The Catholic Children's Bible, Revised Edition Review: Solid but Context Matters

Saint Mary's Press has a long history producing quality Catholic catechetical materials, and this revised edition of their children's Bible reflects that heritage. If you're raising Catholic kids — in a parish religious education program, a Catholic school, or a home where the Mass shapes your daily spirituality — this is likely a strong fit. If you're not in a Catholic context, you'll want to read further before buying.

The core experience is the biblical text itself, presented in a child-accessible translation. Catholic editions like this one include the deuterocanonical books (also called the Apocrypha) — books like Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, plus expanded versions of Esther and Daniel — which Catholics and some Orthodox traditions consider Scripture but which most Protestant traditions do not. For Catholic families, this is simply normal. For Protestant families, it's worth knowing that these books are included and may appear in reading plans at your parish.

The "children's" framing typically means larger text, simple headers, maybe some illustrations, and a reading level suited to roughly ages 7–12. Saint Mary's Press is known for keeping the presentation respectful rather than dumbing the text down, which is a real strength. Kids get the sense they're reading a real Bible, not a cartoon strip.

The revision aspect suggests updates to language, layout, or supplementary materials — the kind of refresh that keeps a resource useful as a family's needs grow.

What this Bible is NOT: a general "Christian kids Bible" — the Catholic framing is integral to how the text is organized and how marginal notes or study features will frame concepts. Sacramental vocabulary, saints, and Catholic interpretive traditions will show up. That's a feature for some families and an obstacle for others.

If you're a Protestant family looking for a Bible to use alongside your church's Sunday school curriculum, this may create misalignment. If you're a Catholic family, this is worth serious consideration.