As a blogger, I may be compensated in some way (either pay, product, or experience) for sharing the post below All opinions are my own. ~Heidi

If you’ve stopped by much this year, it’s likely that you’ve read at least one Bible review. I’ve had the opportunity to check out several new Bibles – some my family is using in our daily Bible study, some I’ve passed along to friends, still others I am saving to share with children who don’t have Bibles. These Bibles would all make great gifts for those loved ones on your Christmas list.

Bibles for Little Ones

#1 – Read with Me Bible

The Read with Me Bible for Little Ones is the perfect storybook Bible for parents and young children to read together. Children can follow along with the engaging storytelling artwork and begin to read and recognize words with the easy to read language. This action-packed padded board book is a great way to share God’s Word with children as they begin their spiritual journey.

At first glance, you’ll notice that the cover of this Bible is bright and colorful – very eye-appealing for little ones.  It’s a hardcover, but it’s the padded type that is so easy for little ones to hold.  

It’s small in size so it’s not as heavy as some Bibles for older kids.  (It’s approximately 5×7″ in size.)

The pages are board pages, so they won’t be easily ripped or torn out of the book.  There are only 32 pages, so it’s not too thick; but is really, in my opinion, just right.  

Stories covered are:

• Creation
• Noah’s Ark
• David & Goliath
• Jonah
• Jesus’ Birth
• Jesus’ Teaching
• Jesus Calms the Storm
• Jesus Goes to Heaven

The illustrations inside are bright and colorful, just like the cover.  Text is written in a nice font (similar to a comic sans) and appears in white bubbles.  Little ones will be able to read along after hearing these (short) stories a time or two.

Matthew 19:14 says:

but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Little ones are never too little to be introduced to the Scriptures.  I’d recommend purchasing this one (cover price is only $9.99) for a little one in your life.  

#2 – The Beginner’s Bible – King James Version

Guess what?  The Beginner’s Bible isn’t just for preschoolers anymore! Now available in full-text versions (both KJV and NIrV are available), this new Bible is a large print, full-text Bible in the traditional King James Version, featuring 20 full-color tip-in pages of art from the bestselling storybook The Beginner’s Bible®.

The large print makes this Bible appealing to little readers. No other notes are included on the pages, so it’s not distracting.

There are brief summaries of each book at the beginning, along with an outline of the book. 

This would make a great first full-text Bible for any little one in your life.

Bibles for Elementary-Aged Kids

#3 – Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible for Kids

The Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible for Kids, NIVincludes the complete New International Version (NIV) of the Bible along with devotions, prayers, and highlighted verses to help kids pray and listen for God’s answers to their prayers. Features include:

• Presentation page for personalization and gift giving.
• Devotions about people who prayed and listened to God such as Abraham, Hannah, and Job.
• The Lord’s Prayer explained for kids.
• The “hand” prayer model to help kids remember to pray for others and themselves.
• Highlighted verses great for memorization and meditation.
• Book introductions explain what each book of the Bible is about.
• Prayer journaling pages with space to record personal prayers and answers to prayer.
• Reading plans.
• Complete text of the New International Version (NIV).

I love this Bible!  I grew up reading (and memorizing) the NIV version; so, despite the fact that I’m now primarily using the ESV, the NIV has a special place in my heart and I believe it’s a bit easier for children to understand.  

Here are just some of my favorite features about this Bible:

I love the cover with the big, bold colors and lettering.  It’s pretty obvious, even from first glance, that it’s a Bible!

I love book introduction pages in Bibles, and this one contains a nice, full-page intro to each bookof the Bible.  Each introduction page includes answers to these questions:

• Who wrote this book?
• Why was this book written?
• What do we learn about God in this book?
• Who are the key people in this book?
• When did this happen?
• Where did this happen?
• What are some of the stories in this book? (answer contains a list and references)

Scattered throughout the Bible are Big Dreams Big Prayers devotionals for kids.  These contain a verse (or verses) of Scripture, followed by an application-type devotional.  They are kid-friendly.  They encourage kids to think about their lives today and what they can be doing to be better Christians. 

There are a few full-color pages in this Bible that  contain things like instructions on using the Bible, the 10 Commandments for kids, the Lord’s Prayers, an easy guide to prayer based on the 5-finger method, and the ABC’s of becoming a Christian. These are handy-dandy reference sheets that are applicable and easy to find.

The back of the Bible contains some great extra resources:

• Topical Index (so if a child wants to look up a certain Biblical figure or a specific topic, it’s easy to find)
• Devotions Index, with a complete list of all the devotions within the text
• 3 different readings plans: a 2-week introduction to the Bible, a 180-day guided tour of the Bible, and a 3-year plan that covers every word in the Bible
• Pages for recording prayers and answers to prayer

If there’s a young person in your life who needs a Bible, this is one that I would highly recommend.  It’s available online at various retailers, and wherever Bibles are sold.  

#4 – NIrV Kids Devotional Bible

Complete with a year’s worth of devotions, the Kids’ Devotional Bible, NIrV will help children develop a habit they’ll want to keep. Engaging weekday devotions, fun weekend activities, interesting illustrations, and a dictionary make this a Bible they’ll want to read and apply to their lives. It includes the complete New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)—the stepping stone to the NIV—making it easier for young readers to read and understand.

Features include:

• Short weekday devotions that help young readers apply Bible lessons for a full year.
• 52-weekend devotions that teach kids about God’s creation through fun activities like visiting the zoo and gazing at the stars.
• “Got It” feature that encourages kids to find answers to Bible trivia themselves.
• Book introductions that give helpful information about each book of the Bible.
• A dictionary to look up words they want to know more about.
• The complete NIrV text, which uses shorter sentences and easier words. Kids can read this Bible on their own!  

The cover says “over 300 devotionals” because Saturday & Sunday are together, and then there is a devotional for each individual weekday of the year. The devotionals are short and easy to read as well as being applicable to kids. Each one concludes with an “ask yourself” question to get kids thinking beyond the devotional.  There is also a checkbox to check once you have read the devotional.  

I would think any 4th-6th grader would be thrilled to own this Bible. 

Bibles for Teens

#5 – NIV Bible for Teen Girls

Today’s teen girl needs reassurance that no issue is too big for God.  The NIV Bible for Teen Girls, designed specifically for girls ages 13 to 18, will do just that.  This Bible is packed with daily readings, highlighted promises of God, challenging insights, smart advice, and open discussions about the realities of life.  This Bible is designed to help teen girls grow in faith, hope, and love.  It is as sincere about a teen girl’s walk with God as they are, helping them discover his will for all areas of their life, including relating to their family, dealing with friends, work, sports, guys, and so much more.  

Features:

• DAILY READINGS by popular Christian female authors including Bethany Hamilton (Soul Surfer), Annie Downs, Christine Caine, Nicole Weider, Elsa Kok Colopy, Crystal Kirgiss, Bekah Hamrick Martin, Denise Van Eck, and more
• CHARACTER PROFILES of women in the Bible
• BOOK INTRODUCTIONS for each book of the Bible
• HIGHLIGHTED PROMISES OF GOD are verses worth remembering
• A CONCORDANCE for help in finding verses
• The bestselling NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) of the Bible 

Do you see that cover?!  When I pulled this Bible out of the package for the first time, I was immediately attracted to it.  The colors are just perfect and the design – with those little birds at the top – well, I think it’s just adorable.  

Then, you open the Bible and the features are so cool!  

I really love the Daily Readings by popular Christian girls/ladies.  They are so encouraging and seem to meet teen girls right where they are by focusing on topics that they are dealing with in everyday life.  Just skimming through the Bible, I found readings on things like sex, friendship, self-centeredness, the end times, purity, and your daily Christian walk.  

The character profiles on women in the Bible are really cool too.  I love history and reading about people from the past, so this extra feature was really neat to me.  For each women featured, it shares a verse about her, tells what her name means, gives the passages of Scripture where you can read more about her story, and then describes her in such a way that you can apply it to your daily lives.  

Another feature that I find very important to have in any Bible is the introductions to each book of the Bible.  In the NIV Bible for Teen Girls, these pages tell when the book takes place, lists famous names of people who are featured in the book (for example, for the book of Luke, this list includes Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, Jesus, the shepherds, Anna, Simeon, and Zacchaeus), shares a few “verses you might recognize,” and then tells what the book is about.  

Throughout the Bible, there are verses highlighted in pink that are considered verses worth remembering.  Many of these match up with the daily readings as well. 

When I graduated from high school, I received a copy of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance from my church.  To this day, I treasure that concordance and refer to it often.  I love having a concordance in the back of my Bible also because these serve as quick references when you’re away from home. 

I grew up on the NIV and most of the verses that I’ve committed to memory over the years are from the NIV translation.  For that reason, while I often find myself using the ESV these days, the NIV holds a very special place in my heart.  

If you have a teen girl in your life, I would highly recommend checking out this Bible for her!  I received the hardback version (described and pictured above), but this Bible is also available in pink or turquoise imitation leather (also very pretty!)

My teenager isn’t a very “girly girl” but I asked her to take a look at this Bible.  Her first impression was also very positive.  She said she really liked the layout and the features of it.  Though it’s filled with lots of pink throughout, it didn’t seem to turn her off.  In fact, when I went to write this review, I had to go in search of the Bible and found her using it, on her bed, to complete her schoolwork.  So, in other words, this Bible is pretty versatile and will please most teen girls, despite their tastes.

#6 – NIV Holy Bible for Girls (Journal Edition)

The NIV Holy Bible for Girls, Journal Edition is the perfect way to apply Scripture to your everyday life. Designed with the thoughtful writer in mind, a whimsical cover and journaling lines inspire reflection in God’s Word. This Bible contains the full text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV) translation. 

Features include:

• Lines on each page for journaling and notes
• Thick paper perfect for any writing utensil
• A presentation page for gift giving
• A “How to Use This Bible” page to get started on the right foot
• Ribbon marker
• The complete text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV)

This Bible is so beautiful that, when I first received it, I had a temptation to keep this one for myself. Sure, it says “for girls” on the removable cardboard jacket, but it’s not listed anywhere else. So, I think the word “girls” here simply means female, in general. You have to admit, that is one gorgeous Bible. I love the colors and design on the cover. I also love that it has an elastic strap to hold it closed.

I can’t be selfish; I already have TWO journaling Bibles, so it wouldn’t be right to keep this one for myself also. But, I do love the fact that this Bible has a single-column text and contains the wide borders for doing Bible journaling (whether you are taking notes in church or while you do your devotions or you prefer the fancier Bible journaling). 

Any girl in your life, whether 13 or 93, is going to love and appreciate this Bible.  My journaling Bibles have becomes keepsakes to look back on, and this Bible will be that as well. 

#7 – NIV Bible for Teen Guys

The NIV Bible for Teen Guys, designed specifically for guys ages 13 to 18, is for real teenage guys with real lives. Packed with daily readings, highlighted promises of God, challenging insights, smart advice, and open discussion about the realities of life, this Bible is designed to help teen guys grow in their faith. The NIV Bible for Teen Guys is as serious about your walk with God as you are, helping you discover his will for all areas of your life, including relating to your family, dealing with friends, work, sports, girls, and so much more.

Features include:

• Daily readings for teen guys by popular Christian male authors (Mark Batterson, Kyle Idleman, Mark Hall, Max Lucado, and more)
• Character profiles of men in the Bible
• Book introductions for each book of the Bible
• Highlighted promises of God: verses worth remembering
• A concordance for help in finding verses
• The complete text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV) of the Bible

I don’t know about you, but I think it’s more difficult to find Bibles (and other things) that are specifically designed for teen guys. So, I was glad when this guys version of the Bible for Teen Girls that I shared above became available. A few years ago, I was teaching a teen Sunday School class at church and wanted to purchase Bibles for two of the kids who were graduating from my class. I had no problem finding a good one for the girl, but I had a bit more of a challenge finding one I liked for the guy. I wish this Bible had been available when I was looking. 

The devotionals throughout this Bible are appropriate for teen guys. They’re written by some of my favorite Christian men, like Max Lucado, Mark Hall, and Mark Batterson. They’re quick and easy reads, but they get to the point.

Another really neat feature in this Bible is the character profiles. Each one gives the meaning of the man’s name, where you can read his story in Scripture, and a bit more about it. Honestly, I had fun sitting and reading these profiles myself.

If you have a teen guy in your life, I’d highly recommend this Bible as a gift for him.

Bibles for Adults

#8 – ESV Men’s Devotional Bible

Our world presents daily distractions that can easily displace Christ as the center of a man’s heart and life. The goal of the ESV Men’s Devotional Bible is to strengthen and encourage men through the life-giving Word of God and sound devotional content aimed at nurturing godliness.

With 365 theologically rich and gospel-centered devotions drawn directly from the Bible, this all-new resource was created under the editorial oversight of Dr. Sam Storms with contributions from over fifty Christian leaders. Introductions orient men to each book of the Bible, exploring its unique contribution to a man’s walk with God. Thoughtful and instructive articles address the importance of sound doctrine, life in the local church, leadership, the heart, calling, and a host of other relevant issues for today.

The Men’s Devotional Bible will strengthen men in their walk with Christ, helping them apply the gospel and the truth of God’s Word in their homes, churches, and workplaces.

Features:

• 365 brand-new devotions
• Brand-new book introductions
• 14 brand-new articles 
• Dictionary of key terms
• Ribbon marker
• Smyth-sewn binding
• Lifetime guarantee on TruTone edition
• Packaging: slipcase (TruTone), L-card (HC), permanent slipcase (Cloth over Board)

Retail Price: $34.99 for the Hard Cover, and $49.99 for the TruTone.

 

Well, clearly this is a Bible for MEN and I’m NOT a man. So, I presented it to my husband, Brian, who has been using the same Bible ever since we were dating and I gifted him with a leather-bound NIV Study Bible with his name engraved on the front.  Despite keeping it in a Bible cover for the past several years, that Bible has really seen better days.  The cover is falling off!  So, I thought it was high time to get used to a new Bible, and the ESV is the version we use at church, so it seemed like a good fit.  

We received the Hard Cover version.  Inside it’s a basic two-column format with what I would consider to be about the perfect font size (very easy to read).  

Each book of the Bible is introduced by telling the author, a bit of background on the book, the key theme, and then how the book ties in with a man’s heart.  I like that; it’s a way to bring the Bible to life TODAY and apply it to your life.  

The 365 Daily Devotions are scattered throughout the Bible.  If this were MY Bible, that would be a feature that I wouldn’t really appreciate.  I don’t like reading through a book (or even an article in a magazine) and having it be broken up with something other than the storyline.  I’d probably prefer to have all the devotional entries together in the front or back of the Bible (or, truthfully, in a separate book altogether).  But, let’s remember here, that this is a Bible for a man, and not for me!  Brian didn’t complain about that feature at all!  But, because of that, I’d say that this is a Bible more for use at home, for daily devotions, than one that you will want to take to church with you each week, where you might be distracted from the pastor’s sermon by reading the devotional thoughts.  

This Bible would make a nice gift for a man in your life and will be a good fit for any age.  

#9 – KJV Homeschool Moms Bible

Heartfelt Inspiration to Revive, Encourage, and Strengthen the Homeschooling Mom

If you’re on an airplane, you’re instructed, in the event of a loss of cabin pressure, to put on your own oxygen mask before helping your child. The reason? If you don’t have a supply of oxygen, you won’t be able to help anyone else.

The same is true for the rest of life: you can’t give what you don’t have. And as a homeschooling mom, you pour yourself out every day for the sake of your children. Yet how do you fill yourself up? Where do you get your spiritual oxygen?

Now you can be filled and restored by the original Bible for homeschool moms—with a full year’s worth of encouraging daily devotions placed alongside the beloved text of the King James Bible. These heartfelt, practical readings written by Janet Tatman, a former homeschooling mom, cover topics such as finding strength to keep motivated, avoiding burnout, staying focused and committed, navigating the needs of toddlers while educating siblings, managing schedules, delegating tasks and chores, setting boundaries, and most importantly, maintaining proper soul care while juggling educational and household responsibilities.

The words of these devotions will breathe life into your soul so that you can successfully run the race.

Features:

• 365 daily meditations with prayers written by Janet Tatman, a veteran homeschooling mother with more than 25 years of experience homeschooling
• The full text of the classic King James Version (KJV) Bible
• Foreword from Vickie Farris, author, homeschool mom, and wife of Michael Farris, founder of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association
• Topical index

I found this Bible for ME while on the search for a KJV Bible for Ian for school. The picture is just the cover that was around the Bible – the Bible itself is a light blue imitation leather. 

I have TONS of Bibles in this house in many different translations. I didn’t NEED another one. I picked this one up and actually put it back down. But, I couldn’t put it out of my mind, so I went back and put it in my cart with Ian’s Bible. I think God was nudging me to buy it. I keep it right on my desk and read one of the devotionals (which are dated) each morning before Ian gets up and comes down for school. The devotionals are encouraging for a homeschool mom. 

In January, I plan to take this one step further and use the KJV as my version of choice for doing my Daily Scripture writing. This year, I’ve been using the ESV and many of the Scriptures verses that I’ve committed to memory over the years have been from the NIV (which is what we used in the school I attended).  It will be nice to go “old school” next year; and it will also be nice to be using the same version that Ian is using for his lessons. 

If you’re a homeschool mom looking for daily encouragement (or you know a homeschool mom), definitely take a look at this one – it’s available as a hardback and  in NIV as well.

#10 – NIV Wonders of Creation Holy Bible

The NIV Wonders of Creation Holy Bible explores the wonders of our created world through detailed black-and-white illustrations—each one ready to be filled with the hues of your imagination. From amazing Eden-esque gardens to the creatures God made, this Bible features over 50 ready-to-color pages alongside the full text of the New International Version (NIV) translation.

Features include:

• Beautiful cover with foil makes for a stunning gift
• Over 50 pages of black-and-white illustrations ready to be colored
• Key verses called out on each coloring page
• The full text of the bestselling New International Version translation
• Presentation page for gift giving
• Ribbon marker

Pretty much everyone has jumped on the adult coloring book bandwagon by now. This Bible combines the best of both worlds – it’s the full-text NIV Version of the Bible, but scattered throughout are beautiful pictures to color. The pictures include Scripture as well.

Buy this Bible for your coloring-loving  friend or for someone who could use a bit of rest and relaxation. Grab a nice pack of colored pencils to go along with it. It’s sure to be a hit! 

So, there you have it – my top 10 Bible choices for 2016.

I hope you’ll find something for you or a loved one. These Bibles are available wherever Bibles are sold. If you click on the links above, it will take you to Amazon.com. Clicking these links will give me a tiny percentage of your purchase, and would be very much appreciated.