Two Bibles for pre-teens (ages 9-12) are available with some unique age-focused features.
The Faithgirlz! Bible was first released in 2007 and now has had its first update. What I particularly like about this particular Bible is that it is addressing issues like character and self-perception at the age where it's still possible to offer what I consider a pre-emptive strike. Girls at the preteen age are still willing to believe they are unique and special even in their search to belong, and this Bible gives a balance to both desires. With features like "Oh, I Get It" or the introductions of each book, the truths of the Bible are open to them, while "Is There a Little _______ In You?" and "Dream Girl" help them see a connection between the people of the Bible and their own choices and decisions. My personal favorite is the "Bring It On" features, that look like a personality quiz and give different passages to explore for different answers.
As a companion Bible, the NIV Boys Bible has some "boy-centric" offerings like "Grossology" and "Makin' It Real," both giving a current day perspective to the events of the Bible. And the "What's the Big Deal?" sections are great for providing personal application even at this preteen, gotta-wonder-what-they're-thinking stage. And "Words to Live By" provide eye-catching highlights scattered throughout. Great introductory material for each book of the Bible and interesting facts scattered throughout too.Two final observations:
1. The font in both Bibles is not black. In the Faithgirlz! version it is purple with lots of pink highlights and artwork; in the boys it's blue with gold accents. This will probably not be an issue for 99.9% of readers but for a small minority it is something so be aware of if you consider purchasing it.
2. The sound of the binding makes me wonder just how durable these Bibles will be over the course of time. Hardcover, of course, should hold up well to use but again, it's something to be aware of when investing in a Bible that will (hopefully) take a lot of use. Of course, only time will tell if that's a real issue or not.
Either version are nicely geared to their age group and I also think would work for a shared family devotional time, or even for adults that want a little extra information in their daily study. There's some fun stuff behind those cool covers!
Review copies provided by The B&B Media Group.
