Our children enjoy listening to and reading Bible stories, so we were very excited to be able to review the interactive
Planet 316 Story Bible and the companion Planet 316 Story Bible App from
Planet 316 and WorthyKids/Ideals as a family.
The Planet 316 Story Bible and the companion Planet 316 Story Bible App is written by "a team of talented writers and artists who share a love for technology and a desire to make the Bible approachable and engaging for children" (
Worthy Publishing Group). The Bible contains more than 100 stories from the Old and New Testaments and is "paired with a free downloadable app that brings the stories to life through the use of augmented reality" (Worthy Publishing Group). The free downloadable app allows your children to interact with characters, animals, and objects in the stories with additional sounds and dialogue to bring the stories to life.
It is a hardcover book recommended for ages 4 to 7 years. The illustrations are bright and colorful and cartoon-like in nature. The text is in an easy-to-read but not extremely large font and the pages are made of a thick quality. Depending on the nature of the original Bible story, the story might be broken down into further sections. For example, the story of the Birth of Jesus is 16 pages long and subdivided to tell the stories of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph visited by the angel, the birth of Jesus, the visits of the shepherds and Wise Men, and the escape to Egypt.
I love the fact that my kids want to sit on the sofa and read the Planet 316 Story Bible with me. We read several pages or stories together and then take out my phone to check out the Augmented Reality offered. While my children love touching the characters, listening to the music, and seeing it all come to life, I admit that it is rather difficult to balance two children, a hardcover book, and my phone all at the same time. With this in mind, I would recommend the Planet 316 Story Bible with Augmented Reality for families with children who can operate a phone or tablet with less supervision. While my son, who is four, could use the app on his own with very little trouble, I think older children will be more successful at taking advantage of the technology.
If I had to pick a favorite story from the Bible as illustrated in the Planet 316 Story Bible, I think it would be the Book of Ruth. The sadness of Ruth and Naomi's faces as the story begins turns into joy when Ruth meets Boaz and they marry. The colors of the workers, Boaz, and Ruth in the wheat field are vibrant and jump off the page (even without using the companion app!).
Our four-year-old's favorite story is that of David and Goliath. He particularly liked when I read the part of Goliath in a booming voice as well as seeing David as king in his robe and crown.
Our two-year-old daughter loves pointing out the different characters throughout the book and sharing what she remembers of each story. She really likes looking at the cover and pointing out the Holy Family, Joseph, and Jesus.
My husband has also been reading to our children from the Planet 316 Story Bible and finds it to do a good job retelling the Bible stories for children. When I asked him about the companion app, he said it was awkward to use. I would agree. If a child is using a tablet or cell phone on their own, then I think it would easier than a parent trying to juggle the book, the electronic device, and one or more children trying to access the screen.
Another favorite aspect of the Planet 316 Story Bible is the music that accompanies with the companion Planet 316 Story Bible App. It is very fitting for each story being shared.
I think there are many ways to use the Planet 316 Story Bible:
- Bedtime story reading
- Morning time
- Sundays for church or family worship time
- Character education
- Introduction or review of Bible stories
- Sunday school
While this is a Story Bible for children, the scriptures are referenced with each story. For example, for the story "Jesus Walks on Water," the following Gospels are referenced: Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-56; and John 6:15-21.
I would recommend this book for families with children ages newborn to pre-teen. It would also make a nice addition to a church, nursery, and daycare who wishes to have a children's story bible on their shelves.
To learn more about the
Planet 316 Story Bible and the companion Planet 316 Story Bible App please visit these sites:
