NKJV Early Readers Bible Hardcover – May 29, 2018

by Thomas Nelson (Author)

Age Range: 7 - 10 years

Grade Level: 2 - 3

Hardcover: 1184 pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 29, 2018)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1400309115

ISBN-13: 978-1400309115

Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches

This is a regular Bible, not a kid Bible with kid versions of the stories. The big difference between this early readers Bible and an adult Bible is the collection of extra materials. This is where a kid Bible shows its worth.

First the good:
Lots of charts
Devotional charts
Maps
Chronological Charts
There are many good pictures that kids will like and I especially liked the comparative chart between secular history and Biblical history.

The font is dark and readable, and as I said, it's the Bible. The NKJV is a good translation and accessible to young readers although I do think the NLRV is better because it breaks up those long run-on sentences (especially in Paul's writings) that can confuse new readers.

I do question why some pictures and charts are in the wrong place. I know the editors probably think those pictures aren't in the wrong place but it seems to me that if one is going to do charts of something, it might be best to place the charts near the passages of Scripture they pertain to. Why have charts of Israelite feasts in the middle of the book of Kings? And some of the pictures and charts seem to be perfunctory filler.

Unfortunately, although this is a well-made Bible with many informative charts and pictures, the information contained in some of the kid-friendly articles is sometime unhelpful. They often seem to think they are teaching kids what the Bible is about but they are still preaching to the choir, a very denominational sin-focused choir.

For instance, in the article called How To Study the Bible, it doesn't even explain the basics. And by "basics," I mean, it doesn't tell the new Bible reader that the numbers at the side of the Bible texts are verse numbers. Sorry, I used to be a Sunday School teacher in both an Episcopal and a Charismatic setting and one would be amazed at what kids don't know. Some of these articles should have been written by working Sunday School teachers. And as I said earlier, it is very intent on telling the reader the Bible is all about various sins and how not to fall into those sins.

On the whole, this is a good little Bible. For the information it packs in, it isn't heavy and it feels good in the hand. I received this book free from the publisher and this is a voluntary review.