The kids and I enjoy reading chapter books while they eat lunch. This has allowed me to read higher reading level books to my children and expand their vocabulary and comprehension. We just started Little Pilgrim’s Progress by Helen L. Taylor yesterday and we are loving it!
Little Pilgrim’s Progress
Taylor’s book takes John Bunyon’s classic book, Pilgrim’s Progress, and rewrites it into everyday language and the characters are children instead of adults.
So we are reading about Little Christian and his journey to the Celestial City to see the King. Along the way he meets many characters, some who help and some who hinder, his journey.
There are many resources available to teach this classic for all ages. Maybe some of these will help your journey through the book.
Resources for Teaching Pilgrim’s Progress to Preschool – Elementary Children
- Activity pages for K-6 (Scroll down to find) written by a church for their Sunday School Curriculum.
- Coloring pages
- A COLOR! copy of the map that shows Christian’s journey.
- A Homeschool Unit of Bunyon’s original story.
- Pilgrim’s Progress Lapbook Guide
- The John Bunyon Story DVD from the Torch Lighters Series.
- Children’s Pilgrim’s Progress Activities including curriculum, dramatic readings and more.
- A Children’s Guide to Pilgrim’s Progress
- Activities for Sunday School
- Teaching Values with Pilgrim’s Progress
- Pilgrim’s Progress Audio drama
- Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey Unit Guide
Resources for Teaching to Older Students and Adults
- Curriculum Study Guide
- Updated Pilgrim’s Progress animated movie
- Allegorical Elements in Pilgrim’s Progress
- The Life of John Bunyon by John Piper
- Pilgrim’s Progress course by The Gospel Coalition
I must admit, while the Little Pilgrim’s Progress book is pretty good, the original is hard to get through. I watched a local theater put on the play of Pilgrim’s Progress and I came out so depressed afterwards. I searched myself trying to figure out why I was feeling that way. After processing the play with my family, I discovered that the way the play had been created left out the idea of encouragement and hope with the help of the Holy Spirit. Pilgrim was constantly trying to get out of his predicaments with the help of scripture in his own power. Consequently is seemed like his character was always unhappy, tired, and a bother to everyone.
I did not see Pilgrim in this light while reading the book. I’d have to go back and reread it, but if Pilgrim’s Progress is to be an allegory of our spiritual journey, then we cannot leave out the power of the Holy Spirit once we decide to follow Christ.
If I was to teach this book again, I would make sure that we read through the lens of living a powerful life with the Holy Spirit. While passing through the slough of despond and being in the castle of despair might be hard, we can be content in all situations and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to help us, even if things look bad.
