The Manga Bible: Discover an Excellent Resource for Children

This article was first published in French at TPSG.

For those of you unfamiliar with it, manga is a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, typically aimed at adults as well as children. This Manga Bible is known in Japanese as Minna no Seisho - Manga shiriizu, meaning "Everybody's Bible - Manga Series.” Originally written in Japanese, it has now been translated into over 25 different languages.

This collection of six comic books takes its readers on a journey from Genesis to Revelation. And while the books don’t cover every book of the Bible, they do cover the major events of redemptive history. They contain frequent citations or paraphrases of important portions of Scripture, along with their references. At the end of each volume, readers find helpful supplemental pages with various maps, as well as genealogies or lists and descriptions of the major characters. 

A Few Words from a Young Reader

My daughters first discovered this literary genre when I bought them The Pilgrim’s Progress in Manga. They’ve been hooked ever since, especially my 9-year-old daughter, Evangeline. She received these coveted books for Christmas and read them in less than a week. Rather than tell you about the Manga Bible myself, I’ll let her tell you in her own words what she thought:

Can you summarize what the Manga Bible books were about in your own words?

It was about the Bible. Each story had some of the details, but not all the stories were there.

Can you describe what makes this book different from the Bible itself?

You can see what is happening, and not just listen or read. You don’t have to picture what is happening. You can see it. 

What makes it different from other kids’ Bible books?

I like the comics. With comics, there are more details than with kids’ Bible storybooks that have fewer pictures. I like the pictures, the way they make the comic. The characters’ eyes are realistic. 

What was your favorite part of the manga Bible?

The story of Ruth because I like the way they showed the story. 

How did reading these stories help you understand the Bible better?

I could picture the characters in my adult Bible acting out the stories I had read. 

Would you recommend these books to your friends from church? 

Yeah, because they’re fun, interesting, and easy to read. 

Capture their Imagination 

If you’re in search of a children’s Bible to capture the imaginations of the little ones in your life, I highly recommend The Manga Bible. Of course, it’s not the Bible and can never substitute for the Word of God. But in this series, your children will discover an enjoyable companion to their regular diet of Scripture.