For parents/grand-parents/aunts and uncles/friends etc., one of the best things we can do for children (whether our own or other people’s) is to read the Bible to them. However, many children (& also many adults) struggle to read the Bible themselves. So, here are 5 Bible Resources for children and struggling readers —
1. Read-Aloud Bible Stories: Volumes 1–5 by Ella K. Lindvall
Renee and I read this series with all our children. The bold graphics, large-scale
print, and small amount of text on each page make the books accessible as beginning reading texts. Each volume consists of a few Bible stories (with accompanying chapter and verse references) retold in simple language. I can still remember some of the words! “Up, up, up the big hill went Jesus …”
2. The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm
One challenge is finding clear, easy-to-read texts that include more than just a
sampling of random Bible stories. As a step toward reading the whole story of Scripture in one book, Renee and I made great use of this. The text is presented in a clear, readable font, and the spacing between words and lines makes it a great choice for struggling readers.
3. The Jesus Storybook Bible Deluxe Edition by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Renee and I also used this, which is very good overall, and especially good at showing how the whole Bible ‘ties together’ and points to Jesus. The deluxe edition includes a CD, and listening to the Bible can help struggling readers. 4. ESV Super Giant Print Bible by Crossway
There’s no replacement for the Bible itself, but most children’s or youth Bibles include many lines of small print, often accompanied by distracting inserts and sidebars that are unhelpful for struggling readers. Standard versions, with thin pages of tiny print that make for shadowy, difficult-to-read text. The ESV Super Giant Print Bible has 17-point font and includes black cardstock to tuck behind the page in view, eliminating the distraction of bleed-through shadows.
5. Guided Reading Strips and Other Aids
For children or adults with dyslexia or other reading challenges, using guided reading strips or a ruler can help focus their attention on the text they’re reading and eliminate the distractions of surrounding words and sentences. Placing a folded piece of paper or an index card over a portion of a page is similar.
So, may these help children to read and be read God’s word!
Cameron
