Build on God's Word with the Minecraft Bible NiRV REVIEW

As part of the Booklook Bloggers program, I received a hardcover 1,144 page Bible for review in exchange for my honest opinion, so that's what follows:

This is the NIrV Minecrafters Bible from Zondrkidz. No, it's not an instruction book of how to play Minecraft. It's an actual full-length Bible in NIrV New International Revised Version intended to be easier for kids to read. It is the complete text from Genesis to Revelation.

The part that gives it the Minecrafters name is the 24 color pages featuring illustrations in the style of Minecraft blocks. These pictures are features on stories of:

• How To Use The Bible
• Creation
• Noah's Ark
• Tower of Babel
• Ten Commandments
• Building of the Tabernacle
• Walls of Jericho
• Samson's Strength
• David and Goliath
• The 23rd Psalm
• Solomon and the building of the temple
• Jonah and the big fish
• Jesus Birth
• Calling of the 12 Disciples
• Feeding 5000
• Jesus Walk on Water
• Last Supper
• Crucifixion
• Sewer of Seeds
• Strong Foundation
• Armor of God
• ABCs of Salvation

Each picture is not just an illustration but also has verses and Scripture summaries printed on the picture as well. The Bible also has a short, few pages of a dictionary and Bible Story concordance section in the back.

I found it to be wonderful that the insertion of the Minecraft-related pictures only enhanced and did not distract from the actual Scriptures. I think I would have liked to have seen step-by-step instructions on how to create the scenes in Minecraft, but perhaps die-hard gamers don't need that kind of instruction for their creativity.

Overall, it would make a fantastic gift for the Minecraft gamer in your life. Whoever created the images in the game to bring them to the pages of this Bible knew what they were doing as a Minecraft builder, no doubt in creative mode. The front even has a nice presentation page for you to write the name and giver of the Bible. The page depicts the 3 crosses in Minecraft brick style.

The Barbour Children's Bible Review

I was given the opportunity to review The Barbour Children's Bible in exchange for my honest opinion. I was thrilled when it arrived, as it was even better than anticipated.

There are many children "Bibles" out there to choose from. Many, however, are really more of a Bible storybook and not word-for-word biblical accounts.

This Children's Bible is  NLV New Living Version using a limited vocabulary of 850 easy-to-understand words. The interpretation choice is intended to make the Bible easy to understand and more readable for a child or young reader while not in any way attempting to wash over or take away from original manuscripts of the Scriptures.

The scripture behind The Barbour Children's Bible is:

But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me. Do not stop them. The holy nation of heaven is made up of ones like these."

Matthew 19:14

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The Bible is hard-bound with 931 fairly thin, but thicker than onion skin, pages. There are no pictures or illustrations throughout the book at all, but all of the scriptures are broken apart into bite-sized segments with headings that make it easy to quickly know what your child is reading about.  Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are included, with the New Testament highlighting Jesus' own words in the color red.

Retails for $19.99

This Children's Bible seems to be written at approximately a 4th Grade reading level (my guess), but a younger or older child could still very well enjoy it. If the words are still a bit challenging to read, an adult could read aloud with the child until the reading comes easier.

The Bible also has an inside Presentation Page, making it a really nice option as a baptismal, confirmation, or First Communion gift.