NIV Giant Print Compact Bible

After reviewing Bibles I’d purchased over the years, Bible publishers began sending me review copies of new translations, study editions, children’s Bibles, and other biblical resources, but every now and then I buy one I want to fill a gap.

Although I have various editions of the New International Version (NIV), I wanted a large print reader edition – without the distraction of footnotes – to just sit down and read. For me, that necessitates either a paperback edition or a soft, flexible, yummy-to-the-touch leather binding, which this premium leather edition certainly has. (For study Bibles with lots of articles and footnotes, however, I prefer hardbacks to join the row along my desk, where they’ll stand at attention without slouching as leather or paperbacks are apt to do.)

When it comes to font sizes though, Zondervan and I do not see eye to eye (pun intended.) For them, the easy-on-the-eyes font in this edition is considered, “giant print.” For me, that’s a misnomer as I consider nothing less than 14-point “giant” with 17-point being super-sized. Yet this “giant print” edition has about 10-point type, which, fortunately, is just right for me.

The clear font, premium leather binding, and single column page layout encourage me to snuggle into my favorite chair (yeah, over-stuffed soft leather) and keep reading, as I would with any inviting text. With other books though, I’m apt to put the book away (often for years) or pass it on to someone else if I don’t expect to ever read it again.

Not so with the NIV Giant Print Compact Bible. Lord willing, I’ll read it again and again, which is why I appreciate the overall size and sewn-in pages able to withstand years of wear.

I also appreciate having two ribbon markers as my Sunday School class studies the Hebrew Bible (aka Old Testament) while my Wednesday morning discussion group studies the New. In between though, I love to read the Psalms, so a third ribbon would have been nice, but one mustn’t be picky. Just having the Word of God in a conversational, thought-for-thought translation is a blessing that lasts longer than leather.

by Mary Harwell Sayler, © 2019, poet-writer, reviewer, pray-er

NIV Giant PrintCompact Bible, premium leather

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Young Women of Faith Bible

When my review copy of the Young Women of Faith Bible arrived from Zondervan, my first reaction was to frown at the hardcover and paper quality. Trying not to judge a book by its you-know-what, I reminded myself that Bibles for young people will most likely be replaced by nice quality editions in favorite translations as young Christians mature.

Nevertheless, I’d rather see a nice paperback with pages that don’t pucker. And, to be even more blunt, I chafed a bit over the title of “Young Women” when teen girls are obviously the targeted reading audience. Like, can't we just call a teen a teen?

To give this edition of the NIV (New International Version) a fair view and balanced RE-view, I put the book aside, deciding to wait until I'd gotten over the dissatisfaction that often occurs from having personal preferences or almost any expectation.

During the night, however, I woke up thinking about my new blog for teens, Texting God, which has a text message for each title and a response from the Bible in the body of the blog. Although I loved the idea, I wasn't quite sure what came next.

Going into my office at home and switching on the light, I saw the Young Women of Faith Bible on my desk where I’d left it. Picking it up, I flipped to the back pages where I’d previously noticed a page entitled “Weekly Studies Index.” As I started to read, I thought, “This is good stuff!” which, translated, means that teenaged girls will surely benefit as they easily find such subjects as “No Doubt About It” with the page number listed to ease the search even more.

Turning to that page, I read a reassuring paragraph which starts, “Doubt isn’t always a bad thing,” and then goes on to provide teen-relevant examples of what to expect, do, and experience.

Above this appropriate text, I also noticed the page title, which further investigation showed to be the format consistently used for each subject in the index. Again and again throughout the book, that title clearly states: “I’m Becoming a Woman of Faith.” Oh. Yes!

And, yes, this copy of NIV is for teenage girls, but the title of Young Women of Faith Bible aptly describes the focus and overall purpose of this unique edition.

With sidebars offering “Memory Challenges,” teens grow into adults with Bible verses to guide their choices and lifestyles.

With side notes providing insights and information, young readers begin to understand that hard-to-understand passages have meaning and power.

With Bible stories highlighted as “If I Were There…,” teenage girls can gain the maturity that comes from experience – even the experience of our biblical others.

And so, as it turns out, I not only recommend this edition for teenage readers but also parents of teens, teachers of teens, and those of us who write Bible-based blogs, poems, and other manuscripts for young people on their way to spiritual maturity.


© 2014, Mary Harwell Sayler, reviewer

Young Women of Faith Bible, hardback


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