The Baby Bible Boom

Providing books that share biblical lessons with tots and young readers is a double-dip opportunity for religion publishers.

“Parents are taking in and learning just as much as the kids when reading with them,” says Linda Howard, associate publisher for children and youth at Tyndale House. “One of my favorite things about doing kids’ books is we have that ability to reach both at once.” Tyndale’s One Year Book of Devotionals for Preschoolers (ages three and up) has sold 300,000 copies since it was published in 2004.

Many of the books and devotionals geared toward children include activities that are playful, prayerful, or both. “Kids love interaction,” says Becky Loyd, VP for marketing at Lifeway Christian Resources and its Bible arm, B&H. A King James version of their 2023 ECPA award–winning CSB Explorer Bible, aimed at kids ages 6–12, is out now.

Illustrations often highlight people from many cultures, such as the South Korean
family at the center of Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World: God Hears Every Prayer (IVP Kids, May 2025; ages 4–8) by Helen Lee, illustrated by Shin Maeng. IVP Kids’ goal, according to the publisher, is to “share with children the things that matter to God.”

Below is a sampling of forthcoming Bibles and devotionals geared toward young readers.

Adventure Devotions (Lifeway, out now; ages 7–10), a devotional magazine for kids, was created by the editors to be a summer months series inviting kids to examine gospel passages, read about missionary kids’ lives, and make time for God daily.

Birth of the Chosen One: A First Nations Retelling of the Christmas Story by Terry Wildman (IVP Kids, Sept.; ages 4–8) draws from his earlier First Nations Version of the Bible to focus on the Gospel of Luke, with Native American art by Hannah Noel Buchanan and Holly Buchanan.

The Gospel Project for Kids Classroom Bible (B&H, Aug.; ages 6–12), featuring the Christian Standard Bible, was designed for churches and ministries to buy in bulk and utilize its full “kid-friendly” test and study plan to “help point kids to Jesus,” according to the publisher.

Hey Friend: 31 Journaling Devotions on Friendship (B&H, Sept.; ages 13–18) was written by nine girls who key their devotions to Bible passages on friendship with the aim of helping girls combat loneliness.

I’m Alive, Dear Mama! by Jennifer Wilder Morgan (Focus on the Family, Nov.; ages 3–5) helps readers reflect on the miracle of life. Illustrations by Laura Catrinella include a cover of a child holding a sonogram photo of a fetus.

Let’s Go! Bible Adventures (Tyndale, Jan. 2025; ages 2–4) presents 40 Bible stories told by Valerie Ellis with preschoolers—and their fascination with vehicles—in mind. Illustrator Carolina Farías juxtaposes dune buggies, dump trucks, and more within the age-old tales.

More Pawverbs for Kids by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley (Tyndale Kids, Sept.; ages 6–10) is a photo-illustrated sequel to her 2023 book on the wisdom of Proverbs as told by critters.

NLT Go Bible: A Life-Changing Bible for Kids (Tyndale, Sept.; ages 7–11) takes the full text of the New Living Translation and includes more than 600 features for kids highlighting how God changes lives, including “true tales of transformed people.”

Read Again and Again Old and New Testament Storybooks (Focus on the Family, Sept.; ages 3–7) promises age-appropriate salvation messages for kids. The books, created by Focus’s editors, are illustrated by Chris Jones.

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