Endorsements & Testimonials

Keep going, Jan, on The Best News Ever. God will bless your work as he already has as more and more children and adults read the Bible for the first time with understanding.

I'm studying 2 Corinthians now, and your translation is wonderful. It's like washing a window. I can see clearly now!

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my do I love it!!!!!!!

“My family are Bible readers, but the younger members of our family always relied on me explaining what the text of Scripture meant. Not anymore. Now with The Best News Ever young children can read God’s Word in a translation made especially for them. The Best News Ever is accurate in language, readable for the youngest readers, and fun for the whole family.”

“I am impressed with the overall quality and consistency of this translation. I always employ the evaluative tool of 'meaning added' and 'meaning lost' when evaluating a translation. A quality translation seeks to add as little meaning as possible and lose as little meaning as possible. Here we encounter a fine example of a translation that retains as much meaning as possible and introduces as little meaning as possible within the constraints of vocabulary and structures that young children can understand. I am happy to recommend this translation.”

"This version of the Bible is an ideal book for children as they begin to read the Bible. It is also helpful to those learning English as a second language. The adult reader, familiar with Scripture, will see old truths and events in a new way. Personally, I found The Best News Ever a delight to read."

“The Best News Ever version has been such a blessing to the children at my church. For our 4th-5th grade Sunday School class, we used TBNE Proverbs for our Bible Study time. The kids in class mentioned they can understand the version better. A boy really liked that there was ‘uh-oh’ in the translation and thought it was funny, which kept their attention. It was clear that there was better and deeper comprehension of Proverbs among the children with this version. For Christmas, every child at our church was given TBNE Proverbs, and after some months a few children mentioned they read TBNE Proverbs regularly. It helps that the font is big and the book is thin/easy to carry. I would recommend every family to own a set and read TBNE together! It’s exciting to see when children understand Scriptures in a translation that speaks to their hearts!”

"Biblical illiteracy continues to rise as 36% of the emerging generation identifies itself as having no religious affiliation. Jan Harthan has put together a great tool that makes the Bible more accessible for children and those with smaller vocabularies while assuring the meaning of the Scripture has not been lost. My own 12-year-old loves using The Best News Ever because it is easier to understand. I highly recommend parents and grandparents give this resource to their children and use it when reading to both their children and pre-teens."

"Imagine a family with three generations around the kitchen table reading the Bible. Which Bible translation works for everyone? Open and read The Best News Ever."

"I have been privileged for 64 years now in helping people get an understandable Bible in their language. Hundreds of languages in every continent now have a Bible that they understand. But being a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather, I am more than blessed to see what Jan Harthan has done in translating a Bible for first-reads. My six-year-old great-grandson is now able to begin his reading life reading God's Word."

The Psalmist said in Psalm 119:103, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" This kind of heart for God, his Word and his Son evidences the work of the Spirit. It is his to make alive and to transform. However, he uses means, and one of those that he uses in young readers' hearts is The Best News Ever. I commend this good work that captures the substance of the text while reducing the number of words, which is a helpful assist to children and their comprehension. It is an expression of loving them in an understanding way, while pointing them to Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth and the life.

I am happy to heartily recommend Jan Harthan’s writing to you. My teenage son and I have read her The Best News Ever--Proverbs together one-on-one, and our family uses it sometimes around the family table. The language is accurate yet readable and easy to understand for young minds in today’s world. Get a copy for your family!

“The Best News Ever has been a blessing to my own family. As we did a Summer Bible Reading Challenge at our church this past year, my 6-year-old son, who was an emerging reader, was able to fully participate and accomplish his goal of reading the book of Mark. He was able to understand the simple but accurate language of the text. This allowed us to have some wonderful discussions about the important truths and lessons from Jesus’ life.”

"Beginning with the title, The Best News Ever, this Bible translation for children is truly some great news for parents and children alike. Just try to find a Bible translation for children that is both focused on verbal inspiration and yet not reduced to summarized paragraphs with pictures, then you will be up against an impossible task. Jan Harthan has the special ability of communicating the entire content of the Bible on a child's level. You may even find the simple vocabulary and sentence structures appealing to adult readers as well. I believe The Best News Ever will be a blessing to your whole family."

"The Best News Ever is a theologically relevant translation of the biblical text offered to those of limited reading ability. The Bible becomes more than a collection of stories and puts the text itself into the hands of those who can finally read it for themselves. May these words inspire those of all ages to follow Jesus."

"Clarity! When communicating, clarity is essential. This is what I love about Jan's translation, The Best News Ever. Not only have our teachers used it in our children's ministry, but (shhh!) I have used it with our adults as well."

I spent the day yesterday reading The Best News Ever Psalms. I was so very taken with the clarity and the ease of being influenced by it!

I donʼt know if anything will ever come of The Best News Ever, but all of your work has been worth it for the impact it has had on my kids.

I have taught Bible studies all my life. But reading The Best News Ever is like washing a window. I can see clearly now!

The Best News Ever Genesis and Exodus, plus Isaiah, are books you donʼt want to put down!

We are sort of mentoring two families that have little ones. We bought The Best News Ever—New Testament for each family. But to be truthful, I was reading one of them and became tearful and overwhelmed because I could understand what I was reading. I have struggled all my life with reading Godʼs precious Word because I feel defeated and kind of stupid after reading it and not really getting it. Here I am in my 60ʼs and feel I would like one for me too! Thank you for this wonderful Bible!

Keep up the great work. Itʼs original, and no one else even comes close to what kids need, to say nothing about people trying to learn English.

My eight-year-old daughter LOVES to read this Bible. She finds so much joy in the ease of reading it all by herself and understanding it! I even used it in my Bible study the other day because I wanted a translation that was more clear.

Thank you for The Best News Ever. Our eight-year-old granddaughter reads The Best News Ever in bed at night. Sometimes she comes out and says, ‟This Bible is so easy for me to read!ˮ

A 9th-graderʼs comment after reading some of The Best News Ever: ‟Finally a Bible I can understand!ˮ

The Best News Ever is fabulous for all ages. I have ordered every one of them. I can understand the Bible so much better now.

I just read Daniel and Jonah in The Best News Ever. I loved your translation! Well done! Even though I am a skilled English reader, I found reading your translation of Daniel the most rewarding of any translation I have read. I got a lot out of it that I had not gotten from any other readings of Daniel.

You may never truly be able to see how much your translation has impacted my life as a study guide and resource! I thank God for you!

The Best News Ever is amazing! I will get the whole set for my grandchildren.

The Best News Ever is a WONDERFUL Bible translation—not paraphrase—that kids of all ages 6-106 can read and understand Godʼs message. Itʼs my ‟GO TOˮ when I need a clearer understanding of a passage. When my 6-year-old grandson heard and read it, his mom asked if he understood it. His answer was, ‟Of course! Itʼs the Bible!ˮ Order one of the books, and youʼll be hooked and passing the word.

Thank you for The Best News Ever. You have done a Gen Z Bible. This is our language!

Words cannot tell you how much I enjoyed The Best News Ever Psalms. I can really understand the words and the meaning.

I lead a group of 7th grade girls on Wednesday nights at church. They keep asking what a good Bible is for them to start with, and it seems nobody has a good answer. I have kept my mouth shut and tried to let our pastors recommend one, but it seems they don’t know either and from talking with the girls about it for over a year, they need something like The Best News Ever! They really have very little understanding of who anyone is and what it’s all about. I want to get them each a copy for Christmas.

We read The Best News Ever every night at home, and it has made a huge impact. My kids have become bold in their friend-groups because they have confidence in what they are talking about, and it’s because we read this together! I’m really glad we have The Best News Ever to read to the kids. It has brought up conversations and knowledge for them at a young age so when they hear something different at school or from friends, they can recognize when it’s different from what they have been taught and they question it.

My friend Becky just called. She said to thank you because your translation of the Bible has been a “miracle” in her life. She reads it with ease. She said that she has never been able to understand the Bible just by reading it, but with your translation she can.

I am a homeschooling mom. My dad gave us The Best News Ever New Testament. I just read 1 Corinthians 13 with my kids who are 13, 6, and 3. It was awesome! My 6-year-old said, “I like this Bible!” Iʼm particularly excited because the non-narrative parts seem much more accessible to young minds than any other Bible I have come across. Thereʼs so much helpful truth there for us all, including kids, and I love that now I have a good way to share that with them! Bible stories are amazing, but so are the teachings, and usually they get left out of kidsʼ materials or arenʼt as effective as they could be. Thanks for the incredible investment you have made in this.

I am an ESL teacher. Thank you for doing The Best News Ever. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my, do I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much for The Best News Ever. I have loved them. I canʼt wait to read more.

We are thoroughly enjoying The Best News Ever. Our first-grader can read it effortlessly. This is such a wonderful resource for all four of our young children. Even our three-year-old can understand the simple vocabulary. We have enjoyed many Bible story books, but this is very unique to have every verse translated into words and phrases that our children can relate to their lives. We first read several psalms that we have memorized as a family, and our seven-year-old said, “This is a LOT easier to understand!” Our five-year-old agreed. I am so grateful to be able to talk about the truths of Godʼs Word as a family without having to spend so much time translating it. We are planning on buying several more to give away as gifts. What a gift to this generation of children to be raised with a Bible they can understand!”

I love The Best News Ever because itʼs easy to read. Not like the real Bible where it has all those big and funny words. I started to take it to church. I even want to start a Bible study. So everyone can enjoy the Bible in an easier way!

Thank you for the Bible that you wrote. I have been reading it a lot just like you told me to do. I have read from Proverbs, and I even got a good experience in thinking about it. I will treasure the book until I die.

We just received our copy of The Best News Ever yesterday. It is awesome. I have never seen a Bible like this before. It was written with the intention of being able to be read by kids.

We were with our granddaughter last week. It was a delight to listen to her read to me from The Best News Ever. That is a treasure you have prepared for many families to use.

I bought two copies of The Best News Ever for two young girls in our lives. After looking through them myself, I am anticipating memorable moments “tucking them in” as my husband and I read biblical truths to them in language they can understand. What a great tool to use in “planting Godʼs Word” in their hearts.

We got to know a little first-grader while walking around the neighborhood. She is smart. She loves to read. She is being raised by her father because her mother walked out on them. She spends a lot of time with her grandmother. We got a copy of The Best News Ever, and the girl loved it. She read it from cover to cover.

My daughter is a preschool teacher at her church. She is using The Best News Ever with her class. Her school kids love it. The teachers are borrowing it and reading to their classes as well. She has told me that when it is Story Time, all of her 2- and 3-year olds gather around her on the floor right away. They all sit very still and listen as she reads, with no interruptions. Jan, to be able to capture the attention of children that age is the work of God, being done through your work.

I really like The Best News Ever!! I bought seven more copies and distributed them at church today to people who have young children, to some whose first language is French, and to our outreach pastor who spread the word in the Chinese classes.

I like that you can read The Best News Ever to a sibling and she wonʼt ask a lot of questions.

I like this Bible!

The Best News Ever is what a kid needs to read!

This Bible is awesome! Kids can understand what the Bible is saying. There are lots of amazing verses.

This Bible is easy to understand if you don’t know the “olden language.”

I love The Best News Ever!

I LOVE to read this Bible! I can read it all by myself. I can understand it. My mom even likes to use it for her Bible study.

The Best News Ever is more fun to read because it makes you think about everything that is happening. But when you read an adult Bible, you get lost. It is so confusing.

Thank you for The Best News Ever. I can understand it!

You actually wrote what the Gospel is, so you do not have to sit and wonder what it means.