Young Women of Faith Bible {a BookLook review}

A certain little girl young lady of mine just celebrated her 8th birthday.  She's also been asking for a real Bible.

So, when BookLook Bloggers (formerly BookSneeze) put the Young Women of Faith Bible out there to be reviewed, I had to go for it.

This happens to be the NIV version, which is perfect for Trina right now.  She has recently gotten involved in the Awana program at a neighboring church, and NIV is the version her work is in.  Being able to look things up in her very own Bible has been a pretty big deal.

She had a Bible before this, but her favorite thing with this one is that it is "actually real, because my other one skipped stuff."

Let me tell you what the publisher says about this Bible:

Popular study Bible for girls 8 and up, now available in the updated NIV.

Designed to encourage girls ages 8 and up to develop a habit of studying God's Word, this Bible is filled with engaging features to help them learn more about themselves and their relationship with God. Weekly studies and many of the side notes are linked to the women's study Bible, the NIV Women of Faith Study Bible, allowing mothers and daughters to share God's Word together.

Features include:

• Weekly Bible studies apply biblical truths to life
• Side notes address difficult passages and offer historical and cultural insights
• "I Believe" statements of faith and foundational beliefs
• "Memory Challenges" are verses worth remembering
• "If I Were There . . ." include Bible stories that place the reader in the Bible character's situation

What Trina thought:  Trina loves the colors.  She loves that her brothers have NO interest in borrowing her Bible.  She loves that it is a real Bible and the verses match up to what she has read in other places.  Did I mention that she loves the colors?  And the butterflies and flowers?

What her mom thought:  I worried that this Bible would be too "cute" and that it might be something that tries too hard to appeal to kid culture.   It is cute.  And I've been impressed with the notes and applications.  I'll talk a bit about that.

There are a number of features specific to this Bible, as noted in the publisher description.  What I love is that the Bible text is there, like any other NIV Bible.  And the little extras have pink backgrounds, and little icon images to help you figure out what that note is about.

• Starting in Genesis, you have a pink book introduction, which is much like any other book introduction to Genesis -- Who wrote it, when, what are we learning, what are some of the stories, etc.
• There is a bright pink flower, which indicates a good memory verse, for Genesis 1:1.  Trina loved that she already knew that one.
• There is a pink heart with the words "I believe," which indicates some sort of statement of faith or foundational beliefs.  This one says "God created everything."
• There is a pink sidebar with a little swirly curlicue thing that gives notes on Genesis 1:27 and talks about how God must have had fun creating everything.  It ends with a reminder that next time you look into a mirror you are to remember that you are a special creation.
• A couple pages later, there is a pink butterfly sidebar.  The butterflies are for notes to explain difficult passages, or historical/cultural information.  This one talks about temptation.
• The first of the 52 weekly Bible study passages is on Genesis 3:8.  The study is on friendship and shame, and it is a full page, with references to elsewhere in the Bible (1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:4-6, Acts 22:3-21, Jeremiah 31:3, and Psalm 34:5).  It directs you to the next Bible study.
• Then there is a journal box.  This is a spot where you can read about thoughts other girls have.  This one has to do with being jealous of a perfect older sister.
• There is also a pink sidebar with a star, for "If I Were There..."  The first of those has to do with Methuselah and what it would be like to live 969 years.

Overall, I am impressed.  Apparently, if I had a Women of Faith Bible, some of this stuff would coordinate, but this Young Women version certainly stands on its own!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”