Last month, I had the opportunity from Bible Gateway to receive a FREE copy of the Zondervan Artisan Collection Bible for Girls to review. These new Bibles are pretty special, and here’s why:
“Artisan Collection Bibles are beautiful inside and out. They’re the only NIV Bibles with printed hand-painted cover designs and beautiful art hidden in the page edges, paired with the exclusive Comfort Print typesetting and wide margins, inviting you to journal, reflect, take notes, and create art.” https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bg-bibles/bg-artisan-bibles
I requested a copy of the Girl’s Bible, and promptly delivered it to my 10-year-old niece to review. To be honest, upon initial review, I was not blown away by this Bible. The cover is gorgeous, but inside there’s are no commentary, notes, or asides for younger kids to read. Therefore, there’s no real guidance for them as they read the Scriptures. I prefer Bibles for kids that have age-appropriate explanations of Scripture, because I think it helps them engage.
However, there is ample room for kids to draw, doodle, or journal. And, although I was not blown away, my niece LOVED it!! She read the Easter story and the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. She doodled in the Bible after reading, and it really helped her to process what she had read. The ability to draw and doodle in the Bible made reading it a less formal experience for her. She was truly able to engage with the text and to express her interpretation of it through drawing. Here’s a sample of her work.
Honestly, as a former teacher, I’m blown away by her interaction with the text. She really engaged with the reading and came to her own understanding of it. As a parent, it’s so important to me that children come to their own conclusions and understandings of faith. This Bible is a perfect way for kids who enjoy expressing themselves through drawing or doodling to do just that. They can read the text, grapple with it, and work out their understandings of it right there on the page!
For more information about this Bible, I would encourage you to read through the interview with mixed-media artist Olivia Joy, one of the artists who worked on these Bibles.
Finally, here’s a note from the publisher:
“Our Artisan Bibles have inspired thousands of readers to see the beauty in God’s Word. These new editions in our second iteration will do the same, and in a unique way because of the one-of-a-kind art technique that Michigan artist Olivia Joy uses,” says Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Zondervan Bibles. “And we’re thrilled to expand this beautiful line of Bibles into the NRSV translation, providing NRSV readers with beautiful Bibles in their translation of choice.”
If you’d like to purchase a Zondervan Artisan Collection Bible from Zondervan, use the links below. This is a great addition for both kids and adults to deepen their understanding of God’s Word.
Blessings and Peace,
Sara
Confessions of the Pastor's Wife 