Here is a list of Bibles and other resources that I (and my marriage and family therapist wife) think are the most essential for the healthy spiritual formation of children. Some have directly to do with faith, while others will help families navigate the road of helping children grow through their various stages of development. But all have love at the center! The list is hardly comprehensive, so if you have need for more information on a particular topic, challenge or life stage, please ask! (We truly want to help your family to be happy, healthy and rooted in the love of God.)
By using the links below, a small percentage of your purchase will go to support Jesus at 2AM.
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
This is the Bible Canvas gives to every young child (up to 1st grade). It covers most of the traditional stories we teach our youngest children and does so with a loving voice and wonderful illustrations. It's not perfect, but far and away the best I've found. For those looking for a first telling of the biblical story, this book will make excellent story-before-bed reading!
NIrV Adventure Bible for Early Readers pub. Zonderkidz
This is the Bible we give to our 2nd-6th graders at Canvas. It is a full translation of scripture in language young readers can grasp. Additionally, it has all sorts of helpful notes, illustrations and sidebars and such that keep it interesting. It's a wonderful tool to use for family Bible study or as a conversation starter!
Live NLT (Bible) pub. Tyndale Group
This is the Bible Canvas gives to our junior-highers - the age group for which it was specifically created. It contains study notes, insights and sidebar discussions that help make the Bible relevant to teens, and the editors offer pretty solid wisdom for some of the most difficult years of life. Getting kids to read the Bible at this age is tough! But if any Bible can do it, I think this is the one.
NIV Study Bible pub. Zondervan
As you probably know, there are about a jillion Bibles aimed at high-schoolers, and I love none of them. Most are cheesy and have insights that are driven by a particular cultural or theological agenda. Blech! Instead, I much prefer this - a legit study Bible with quality study notes, book introductions, maps, etc. Canvas kids receive one when they start 9th grade. Yes, the NIV is a flawed translation, but the study notes more than atone, and I think we should treat teens with the intellectual respect of giving them a true study Bible. If you can get them to go to a Bible study, this is a great resource for it!