My First Message: A Devotional Bible for Kids

by Eugene H. Peterson

Point your kids in the right direction―when they’re old they won’t be lost. ―Proverbs 22:6
Help your child discover the value of God’s Word. My First Message transforms family devotions into an interactive experience. The Message translation offers Bible readings that kids can easily understand. Featuring 50 of the Bible’s most cherished stories, My First Message brings their timeless lessons to life with colorful, captivating illustrations.

The unique devotional Bible story devotional will encourage your child

Genres: Childrens

384 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Eugene H. Peterson was a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. For many years he was James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He also served as founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. He had written over thirty books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language a contemporary translation of the Bible. After retiring from full-time teaching, Eugene and his wife Jan lived in the Big Sky Country of rural Montana. He died in October 2018.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

An introduction at the front of this Bible instructs parents in how to effectively use the Bible with their children. The text of the Bible contains 50 stories told with the exact wording of The Message. At the end of each story there are devotional pages with “pray” and “live” components. “Pray” encourages the kids to pray about something specific related to the story, and “live” includes questions and sometimes an activity to do with parents. The pictures are cartoon-like, including a hidden praying mantis named “Manty” that the kids are encouraged to find, Waldo-style, in the pictures. There are also pop-up questions throughout the book. If you like The Message, you will like this. I don’t think this would work as a child’s only Bible, but it does help with understanding the story with simplified, but still accurate, language. I could see this working as a devotional to use – one story each day – and discussed together as a family. The unrealistic, caricature-like pictures take away from the holiness and mystery of the words, but my child did refer to them and use them to find meaning in the text.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMMMMMMMazing. engages my 5 and 6 year old really well with the devotional stuff at the end. they like the pics a ton, too - the illustrations encourage questions, but really, the questions and activities at the end of each story MAKE this little devotional Bible paraphrase for kids.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite in our home for reading at night. Our middle boy likes the prayers and challenges - talks about them the next day. The readings are good and understandable in the translation. I've been a long time admirer of Peterson.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite children's story-book Bible I have found yet. Best for ages 3-8 but even the 12 year-old loves to listen and read along when we are reading to the 4 year-old. :)

[Shasta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book that keeps the kids engaged and talking about the stories of our faith!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great children's Bible. Can't have too many.