5 Great Bibles for children

Long after bedtime, a light flashed from my kids’ room. I found my third grader reading under the covers with a flashlight.

“But Moooom! I’m reading the Bible! Don’t you want me to learn about Jesus?!” she protested when I told her it was time for lights out. 

I had to laugh. It was hard to argue with that. She still had to go to sleep, but I really am happy she loves reading the Bible so much!

A good children’s Bible is a wonderful way for children to learn the Bible stories and immerse themselves in God’s Word. 

These Bibles are some of our favorites. They are great to have in your classroom, in your home, in your parish center or school library, or anywhere kids are hanging out.   

The first distinctly Catholic story Bible tells the entire story of salvation history. This heirloom-worthy book includes beautiful illustrations, quotes from the voices of the Church, and incredible connections between the Old and New Testament. (Here’s our full review!)

The simple texts of this engaging Bible convey the beauty and richness of Scripture for young readers. Vivid illustrations and historical and cultural insights bring to life the great people, places, and events in God’s Word.

You might be familiar with the Bible Timeline system used by Fr. Mike Schmitz for his Bible in a Year podcast. This same color-coded system is used in this book to help children ages 8-12 understand the greatest story of all time. 

This book features 70 stories chosen to capture the story of salvation history from Adam and Eve to Christ and the Apostles, bringing to life the stories of Biblical heroes like Abraham, Moses, David, and the Blessed Virgin Mary come alive. 

It turns out that putting the Bible into graphic novel form makes it super interesting for kids! This book is the most complete picture Bible with more than 230 fast-paced narratives, making it easy to follow the Bible's historical flow and building up to the thrilling climax of God’s redemptive story.

While my older children love this book, some of the illustrations are fairly gory, so it may be best for readers ages 8 and up.

This book is more old-fashioned, but a solid pick for a chronological and faithful telling of the narrative of Scripture. The stories are told with much of the Bible’s own language and complemented by 290 beautiful black and white engravings.