Best Children’s Bibles for Every Age Group, from Toddlers to Teens [2025]

One of the questions I get asked the most as the Editorial Director of Bible Gateway is about the best Bibles for kids — whether storybook Bibles for toddlers, beginner Bibles for elementary schoolers, or teen and student Bibles that speak to the unique challenges of that intense phase of life.

Even more so than with adult Study Bibles, I highly recommend getting Bibles that come with additional study and devotional material for these groups. As you know if you’re shopping for them, kids and teens come with a lot of questions. Research also shows younger generations are increasingly struggling with staying engaged and attentive while reading — and let’s face it, the Bible has a lot of words!

Bibles tailored to young people address these specific needs in creative ways:

• Storybook Bibles, designed for the picture book crowd, are retellings of the Biblical text, usually selected and abridged to appeal to toddler and preschool attention spans.
• Bibles for older children, teens, and “students” (which includes late high school and early college) often include fun themes, colorful sidebars, compelling commentary, engaging activities, and age-appropriate practical and spiritual advice. They are often based on “functional equivalence” (or thought-for-thought) Bible translations that are easier for developing readers to comprehend.

Altogether these make for a much more fruitful reading experience than plain, adult-tailored Bibles.

Scroll down or click the links for Kids’ Bibles, Teen/Student Bibles, and tips on how to pick the best Bible for the kids in your life — or jump right in with Storybook Bibles below.

Note: This article contains affiliate links, meaning Bible Gateway could earn a small commission if you make a purchase by clicking on one of the links below, at no extra cost to you.

Best Storybook Bibles for Toddlers and Early Childhood

Without further ado, here’s a list of the best Bible storybooks for young children. Unless otherwise noted, these are tailored roughly for kids ages 4-8 — though younger and older kids (and adults!) might enjoy them too.

Jesus Storybook Bible (2007): With over 6 million copies sold, this has been a massive bestseller for years (indeed, it has a whole cottage industry of associated resources). It’s easy to see why: it has a unique, vibrant illustration style, and each of its 44 stories makes specific allusions to Jesus, showing how the entire Bible both prepares for and connects back to him. It may not be as new and exciting as the other storybook Bibles on this list, but it’s proven to stand the test of time.

I Wonder: Exploring God’s Grand Story (2021): Written by popular Christian children’s author Glenys Nellist, this book features breathtakingly beautiful and lifelike illustrations. It’s a little on the short side with only 30 stories, but they’re “wonder”-fully told, and each one ends with a set of three “I wonder…” questions to get kids thinking and talking about the story’s meaning and relevance in their own lives. (Full disclosure, this has been my own kids’ favorite storybook Bible for years; they sometimes lose interest in other ones we’ve tried, but keep coming back to this.)

Adventure Bible Storybook (2009) / 5-Minute Adventure Bible Stories (2017): Based on the wildly bestselling Adventure Bible (see below), these storybook Bibles feature 33 stories with bright, colorful illustrations and fun interactive elements. Since they share those elements and animation styles with the full Adventure Bible, they set kids up for an easy transition to it as they age — not to mention to loads of other related resources, such as a sticker activity book and an early readers edition. (Note: these two books have identical content, presented in different formats.)

God’s Big Picture Bible Storybook (2024): Recommended for a slightly older crowd (ages 6-10), this storybook Bible comes from renowned (and prolific) New Testament scholar N.T. Wright. It includes a whopping 140 short stories (very short — one page each, along with a facing-page illustration). Its most unique feature is a neat story-link system: at the bottom of each story is a thumbnail and page number for other stories that “link up” with the one you’re reading — so you can almost turn it into a choose-your-own-adventure-style Bible study adventure.

Peace Table Storybook Bible (2023): Not to be outdone, this too offers 140 short Bible stories — but it also packs in a ton of unique features, including prayer prompts, reflection questions, and action ideas tied to each story. Best of all is a wealth of study Bible-style information at the back, including timelines, charts, maps, prayer guides, and “peacemaker” actions based on the Sermon on the Mount — all designed to help kids both understand the world of the Bible and grow closer to Jesus through deeper engagement with their faith. (Why don’t more kids’ Bibles have this stuff?)

Biggest Story Bible Storybook (2022): True to its name, this storybook Bible is huge, with 104 stories told across more than 500 pages! Boasting a unique, attractive art style and a ribbon bookmark to save your place (critical for such a big book), this Bible also connects to other resources such as a related short film. Its extensive format and tasteful presentation also help keep it appealing for longer than many other “picture book” Bibles, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth with this one.

I Can Read! My Illustrated Bible: For Beginning Readers, Level 1 (2020): A fantastic resource for beginning readers, this book includes 33 Bible stories told in large letters and short, simple sentences for kids to sound out on their own, plus cute, colorful pictures that accompany the words. It’s a great way to get kids excited about the Bible and their literacy skills at the same time.

Best Kids’ Bibles for Elementary and Middle Schoolers

Once kids are comfortable reading independently, it’s time to upgrade them to a real Bible. While storybook retellings are wonderful (for all ages), there’s ultimately no substitution for God’s Word.

All of these Bibles are recommended for kids roughly age 8-12 — but remember that kids’ reading levels develop very differently at this stage. It’s important to get them a Bible they are capable of engaging with, so they don’t end up discouraged and lose interest. Fortunately, there are tons of great options out there with fun themes and activities that draw kids into the joy and wonder of Scripture engagement.

Most of these Bibles are based on easy-to-read translations for all ages, such as the NIV, NLT, and CEB. NIrV is best for younger kids or slower learners, while NKJV, NASB, and NRSV Bibles are better for confident independent readers.

General Interest Kids’ Bibles

Adventure Bible — NIV/NKJV/NASB/NRSV* (NIrV for Early Readers) (2008): The most popular and beloved children’s Bible by a wide margin, the Adventure Bible revolutionized the whole concept when it burst onto the scene with an exciting theme, flashy colors, and tons of engaging sidebars that provide historical background, character bios, fun facts, and activities for practical application. With over 10 million copies sold across its wide-ranging series and availability in five English translations (and one in Spanish), the Adventure Bible truly is the #1 kids’ Bible in the world. (*Note: The NRSV edition has been retired in hardcopy, but remains available as an ebook. Hopefully, it will be replaced with an NRSVue edition before too long.)

NLT Go Bible (2024): For those who prefer the looser, more flexible NLT translation, the Go Bible is a new, award-winning kids’ Bible that focuses on the theme of transformation. That means both profiles of people whose lives were transformed by God, and guidance on how God can transform your life today. Like the Adventure and Deep Blue Bibles, the Go Bible is chock full of colorful illustrations and sidebars that help kids better understand what they’re reading, grow in their faith, and “go” share it with others.

CEB Deep Blue Bible (2013): The CEB is a unique translation that balances the latest academic research with an emphasis on natural-sounding modern language. The Deep Blue Bible extends this balance into a Bible tailored for kids who want to learn the basics of Bible scholarship while also applying it to their daily lives. In addition to informational guides, it includes reading challenges, theological concepts, and reflection prompts — all focused on inspiring lifelong character and faith formation for curious kids. (This is also one of the few options here, other than the Adventure Bible, that’s often used in mainline churches as well as evangelical ones.)

CSB Explorer Bible (2022): The CSB is a balanced, modern-sounding translation developed by the Southern Baptist Convention. As the name implies, the Explorer Bible brings kids into the world of the Bible by highlighting archaeological discoveries and historical time periods of the Bible, and how they relate to our own world. Even more unique is its “Christ in Context” sections that show how each book points directly to the Gospel of Jesus. It’s also available in the King James Version, which is a great option for more traditional families — though keep in mind that most kids will need help making sense of the old-fashioned English.

Special Interest Kids’ Bibles

NKJV Armor of God Bible (also in KJV) (2025): This is a brand-new and super cool kids’ Bible based on the spiritual “armor of God” that Paul names in Ephesians 6:10-18. It teaches kids the significance of each piece of armor — truth, righteousness, the Gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God — using hundreds of devotional and explanatory callouts to illuminate these essential principles. It’s a fun way for kids (especially kids who are into knights and swordfights and such) to explore the Bible and learn more about their faith.

NIV Kingdom Girls Bible (2024): Sometimes kids might start reading the Bible and feel like it’s full of important boys and only secondary girls. This Bible seeks to remedy that with great illustrations and profiles of 75 good (and not-so-good) female role models throughout its pages — from the famous (like Ruth and Mary) to the lesser-known but essential (like Lydia and Huldah) — plus prayer, art, music, and outdoor activities. It’s the perfect resource to help girls build faith and strength as they grow.

Action Bible (2010): You may have heard of this one; it was a runaway bestseller when it came on the scene and has only grown since. The Action Bible is a graphic-novel retelling of the Bible featuring 230 stories illustrated by a professional comic book artist, intended for kids (and adults) ages 8 and up. You can also get a simplified storybook version for littles, a devotional, coloring and activity books, and two study Bible editions with full Bible text in either NIV or ESV. The pictures are detailed and, as the name suggests, action-packed. If you have a kid who devours comic books but refuses to touch a novel, this is the perfect way to get them excited about the Bible.

CSB Grace Bible for Kids (Dyslexia Friendly) (2024): Created in partnership with 2K/DENMARK and Cambridge University, this is a carefully researched and crafted Bible specifically designed to enhance readability for kids with dyslexia and other reading challenges (an adult version is also available). It uses distinct letter forms; adds space between letters, words, lines, and paragraphs; and even includes 10 colored overlays to improve visual processing. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that most of these Bibles have, but it is a unique and absolutely indispensable resource for kids with dyslexia and other visual processing issues.

Best Teen and Student Bibles

The difference between “teen” (ages 13-18) and “student” (ages 14-20) Bibles is more about subject matter than age, and there’s a lot of overlap between them. Teen Bibles tend to focus more on the current, everyday-life concerns of modern teens, while student Bibles focus more on the historical and theological content of the Bible — but again, there’s no hard-and-fast rule for this.

Personal preference really starts to matter here — even more than for younger kids. Some teens might want a Bible that speaks to their personal experience as growing girls or boys. Others might feel just the opposite, and want something more focused on Biblical scholarship and theological concerns. Or they might want something in between.

NIV Bible for Teen Girls / Teen Guys (2016): These two Bibles help teens navigate their swiftly changing social, emotional, and spiritual lives. They have informational book intros, profiles of important Biblical figures, highlighted verses for memorization, and much more. Most unique are the daily reading commentaries by popular Christian authors, which provide personal insights and open discussion about life’s realities. These Bibles are about a decade old now, so the commentary isn’t quite up to date, but the unique format still helps them stand out from the crowd.

NIV True Images / Revolution Bible (2017): Like the NIV Bible for Teen Girls/Guys above, these are designed to help teenage girls (True Images) and boys (Revolution) navigate their everyday lives, confront cultural issues, and ultimately bring their faith to the world around them. They provide real, down-to-earth guidance on difficult issues facing today’s teens — from stress and self-harm to sex and relationships to social media — as well as encouragement to build a powerful, authentic faith through prayer, service, asking big questions, and of course reading the Bible.

ESV Teen Study Bible (2023): For theologically minded teens looking for a more rigorous Bible-reading experience, the ESV Teen Study Bible offers a more “formal” word-for-word translation and thousands of notes adapted from the ESV Concise Study Bible, plus daily devotions from The Story by Jon Nielson and the usual host of sidebars, introductions, maps, illustrations, and more. Also available for older (college-age) kids is the ESV Student Study Bible, which replaces most of the devotional elements of the teen Bible with additional information details about characters, key terms, cross-references, and more.

CEB Student Bible (2024): Intended for both high school and early college students, this Bible aims to make the latest Biblical scholarship accessible — while also inviting young disciples of Jesus into “both personal holiness and social holiness.” In lieu of study notes, it provides lengthy book introductions and hundreds of articles by both Biblical scholars and youth ministers that help kids explore the world of the Bible and engage with difficult topics. It also has group discussion questions for each book, and — maybe best of all for many kids — prayers and reflections written by their peers (rather than some stuffy grown-ups).

NLT Student Life Application Bible, Filament Enabled Edition (2023): Taking a different approach to balancing personal, daily-life teen Bibles and more academic ones, this award-winning Bible adapts the wildly popular Life Application Bible series for a high school and college-aged audience, providing informative explanations about the world and people of the Bible right alongside guides to putting its lessons into practice every day. But it’s not just a full-featured teen study Bible: it also includes full, lifetime access to the Filament Bible app with an astonishing array of study notes, videos, maps, graphics, articles, devotionals, and even worship music.

NIV Word for Word Bible Comics Series (ongoing): For kids who couldn’t get enough of the Action Bible, this graphic novel series is the clear next step. It doesn’t cut any corners: as its name implies, it’s adapting every word of the NIV translation of the Bible, with historically accurate images that “don’t shy away” from the Bible’s more mature themes and events (for that reason, it’s best for ages 15 and up). You’ll have to be patient, though (not to mention willing to shell out): each book of the Bible is sold separately, and only 10 have been released so far (plus a special Christmas edition).

NIV Beautiful Word / Journal the Word for Teen Girls (2017): Kids and teens who tend more toward creativity and self-expression might benefit more from a coloring or journaling Bible than a big reading-and-research study Bible. The NIV Beautiful Word Bible for Teen Girls includes hundreds of verses to color and wide margins for notetaking, and Journal the Word contains hundreds of journaling prompts along with ample room for notes, doodles, and whatever else you want to use them for. (Both of these Bibles are also available in a preteen “girls” version with slightly simplified images and prompts. There isn’t a boys’ version of either of them, but the adult versions might suffice, though they do lack prompts.)

How to Choose a Kids’ Bible

There are a few considerations when picking the best Bible for the kids in your life. Age is probably the most obvious — and how this article is arranged.

Translation

Another major consideration is which Bible version (or translation) to use. This will depend on a few factors, including the kid’s reading level, the church they go to, and their own (and their family’s) particular preferences.

Overall, especially for younger kids (at least through middle school), I recommend going with a translation designed more for modern readability than word-for-word accuracy. This includes the NIV, NLT, CEB, and CSB — and, for younger kids, NIrV.

Older (or more precocious) kids and teens can be introduced to more traditional or scholarly translations like the NKJV, NASB, ESV, and NRSVue when their reading level allows. There are exceptions, of course: if their family or church exclusively reads NKJV, don’t try to force them into an NLT.

Denomination

Speaking of churches, while these Bibles are chosen in part for their broad appeal across the Christian spectrum, I’ve noted in a few places where one of them might be of special interest to a particular denomination or viewpoint, such as mainline, Southern Baptist, or KJV-only churches. This doesn’t mean that if you don’t belong to one of those churches you won’t get anything out of it — you certainly don’t have to belong to the SBC to read the CSB — but if you do belong to one of them, you might get a little extra.

A Note for Catholics

That said, as a whole these Bible are not designed for Catholics. That’s because, in addition to missing the Deuterocanonical books (or Apocrypha), their study notes typically assume a broadly Reformed perspective, which in some instances may be at odds with Catholic teaching (for instance, regarding confession, communion, and atonement).

If you’re looking for a good kids’ Bible for Catholics, I recommend looking at the Great Adventure line (used by the popular internet priest Fr. Mike Schmitz for his Bible in a Year podcast — and not at all related to the Adventure Bible discussed above) or the Bible resources published by St. Mary’s Press.

Publish Date

When it comes to children’s — especially teen and student — Bibles, recency matters much more than it does for adults. Culture changes fast for kids, and they can smell the last generation’s fashions from a mile away. (Anyone remember using cheesy, beat-up old textbooks in grade school? I do.) Most of the picks here are less than 5 years old, for good reason — except for a few perennial favorites that have stood the test of time.

Simple Preference

Finally, and above all, remember that kids have preferences just like grown-ups. If you’re not sure what the kid you’re shopping for is into, ask their parents. (And if you’re a parent, ask your kid!) The fastest way to get a kid not to read their Bible is giving them one they hate.

Conclusion: Building a Lifelong Bible Habit

The earlier you get kids started on engaging personally with God’s Word, the better chance they have to begin building a Bible habit that will last them into adulthood and set the foundation for a mature, lasting faith.

But remember: not all kids’ Bibles are created equal, and getting kids the wrong Bible could ultimately do more harm than good. I pray this list helps you make an informed decision about the best Bible for the kids in your life, and that whichever one you choose will spur them on a long, satisfying journey of discipleship with Jesus.

For your own Bible journey, there’s no better way to explore a plethora of Bible study resources than Bible Gateway Plus, which features dozens of study Bibles, commentaries, encyclopedias, and much more — all for less than a pack of highlighters. Try it free today — and don’t forget to subscribe to Bible Gateway: News & Knowledge for more Bible news, info, reflections, and devotions in your inbox every week.

Disclaimer: Some (but not all) of the above Kids’ Bibles are published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, which is also the parent company of Bible Gateway. However, we have made every effort to be fair and unbiased in our recommendations.