type of Bible for every walk of life. There are really only two types of Bibles for kids, storybook and whole text.
Storybook Bibles
Storybook Bibles are great for young kids, especially preschoolers and early elementary. They tell the big stories of the Bible with lots of pictures and a few words. These Bibles are great because they gloss over the PG-13 and R rated portions of the Bible allowing kids to safely develop a love for God's word. There are several on the market today, but here are three I can recommend.
The Bible App for Kids Storybook Bible
Made by the people who brought us the Bible App and the Bible App for Kids, YouVersion has taken all the stories found in their app and put them in book form. If your kids love to use the Bible App for Kids, this is a good first version for them. You can get this on Amazon for $22.99. Your pastor may be able to get them cheaper for you. As of this writing, it’s on sale for $12.99.
The Jesus Story Book Bible
This storybook Bible comes highly recommended in kidmin circles for young children. It uses over 40 Bible stories to point to the centrality of Jesus throughout the Old and New Testament. Parents will love it for it’s focus on Jesus and kids will love it for it’s engaging illustrations and easy-to-read stories. You can get it from Amazon for $13.06 and other book retailers.
The Action Bible
This comic book style Bible is good for older kids with 215 stories from the Bible told in chronological order. This Bible is good for elementary kids. They learn how their favorite Bible stories fit into God's story presented in exciting and contemporary ways. You can buy The Action Bible from Amazon for $32.99 and many other retailers. At the time of this writing it’s on sale for $14.99 on Amazon. There is also an Action Study Bible for $34.99 on sale for $19 that is whole text with pictures designed specifically for preteens.
My 10 year old son used the Bible App for Kids and The Action Bible. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Action Bible because I was in favor of Whole Bibles. But now that I have a 10 year old, I see the value of the comic book style. He reads it regularly.
Whole Text Bibles
Whole text Bibles are good for fourth graders and above. Many of topics covered in church and at home won't consist of only stories, but of actual scriptures. This is also a great time for kids to start memorizing scripture, which is far easier in whole text.
There are still a lot of topics covered in the Bible that are not age appropriate. So, whatever devotional time is spent should be supervised by a parent. There is plenty of content to study without getting into the nitty gritty of the Song of Solomon or the litany of laws in Leviticus. In addition, kids will be able to follow along in church far easier. Many teachers will give the chapter and verse as well as the name of the Bible story when they begin. I've watched many kids struggle to find the right story in their storybook Bibles only to give up in frustration.
I used to recommend whole Bibles for kids as young as kindergarten, but the reading level just isn’t there. Kids will bring their Bible to church, but they won’t engage with it outside of service. It’s good for them to have one, but a even if they can't find the right story quickly, the storybook Bible is a good compliment. The amount of kid’s whole text Bibles out there seems endless, so here are my top three in no particular order.
The Hands on Bible by Group Publishing
This Bible is great because it gives things for kids to actually do with the scriptures. Each section has hands on activities for kids and families to apply what they have learned. This Bible uses the full NLT, which is great for kids and adults to understand. You can buy this from Amazon in paperback for $24.99 and is on sale for $17.85.
The Adventure Bible by Zonderkids Publishing
As it says on the packaging, this is the #1 Bible for kids. This Bible is packed with great additional content for kids to apply what they're reading. My favorite thing about this Bible is that it comes in NIV and NIrV, which makes buying the right version for your kid so much easier. They also have app integration to help kids memorize scripture. You can buy the NIrV from Amazon for $34.99 and currently on sale for $19.49.
The Fire Bible for Kids
I buy and give away this Bible the most. Mainly because it uniquely gives the Pentecostal perspective throughout its additional study guides. As a pastor at an Assemblies of God church, this is important to me and my parents. The Fire Bible comes in many versions. But the kids one only comes in NLT. It also has app integration to add further learning and interactivity throughout the reading. At the time of this writing, FireBible.org has a slightly imperfect version for $20 that has errors in the study notes in Matthew. Making it a lot cheaper than their regular Bibles.
My kids love to read and use this Bible and have spent hours poring over the pages using their smart device to find out what the next page holds. You can buy the kids version from Fire Bible and other versions from Amazon and My Healthy Church. Whatever Bible you choose, it's important that you model and even read the Bible with your kids. Someone once said, the best way to a kid’s heart is to get there first. By you reading it with them, your kids can develop of love of God's Word that can last a lifetime. Happy reading!
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