When I received the Great & Small Bible, which Holman kindly sent me to review, my first impression was “Sweet!” And, indeed, the charming artwork, quality construction, and reader-friendly text of the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) make this edition a sweet gift for Christian parents of new babies.
While not actually for babies, the book encourages parents to jot down memorable moments in their child’s life from birth weight, height, etc., and also record the names of parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, and more on the page “Your family loves you with a great love!”
One double-page insert focuses on the first times a child smiled, slept all night, rolled over, and other firsts, while another double-page spread encourages parents to record something about their baby’s first holidays.
My favorite double-page insert, however, says, “You are small, but we know you have a great future!” then provides lined writing space on the left to note “These are our greatest hopes for you.” On the page on the right side, parents can fill in spaces for “Our precious child, this is our prayer for you” and “We chose this special Bible verse for you.”
Instead of the typical baby book that many of us begin then forget, the inclusion of the CSB encourages parents to read the text each time they pick up this unique keepsake edition. The lovely artwork will please a growing child and, hopefully, cause them to ask to hear about their first year of life and, in the process, be drawn to reading God’s Word for themselves.
Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2018, poet-writer, Bible reviewer
Great & Small Bible, hardback
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