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As a Bible reviewer for Thomas Nelson, I received The Sketch Book Bible (NKJV) and am excited to share my honest thoughts with you.
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Bible Review by Patti Greene
The Sketch Book Bible
ISBN: 9781400339471
I’ve seen it again and again — the way a child lights up when they open a new coloring book or a fresh pack of crayons. Their whole face changes. Their shoulders lift. Their eyes sparkle. It doesn’t matter if they’re three or ten. Joy is joy.
That same joy is exactly what I imagined when I opened the Sketch Book Bible (NKJV). To write this review, I stepped into the heart of a child — the kind who loves color, stories, and anything they can make their own.
And from that place, this is what I saw.
A Child’s View — Full of Wonder
It was Christmas morning. Wrapping paper was everywhere. When I opened one of the special gifts, I stopped and stared.
It wasn’t just a book.
It wasn’t just a coloring book.
It was a Bible I could color in.
My heart felt like it jumped. I wanted my crayons right away. I wanted to flip through the pages and find the stories I knew from Sunday School. I wanted to see the pictures. I wanted to color everything.
When I opened the front cover, I saw my name written inside.
My name.
Inside a Bible.
It felt like this Bible was made just for me. I could color the cover, the inside pages, the edges — all of it. I could use bright colors or soft ones. I could stay in the lines or scribble if I wanted to. It didn’t matter. It was mine.
I turned to the page where Moses comes down from the mountain. I picked my brightest crayons and started coloring. I tried to stay in the lines because I wanted it to look special. When I finished, I felt proud — the kind of proud that makes you want to show everyone.
I showed my parents.
I showed my grandparents, and my Grammi even wanted to color with me!
I even wanted to take it to church and show my teacher.
And something else made me happy, too. I got to flip through the pages just like I’ve seen my parents and pastor do. I know I’m still a kid, but holding this Bible made me feel older in a good way — like I was learning to love God’s Word the way they do.
Yes, the adults who bought this Bible probably looked at all the features — the 275 illustrations, the Bible characters, the animals, the book introductions, and all the extras. But for me, the best part is simple:
I finally have a Bible I can make my own.
Thank You, Jesus.
I like being an artist.
Why a Parent Would Choose This Bible
Parents love giving gifts that spark joy, creativity, and faith all at once. This Bible does exactly that.
• It helps children interact with Scripture, not just read it.
• It gives them a sense of ownership — “This is my Bible.”
• It encourages quiet focus, creativity, and learning.
• It helps them remember Bible stories because they colored them.
• It becomes a keepsake — something they’ll carry, color, and treasure as they grow.
A parent doesn’t give this Bible just to fill a shelf. They give it because they want their child to love God’s Word with their eyes, their hands, and their heart.
Many children may want to keep this Bible forever. Why, one may ask?
- They may want to look at how they colored as children.
- They may want to show their children someday.
- They may want to see what colors they liked best.
- They may like to recall their favorite childhood stories, or
- They may want to relive the joy experienced flipping through the pages of the Bible.
What a cool Bible! For sure.
Bible Verse:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV
