Book Review: The Beginner’s Bible King James Version

The Beginner’s Bible KJV is a beautifully bound hardback version of the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.  There are twenty full color images throughout the book; these are cartoon-like characters that will be very appealing to young readers. There is a sixty-seven page concordance included as well as the original letter of the translators.

Nothing but good can come from putting the complete text of God’s word in a person’s hand.  But I do think this bible would have a unique audience.  The child-like cover will not be something an older child would feel he’d outgrown.  In fact, I asked a ten-year-old friend if he’d like to carry this to church and he ultimately had to say no.  But his eight-year-old brother liked it a lot.  The challenge would be reaching a child that is young enough to appreciate the illustrations but already able to read.

I love the illustrations in this book.  They are attractive and well-describe their subject.  However, there are so many stories in the bible that it would be very large if all of them were illustrated.  Unfortunately, these images don’t appear anywhere near the story they are describing.  The “Baby Jesus is Born” picture is on the back side of “Jonah and the Big Fish” and are printed at Psalm 121.  “Samuel Hears God Calling” does appear in 2 Samuel 23 but it’s on the back of “Joshua and the Battle of Jericho”.   “Jesus and the Children” and “Jesus Enters Jerusalem” are printed between the books of Nahum and Habakkuk.

There is no commentary at all in The Beginner’s Bible King James Version and it includes only limited references which appear at the end of the verses.

Zondervan, the publisher of The Beginner’s Bible KJV provided a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and impartial review.