Homeschool Crew Review: Planet 316 Story Bible and Companion App

Storybook Bibles can be a great way to introduce young children to important Biblical lessons.  Over the last several weeks we have had an opportunity to use an review the Planet 316 Story Bible and the companion Planet 316 Story Bible App from Planet 316 and WorthyKids/Ideals.


The Planet 316 Bible is a hardcover,305 page, illustrated Story Bible with over 100 stories from the Old and New Testaments. The length of each story varies but they are all 6 pages or less and every page has an illustration on it.  The illustrations are very colorful. You will find familiar stories such as: Creation, Adam and Eve in the Garden, Noah and the Flood, Jacob and Esau, David and Goliath, Jesus Walks on Water, The Good Samaritan, The Last Supper, and many, many more.  Each story lists the Scripture references from where they come from in the Bible.

The Planet 316 Story Bible comes with a free downloadable app.  The app is available for iOS 7 or newer for Apple devices and in the Google Play Store for Andriod 4.1 and up.  It does not run on Kindles. You can search for the app in iTunes or Google Play or scan the QR code on the back on the Bible.  Once the app is downloaded on your phone or tablet, all you have to do is open the app on your device and click start. You scan the page in the Story Bible with your rear facing camera by holding your device over the page and the story comes to life.  Images appear in 3D, characters talk and move, and there is music and sound effects.

I have been using this Bible with my 6 and 8 year old daughters.  The app I have been running on my iPhone 7.  The Bible by itself is a really cute children's storybook Bible.  The illustrations are very colorful and have a cartoony look that the children love.  The text does a great job of telling the story in a way that is child friendly and short enough to hold young children's attention but doesn't take away from the original message.  Adding in the features of the app makes it really cool!  I was impressed at the way the images popped up off the page.  Not only that but some of them move, some talk, and there are cool sound effects.  And the app was really easy to use.

One thing that is a little challenging is if a child wants to read it on their own.  It is really difficult to hold the book open and hold the device in the correct spot to scan the page and still be able to touch the characters to make them speak.  I wish the Bible was able to open completely flat to be able to sit on the table.  It would also be great if they added a feature to the app that could read the text to young children. 

To see what my Crew Mates had to say, stop by the Crew Blog!