Go Bible
Summary
Go Bible from Tyndale is a kid-oriented version of the NLT Bible with gobs of adorable pictures, fun factoids, and key verses to help kids read and understand the Bible.
Assessment
Go Bible is the full Scripture — New Living Translation — formatted with kids in mind. It includes adorable, inclusive artwork, fun facts, contextual notes, book introductions, and snapshots of significant people in the Bible. The overall quality is excellent, and the information provided is respectful to the source material and not overwhelming. This is not a “dumbed down” kids Bible; it is the Bible, with cute, cartoon artwork and fun information scattered throughout.
Light-o-Meter
Writing Style: 5 out of 7 Little Lights (for the extras, not Scripture itself)
Organization/Formatting: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Pictures: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Fulfillment of Purpose: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Theological Message: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Overall: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Talk
“Hey, Ana, can you review this Bible real quick?”
“You want me to review WHAT??”
Okay, it wasn’t that bad, but it is definitely one of the more interesting-to-navigate requests we’ve had here in SALT. There are a lot of heavier questions that come with reviewing a new format of the Word of God, particularly when it is targeted towards children. Is it being respectful of the Word? Is it trying to lead the children into one particular theological box or another? What “extras” does it add to the Bible and, how Biblically accurate are those “extras”? What is the ultimate goal of this version of the Good Book? It’s definitely not as easy — and shouldn’t be — as all the fun little pieces of fiction I usually get to read and write about.
I am, as always, cautious about anything that involves adding extras to the Bible and Biblical stories. Whether it is a movie, a TV show, or a fancy comic book Bible, I spend quite a bit of time pulling them apart at the seams. I am no expert in Scripture, of course, but I can typically smell when something is awry in how the Bible is presented. My two biggest concerns going into the Go Bible were: 1. too many “extras” that sought to stir kids emotionally, rather than feed them spiritually. 2. too much monkeying around with Scripture itself. Fortunately, both of these concerns were calmed as I started to read the Go Bible and realized its intent to was honorable and its execution thoughtful.
First thing that impressed me was in the beginning as it explains what the Bible is, what its purpose is, and how it came into being (all standard stuff most Biblical scholars would agree on). It took the time to give children tools to help them read the Bible, rather than just leaving them to their own devices. The second thing was the fact that most of the “extras” within and between the books were simple factoids, key verses to remember, or other, contextual additives. There was no trying to guide the children into a particular branch of Christian thinking or hiding some of the messier parts of the Bible, as a lot of kids’ books and Bibles tend to do. The introductions to Song of Songs and Hosea, for example, were child-appropriate, but not old church lady “hush, hush, we don’t talk about that”. We do talk about these books, because they are part of the Word of God. The Go Bible is ultimately just the Bible, but with a little extra context and an easy-to-read font.
Additionally, the art is super cute and inclusive in a way that didn’t feel forced. I can’t tell you how absolutely tickled I was to see both a little boy and a little girl dressed in the full armor of God. Child me would have reimagined myself in that image over and over again!
Wrap-up
The Go Bible is a kid-oriented formatting of the New Living Translation Bible by Tyndale House Publishers. It remains respectful to the original source, providing excellent tools for how to read the Bible and some additional context, without watering down Scripture itself or overloading the child with artwork and imagery.
Where to Enjoy
Amazon: NLT Go Bible for Kids (Softcover): A Life-Changing Bible for Kids: Tyndale: 9781496455710
Christianbook.com: NLT Go Bible-A Life-Changing Bible for Kids, Hardcover: 9781496455703
Tyndale (for more retailers): Go Bible
This review is for this specific product and this product alone. In no way, shape, or form is this review meant to be an endorsement of the private lives, individual choices, lifestyles, or behaviors of those company(ies), publisher(s), creator(s), producer(s), author(s), artist(s), etc. associated with this product. It is God's sole providence alone to judge, and we make no claim to this right. With our reviews, we're simply looking at the value and merits of this specific product alone through the content and perspective of a Christian worldview. We pray you find it helpful and useful.
