Bible Review: NIV Boys Bible

NIV Boys’ Bible.  Zonderkidz, 2012, 1504 pages.  For ages 9-13.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 10-12 (obviously, boys)

Bottom Line: The Boys Bible includes some good though standard features on the model of the NIV Adventure Bible, but tries a little too hard to pander to its audience.

The Boys’ Bible followed the same basic plan as Zondervan’s NIV Adventure Bible: Layout is double-column, with blue sans-serif type.  The in-text features are similar to the Adventure Bible, geared up a couple of grade-levels and gender-specific: Words to Live by (memory verses), Check It Out (cool facts about the Bible and Bible times), Makin’ It Real (relating stories, characters and themes to here and now), and What’s the Big Deal? (“who’s who, what’s what, and how they connect to God.”).  There’s nothing unusual or off-putting about all of these, and together they add up to some good, basic information.  What sets the Boys’ Bible apart from other similar format is the Grossology feature–“if it oozes, bleeds, smells, or makes your spine tingle, it’s in the Bible.”  If you’re wondering what qualifies as “gross,” look up Ex. 7:18, Judges 5:26, I Sam. 6:5, I Chron. 10:10, Job 2:7-8, Mark 5:3.  There are a lot more.  There’s no question that to a lot of boys, gross=cool, but this strikes me as trying too hard to reach them where they are.  The study helps and features of any children’s Bible should help them grow in understanding and spiritual purpose, not go “EWWW!”

Cautions: excess pandering

Overall Rating: 3

Categories: Middle Grades, Bibles and Bible Stories, Christianity