*Bible Review: HCSB Illustrated Study Bible for Kids

*The HCSB Illustrated Study Bible for Kids.  Boardman and Holman, 2007, 1104 pages. 

Recommended for: ages 7-12.

Available in a variety of covers to appeal to both boys and girls, this children’s version of the HCSB is a good all-around study Bible for a wide age group, from beginning readers to ‘tweeners.  In spite of the title, there aren’t that many illustrations: 44 full-color pictures, including maps (some pictures of Jesus).  The in-text features are all relevant to the passage—for instance, maps are included with the text rather than grouped all together in the back.  Other helpful in-text aids include charts (e.g., family trees, names of God), diagrams, lists, a pictorial life of Jesus, “How-to” sections on studying the Bible and developing private devotional time.  There are no repeating features, like 5-W questions, activities, and applications.  Book introductions are grouped: all the books of Law, Poetry, Major Prophets, etc., with a few lines describing each book.  Appendices include types and examples of prayer, an expanded list of weights and measure (sure to be of interest to those qualitative kids), a simplified harmony of the gospels, and topical concordance.  There’s also a checklist of Bible skills for three age groups, from “I can locate the two parts of the Bible” to “I can apply truths from the Bible to my personal life.”

• Value: 5  (Excellent study helps and an accurate translation at a 6th to 7th-grade reading level)