Selecting Bibles for Elementary Children
by Carol F. Krau

Many churches give Bibles to their third graders in the fall. Boys and girls in the middle elementary grades have generally developed their reading skills well enough to enjoy reading. In addition, they have developed the skills used in classifying information. Therefore, it is an appropriate time for children to learn the books of the Bible, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and other categories of biblical information. They enjoy playing games that help them learn to use the Bible and memorize Bible verses. Churches that recognize this growth and development of children can help boys and girls develop a lifelong habit of Bible study by presenting them with their very own Bibles.

In the past few years, several publishers have produced a variety of Bibles especially for children. Leaders need to be clear about what they want when they purchase gift Bibles for children. Consider these issues:

• Do you want to purchase Bibles that can be used in the classroom as well as at home? Classroom use will emphasize study, so you may choose a Bible on the basis of accuracy and faithfulness to the original texts. Home use may focus on encouraging reading, so you may choose a Bible with a reading level that is appropriate for third graders.
• Which Bible translation is used in your children's Sunday school curriculum? If you choose a Bible on the basis of the reading level of your children, you may also want to purchase several versions of the Bible used in your curriculum materials for use in the classroom.
• How easily can children understand the vocabulary and grammar of the translation?
• What kind of Bible study helps are included?
• Is the Bible a translation or a paraphrase? A paraphrase will generally be easier to understand, but for study purposes it is not as accurate as a translation.
• Is the version organized by chapters and verses or in paragraphs like a story? If you choose a Bible with chapters and verses, children will develop the skills in using the Bible that they will need as youth and adults for study and worship. Bibles with a paragraph format are easier for children to read.
• Do you want to give children a Bible that they will use throughout their lives or a Bible to use while they are elementary aged?

The reading levels of many current translations of the Bible are:

New Revised Standard Version: 8th grade
New International Version: 7th grade
King James Version: 8th and 9th grades
New Century Version: 5th grade
Contemporary English Version: 5th grade
Today's English Version (Good News Bible): 7th grade
New American Standard Version: 11th grade
The Living Bible (paraphrased): 8th grade

Most children's Bibles include a presentation page, full-color maps, a Bible dictionary, and full-color illustrations. Many include a timeline of biblical events and pages that group women in the Bible, men in the Bible, the parables of Jesus, the miracles of Jesus, or other biblical information.

Some children's Bibles include pages to record information about the child's family and church. Most children's Bibles come in hardcover and soft-cover; some come in leather. For information about particular children's Bibles, contact Carol Krau (ckrau@gbod.org) at the General Board of Discipleship or your local Cokesbury or Christian bookstore.

Carol Krau (ckrau@gbod.org) is the director of teacher/leader development in Christian education for the General Board of Discipleship. Her article first appeared in the September 1994 issue of Interpretermagazine (published by United Methodist Communications). It has been revised and expanded, and it is used with permission.

Originally posted in August 1999


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