6.8 x 1.3 x 7.8 inches, 448 pages
Do you have a new or beginning reader at your house? Do you know a child who wants to “read it myself” but isn’t ready to tackle the amount of text in the Bible storybooks you’ve been reading to him or her?
The Young Reader’s Bible is the best book you could possibly give that child! (B&H Kids, 6.8 x 1.3 x 7.8 inches, 448 pages)
Yes, I’m biased. I helped to develop this book nearly 25 years ago as an editor at Standard Publishing. Now the publishing rights belong to B&H Kids, and they just released the book in a new size with a new cover design.
I’m biased, but I’m also right. Why?
• True easy-reader format. Large type, serif font, and short lines. Each line is a complete unit of thought.
• Simple yet artful story texts. The 70 stories, which move from Genesis through Revelation, capture the important basic essence of each biblical account. They read aloud well; you won’t tire of hearing these stories.
Writing easy-reader stories (remember the Frog & Toad books?) is a special skill. Authors Carol Reinsma and Bonnie Bruno were pioneers as they wrote these easy-reader-style Bible stories, and they did a masterful job.
• Special features like those found in school textbooks (and grownup Bibles): introductions to the Old and New Testaments, maps, timelines, a glossary, and an article, “How Did We Get the Bible?”
• Expressive, noncartoony illustrations by Jenifer Schneider.
I’m so thankful for all the talents poured into this book when it was first developed, and just as thankful to those who grasped its value and made it available again to a new generation of readers.
About These Reviews and Recommendations
My career as a children’s book editor, acquisitions editor, and editorial director greatly influences my response to books. I have high standards for text, illustration, book design, and the purpose of a book.
I understand too that parents, grandparents, and others who buy books want and need good value in the books you choose. Your book budget is not unlimited.
I’m not writing these reviews as hype or promotion for fellow author’s books. I do care about helping authors—after all, I am one. I understand the effort authors pour into every book and the hopes they have for each one. The books I recommend, however, I’m choosing because of the merit I see in the book, no other reason.
I want to point you to the best books more than I want to point out books I don’t like, so I won’t be writing negative reviews. If I can’t support a book, I just won’t write about it. At times, however, I may note details or features I would have changed in a book I otherwise recommend. This is to help you make your own decisions about what books are right for your family.