Cover of The Pilgrim's Progress (For Children)

Book · 12 chapters · 16 min read · Accessible

The Pilgrim's Progress (For Children)

John Bunyan · 1628–1688

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The Pilgrim's Progress
22 chapters·9 hr 7 min read
Cover of The Pilgrim’s Progress (For Teens)
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The Pilgrim’s Progress (For Teens)
12 chapters·44 min read

About this book

John Bunyan’s famous story of a traveller named Christian, who leaves his city with a heavy burden on his back and journeys all the way to the Celestial City. This children’s edition retells his adventure in short chapters made to be read aloud: a Bible verse, one scene of the journey, one thing it means for you, and a short prayer.

In a place called the City of Destruction, there lived a man named Christian. One day he was reading a book, and what he read frightened him terribly. He learned that his city was going to be destroyed — and worst of all, he could feel a great, heavy burden on his back that he could not get off, no matter how he tried.
From The Man Who Cried, "What Shall I Do?"

Contents

  1. 1 The Man Who Cried, "What Shall I Do?" 1 min
  2. 2 Stuck in the Swamp 1 min
  3. 3 The Little Gate That Opens 1 min
  4. 4 The House of Wonderful Rooms 1 min
  5. 5 The Burden Rolls Away 1 min
  6. 6 The Hard Hill and the Palace Beautiful 1 min
  7. 7 Christian Fights the Dragon 1 min
  8. 8 Through the Dark Valley 1 min
  9. 9 Vanity Fair and the Faithful Friend 1 min
  10. 10 Escaping Giant Despair 1 min
  11. 11 The Shepherds Who Show Wonders 1 min
  12. 12 Over the River to the Golden City 1 min

Questions and Answers

What is The Pilgrim’s Progress (For Children) about?
It is a children’s version of John Bunyan’s famous story. A man named Christian sets out from his home with a heavy burden on his back and travels a long, adventurous road to the Celestial City. Along the way he meets giants, monsters, friends and dangers — and every part of the journey quietly pictures what it is like to follow God.
Who was John Bunyan?
An English preacher who lived long ago and spent years in prison for his faith. While there he wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress, which became one of the best-loved stories in the world — an adventure that teaches about God through the tale of a traveller called Christian.
How is each chapter set out?
Every chapter is short and made to be read aloud. It begins with a Bible verse, tells one scene of Christian’s journey, shows one simple thing it means for you, and ends with a short prayer.
Who is this book for?
It is for children — to be read aloud by a grown-up, or read by an older child alone. Bunyan’s fuller Pilgrim’s Progress is also available for older readers, along with a plain-English retelling.
Why is the story full of monsters and giants?
Because Bunyan made it a picture-story. Christian’s road stands for the life of following God, and its dangers — a swamp, a giant, a dark valley — stand for the real troubles and temptations we meet. Telling it as an adventure makes those lessons easy for a child to remember.
Are the names in the story unusual on purpose?
Yes. Bunyan gave his characters and places names that describe them — Christian, Faithful, Hopeful, the Slough of Despond, the Hill Difficulty, Giant Despair. The name tells you what each one is like, which helps young readers follow the meaning of the story.