Little Pilgrim's Progress: From John Bunyan's Classic (The Message) [Paperback]

Helen Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: The Message

Fifty-five years ago, Helen L. Taylor took John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and simplified the vocabulary and concepts for young readers, while keeping the storyline intact. The result was a classic in itself, which has now sold over 600,000 copies. It’s both a simple adventure story and a profound allegory of the Christian journey through life, a delightful read with a message kids ages 6 to 12 can understand and remember. A new look and fresh illustrations for today’s children enlivens the journey to the Celestial City.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

HELEN L. TAYLOR, has carefully rewritten a centuries-old tale in order that children might be able to grasp the truths set

out by John Bunyan in 1678.

JOHN BUNYAN, after years of dealing with his own inner struggles, gave his life to the Lord and spent the remainder of

his life preaching and teaching truth without fear. Perhaps his greatest legacy is this work, The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers; Reprinted edition (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802449247
• ISBN-13: 978-0802449245
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Fiction > General
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Fiction > Christian
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > Ages 4-8

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Worth Reading, July 10, 2006

By 

Rebeca (Here, There, and Everywhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Pilgrim's Progress: From John Bunyan's Classic (The Message) (Paperback)

As a parent I want the books I read my children to not only be entertaining, but to open their eyes to the world around them and present Truth to their little hearts. Little Pilgrim's Progress, a child's version of John Bunyan's classic allegory of the Christian life, does just that. Helen Taylor does an excellent job of keeping the story simple enough to thoroughly engage my 3 1/2 year old son without dumbing or watering it down. It has everything an active little boy could want in a story- adventure and battles, danger, swords, giants and dragons and it's full of spiritual lessons along the way. The chapters are short, only two to three pages, and each one left us eager to find out what was going to happen next.
The book is divided into two sections, the first being the story of little Christian, a boy living in the City of Destruction. The King sends him a message through His servant Evangelist and Christian sets out on his pilgrimage toward the Celestial City. Along the way he meets other servants of the King who help him along the path and some who become his traveling companions for parts of the journey. He also meets with many of the King's enemies; Self, Worldly, and the Giant Despair who inhabits Doubting Castle to name a few. He learns to love the Prince as he faces danger, temptation, doubts, and even suffers on behalf of being one of the King's Pilgrims. The second half of the book is the story of Christiana, a friend of Christian's from the City of Destruction. She too is summoned by the King and sets out along with her brothers and baby sister. Because they're so young the King gives them a guide, a young man called Greatheart. As they travel their company grows to include many others, and it's wonderful to see the children learn to love and trust the King as they journey toward His city.
My son loves to play that he's a character from whatever we're reading, and because this story is about children he especially enjoys playing that he's one of the King's little pilgrims. Even though they're young they face great danger, and the King makes them brave and strong to fight battles. This story has given us many opportunities to talk about the great Spiritual truths that are inherent in it. My son's name is Latin for Pilgrim or wanderer, so I was able to explain that to him in the context in which we intended it when we called him that.
I think one of the marks of a good children's story is that it can also keep the attention of the adult reader! Little Pilgrim's Progress not only did that, but challenged and encouraged me in my own journey on the Way of the King. I know that this will be a book we'll want to read many times. I, for one, can hardly wait!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My children found it gripping, February 9, 2007

By 

An electric kettle fan (Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Pilgrim's Progress: From John Bunyan's Classic (The Message) (Paperback)

I have strong memories of this book from when I read it as a child, very different from other books, and fascinating, one of my favorites, couldn't get it out of my mind. When my children were young, I remembered this book and obtained a copy. The first time I read it to them, they were only 3 1/2 and 5 1/2. I knew they were young, so was amazed at how much they liked the book and would beg me again and again to read "just one more" chapter. (I would still suggest this book for slightly older children, maybe in the younger elementary years.) But it really is an amazingly gripping book for children, with lots of important lessons that can be learned and discussed. My son, after reading about the character "Help" early in the book, asked whether could change his name to "Help"! (We suggested that he have it as a second middle name). Then later he wanted to add the name "Greatheart". Anyhow, I will end with saying I strongly recommend this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We loved this book!, February 12, 2011

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Little Pilgrim's Progress: From John Bunyan's Classic (The Message) (Paperback)

In this wonderful book (published by Moody Press), author Helen L. Taylor takes the Christian classic Pilgrim's Progress and reworks it for younger readers. She simplified the words and concepts, but stayed remarkably close to the original story. The paragraphs are nice and short, which makes this an excellent bedtime read, which is how I read it to my nine-year-old son and eleven-year-old daughter.

This is really two stories in one book, the first story tells of Christian, a small boy living in the City of Destruction, who hears Evangelist talking about the Celestial City where the great King lives. Christian becomes a pilgrim, and sets off for the Celestial City. Along the way he has many encounters and learns many lessons. The second story is about Christiana, a friend of Christian, who sets out with others to walk the same path, and they encounter many trials, often different than the ones faced by Christian.

This is an excellent book. It is jam-packed with Christian concepts, which you can then stop, at a convenient chapter break, and explain. Indeed, if I have one complaint, it's that I wish that this book had a study guide to accompany it! My children were a little disquieted by the martyrdom of one character, but as this is also a part of the Christian experience, I am glad that this book addressed it.

So, I must say that my children and I all loved this book. As a matter of fact, I think that I will make reading it a yearly tradition (for a while, anyway). We highly recommend this book!