If I consider my home a mission field, then the Bible should be my foundation.
It’s not just a habit to check off every day. And it’s not just another book sitting on my bookshelf. The Living Word of God is literally shaping me in motherhood, it’s shaping my marriage, our discipleship, our homeschool, and our children’s eternity. That’s why one of the best investments we can ever make is not curriculum or organizational systems, but the Word of God.
As a Christian homeschool mom, I’ve learned that having the right Bible for each stage in my child’s development really does matter. Not every Bible works for every age, and not every season of motherhood needs the same tools and resources. So today I’m sharing Bibles that I personally recommend for moms and kids ranging from preschool ages to upper elementary. These are ones that we’ve used and loved and would confidently recommend in a gospel centered home like ours.
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Bibles for Mom
I’m going to start with bible recommendations for us moms because we can’t pour from an empty cup. What good would it do for us to find the perfect Bible for our kids and not have one ourselves? Depending on the season I find myself in, I’ve learned that I might need more than one Bible at a time. I’ve used study bibles, journaling bibles and even devotional bibles throughout many seasons of motherhood.
A Solid Study Bible
I believe every Christian should own a study Bible if they’re serious about growing in theology and understanding of the Scriptures. I always look for ones that have clear commentary, cross references, maps and timelines. Translation is also very important for me; my favorites are NKJV and ESV because they are the closest to literal translation compared to other ones. Watch this video if you’re interested in learning more about Bible translations.
This Woman’s Study Bible is by far my favorite. It includes book introductions and context, charts for deeper understanding of themes and concepts, quotes from faith filled women, study notes from women scholars, and so much more.
Find out more about it here.
A Journaling Bible
My Current Journaling Bible (also great for dads): Thomas Nelson NKJV, Journal the Word, Large Print, Premium Leather
My journaling Bible is the one I grab every morning during my quiet time. It has wide enough space for me to write notes, thoughts and prayers in the margins. This is my favorite Bible that I’ve ever owned. I love everything about it: the cover, the size, the simplicity of it. I will say that it is on the pricier side, but it’s money well spent. I’ve had it over two years and it’s still in great condition.
Find out more about it here.
My Very First Journaling Bible: NKJV, Journal the Word Bible
The cover on this one is absolutely beautiful!! It’s a hard cover and also has a good amount of space in the margins for journaling. Although I loved having this one, I ended up giving it away as gift to one of our former students, but I wouldn’t mind getting it again. I mean, just look at her!
Find out more about it here.
My First Well Loved Bible: CSB She Reads Truth Bible, Rose Gold
This next Bible is one I hold near and dear to my heart. It’s the first Bible I filled up with tons of study notes, thoughts, and prayers. It’s the first Bible that really helped me grow in my faith and understanding of the Word. The first one I used for deep Bible study’s. It currently sits on my bookshelf but I can’t wait for my children to be able to go through it and see everything I learned. This one contains devotionals and reading plans which are so so good!
Find out more about it here.
Bibles for Young Readers (Preschool to 2nd Grade)
Children in preschool to second grade don’t need Bible with commentary or any types of notes. They just need one with clarity, beautiful pictures, and simplicity. What they need is a gospel centered Storybook Bible that stays faithful to scripture. One that points clearly to Jesus and doesn’t turn these beautiful Bible stories into moral life lessons. Although a life lesson on being brave like David isn’t necessarily bad, we want our kids to be pointed to a God who is faithful, merciful, and all powerful. We do not, in any way, want the spotlight to be taken off of God himself.
The Jesus Storybook Bible
This Bible contain 44 Bible stories from the old and New Testament that shows how Jesus is central to Gods salvation story. It has beautiful pictures and references to the actual Scripture passages. It´s perfect for children aged 2-8 who are learning to read or just want to cuddle up with mom while she reads to them.
We actually own the Spanish version of this bible and we love it that it comes in our native language.
The Bible for Children from Good Books
This Bible, although I wouldn’t recommend for a child this age to try and read it on their own right away, it is another great option if you want to cuddle up and read to your kids. It has beautiful pictures and the stories align with the Bible itself. It contains 200 Bible stories from both the old and New Testament.
While both of these bibles are great options for younger children who depend on mom to read to them, I think they are also great for children that are starting to read independently. Having a Bible they can read on their own really does build their confidence.
Bibles for Independent Readers (3rd-5th Grade)
Now, this is where it gets a bit more exciting picking out a Bible for your older kids. Around this age, they’re reading independently so a full text Bible is a great option. Before I share the Bible I believe to be one of the best options for this age, I’d like to share a few things to consider before buying any kids Bible.
A Full Text Bible (Not Just Stories)
Choose a translation based on readability and understanding. For kids this age I would lean more towards ESV, CSB, NASB, and NKJV (depending on their level of comprehension). What matters most right now is that they are consistent in reading and have clarity when they do.
A Bible With Study Notes Helps Tremendously
The goal is to fall in love with the Word, not overwhelm them with it. Keep it simple but find a Bible that includes some sort of character study, book intros, and devotionals.
What To Look for in a Child’s Bible
1. Theology: make sure it aligns with your convictions and presents the gospel clearly.
2. Translation: you want to avoid any paraphrasing or summarizing of the Bible. It can be helpful in some circumstances but you want your child to grow familiar with the scriptures in their entirety.
3. Durability: hard cover is the way to go, in my opinion, especially when it’s used often.
4. Readability: good sized font and layout matter more than we care to think.
Adventure Bible For Kids
This is my absolutely favorite Bible for kids in upper elementary. It’s engaging, it’s loaded with little illustrations, facts and activities that make it fun get into the Word. I love that it comes in multiple different colors, designs and translations and it’s perfect for both boys and girls!
Having age appropriate Bibles in your home is so important if you’re wanting your children (and yourself) to get into the Word on a daily basis. If you´re just starting out with Bible reading, don´t overcomplicate it. Start with a solid Bible just for you, then bring in a gospel centered story Bible for your littles one and eventually, a full text Bible for when they´re reading independently and can comprehend what they are reading. The goal should never be to have the prettiest collection of Bibles, but to raise your children to know the voice of God, and that begins with time in the Word.
From one mom to another, keep opening up the Word. It never returns void!!
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