Review: The Garden Children's Bible

I was given the opportunity, as a member of Bible Gateway Blogger Grid, to review a complimentary copy of The Garden Children's Bible. This Bible is available from FaithGateway Store and on Amazon.

Okay, so, first impressions. I recall carrying a hardcover, cumbersome Bible to and from church each week --and that's exactly what I did, carried it to and from, and did absolutely nothing with it Monday through Saturday. A) because it was "so nice" I was expected to keep it that way, and B) because it was so heavy, with pointy, rigid corners, I was happy to do so. Sadly, The Garden Children's Bible reminds me of those days. I can see parents oohing and aahing over this "beautiful new Bible," and children receiving the message that it is just that, a relic, a keep-it-nice sort of thing that they are happy to leave sitting on a shelf. Add to that the very thin pages which are difficult to turn and easy to tear, and an 8YO (it's recommended for ages 8 & up) might have a hard time doing anything but turning to the heavier stock pages that contain colorful cartoons and other illustrations. 

On the inside cover, front and back, are opportunities for a child to color, to enjoy the fun artwork of Butch Hartman (think Fairly Odd Parents and T.U.F.F. Puppy). Personally, I think that's great. God's Word should be a personal thing for each of us; children should be taught to "own" it, and if this gives them an outlet to personalize it in a tangible way, a reminder that they should make the truth of God's Word a part of who they are, have at it!

It's important to know that this is a Bible. The text is from the International Children's Bible. It is not a book of Bible stories, so nothing is omitted. From Judges 5:26, Jael reached out and took the tent peg. Her right hand reached for the workman’s hammer. And she hit Sisera! She smashed his head! She crushed and pierced the side of his head! From Song of Songs 1:13, My lover is like a bag of myrrh that lies all night between my breasts. With parental involvement and proper explanation of Scripture, this is totally appropriate for the recommended ages (8 & up).

The Garden Children's Bible contains some of the typical "helps" we see in most copies of the Bible targeted toward older readers. Intro pages at the beginning of each book contain the who, when, and why of its origin and mini outlines of the book for quick reference. There are maps, a dictionary, and a topical index which is organized by virtue rather than being "correction focused;" in other words, the topics are listed as Obeying rather than Disobedience, or Telling the Truth vs. Lying. There is a Why Should I Read the Bible page, which I think is great. There are helpful hints for memorizing Scripture and a Bible reading plan --important, but they do add to the girth of the book. Perhaps some links with more interactive web-based stuff would be better? 

Additionally, there are comic strips based on The Garden cartoon series which teach principles alongside biblical accounts: a cartoon encouraging patience expands the record of Abraham and Sarah waiting for their child of promise, for example. I love this concept, however, I am not so in love with the voice from the cloud giving the characters instructions, the voice they call "The Boss." Is this supposed to be God? Another rendition of "The Big Guy Upstairs?" There are other illustrations, of course, but if you feel a little meh about an illustration of the devil with a pitchfork and a long tail, as I do, skip the graphic for Jude 9. Throughout the text, there are blurbs of wisdom (from The Boss) which I think are helpful: Do the Lord's will and I will punish evil and You are made in a wonderful way, among others. A child can latch onto those brief concepts (or they can latch onto your child) with little effort. 

With the proper parental discipline, enthusiasm, and guidance, I think this can be a fun resource for any child who is a fan of Butch Hartman's work. But I encourage you to prayerfully do your homework when it comes to training a child in the way he should go.