NIV, Family Reading Bible, Hardcover

Without a doubt I think that this is the best Bible concept ever that I have found. Start (and keep) a family tradition of reading the Bible together. How important that is! Yet, then how often do you find people that really keep to it? In my own Bible study, I'm a little her and there and everywhere reading what is currently applying to me and my interests. The children in our lives are so important and guiding them to grow in a family of faith that knows their Bible is so valuable. As the back cover states the fact: Maintaining your kids' interest in family Bible reading can be difficult for any parent. Where to start? How to keep them interested? How to connect it all to everyday life?

Welcome to your family's guided tour of the Bible.

Including the great maps that you find in most Zondervan Bibles, this Bible already is a great educational tool. There is also a table of weights and measures, a Path Index, Off the Beaten Path Index, and a Topical and Feature Index that all make this Bible very user friendly. Written in a New International Version translation, the words of scripture are relevant to today's language and will be understood by your children and yourself.

Something I love is the dedication page, unlike any other. “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” -Joshua 24:15 This Bible belongs to the _____ Family, occasion & date. So powerful. A family Bible. These days you often hear about individual's Bibles, but hardly a family Bible, but if you look into genealogy research one of the greatest first person sources is a family Bible. I love the idea of a family Bible. In the front there is also a few pages to write family traditions and spiritual milestones. What a fabulous section to be able to look back on as your family grows both physically and spiritually.

There is a Quick Start Guide to choosing and jumping on the right applicable path for your family and then there is a section that gives two different methods for leading your child to Christ. It really is fabulous. Other features included are Book Introductions, Parenting Tips, with each reading on the paths are four more. “Just the Facts” are straight-forward questions with concrete answers. “Let's Talk” questions are intended to encourage discussion. “Why This Matters” highlights the main message of the passage and will help answer the questions the kids often ask: “Why do I need to know this?” Then lastly, “Points of Interest” give something special and surprising or little known about the passage, bringing and keeping interest alive.

The Family Reading Bible includes the whole of the Old and New Testament in the the NIV translation and can be read in any form as you would another Bible, but it has so much more with the paths to guide you and your family along the way of reading the Bible if you let it. A short intro paragraph sets the scene and if you follow the side bar information including the features I just mention the scripture passages will be brought alive and into relevance right off the page making it more than just words to be heard. Unlike some devotional Bibles I have where you then just flip the pages until you find the next reading, the path will let you know on what page number the next reading can be found (whether you are reading a short path or long page or off the beaten path). That makes things so easy to plan ahead.

My daughter is just now a year old, and though I read to her, at this point there is not much attention paid to the words that I'm saying. As she grows I hope that this Bible will be a wonderful device for learning and growing. Having the option of a short path, and not having to define my own from an available path will really help us along the way. In other thoughts, I think that this Bible version would be a great addition to any homeschooling family. It could be a very great basis to start off a Bible class. A good foundation to begin from and then bring other materials in to go further in depth of study.

All and all, I think this is the best Bible I have yet to get my hands on. I cannot believe that the idea for such a Bible was not readily available previously. The “about” section tells it all in how the concept was started from the simple statement of “I wish I could find a Bible to use for family devotions.” Well they have that here and more. A great foundation to help parents to teach their children, build and maintain an interest in God's word, and keep children engaged. Absolutely love it.

Thanks to Beth Johnson of Zondervan for providing a copy for review.