Pilgrim's Progress Paperback – June 19, 2015

it is perfect book size to read alongside young ones (ages 4-8) and perfect story length as well. they couldn't have enough of them! very good and interesting illustrations, full spread. got introduced to this treasure by a very good Sunday school teacher who used it as a storytelling resource during break times. im getting a few more used copies to give away. only wish the publisher would continue printing.

I like this book better than expected. It is quite long but it's not watered down. I read it to my 5year old son, we obviously can't finish it all in one reading and there are some parts that need to explain but overall it is a good book that can give great and deep opportunities to explain kids about the Narrow way.

I love Bunyan's original Progress. Helen Taylor did a great job taking it and making a child's version sometime in the 50s or 60s. However, she cut out much of the good original content that would have even encouraged children. Nevertheless a great book (called  Little Pilgrim's Progress: From John Bunyan's Classic (The Message) ).Mr. Dowley's version restores much of what Taylor left out. It's very good and maintains much of the great original themes and allegorical images that Bunyan first introduced to us hundreds of years ago. I highly recommend this version. The story flows well and the illustrations are excellent. I think this book comes with a board game or can be purchased separately. Your children will love it, even ones not old enough to read as they'll love the pictures. However, I have two concerns (hence, "drawbacks" in my title)-1. Why is the character Evangelist dressed like a pot smoking, hippie flower child? Evangelist was most likely the representative character for Bunyan's Pastor (Mr. Gifford) that helped him tremendously when he was curious and inquisitive about the Christian faith, struggling to find assurance of salvation. He was a godly, Christian man and why an image of new age, beard-wearing, long-haired guru looking dude from the late 60s is used to represent him, is beyond me.2. My second concern is the second to last sentence. It reads, "Good men made perfect walked there". Now, in all fairness I went back and checked Bunyan's original wording and I think I know where Dowley is getting this phrase from. Bunyan wrote, "the Spirits of just men made perfect". I understand that this is the picture of the kept promise of 1 John 3:2 that "what we will be has not yet been revealed..." The modernized  The Modern English Edition of Pilgrim's Progress  (another excellent version) even carries this thought through to today when he renders it, "...there...is Mount Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem, thousands upon thousands of angels, and the spirits of righteous men made perfect." (Heb 12:22-23). OK, so Bunyan is referring to Hebrews 12:22-23 and the ultimate completion of God's work in salvation where those who have been declared "just" or "righteous" are finally perfected. This is the same concept in Romans 8:29 and 30 where Paul gives us the golden chain of redemption which culminates in glorification.For Dowley to render this phrase, "good men made perfect walked there" misses what Bunyan was trying to point to in scripture. If anything, it actually teaches the opposite of Bible truth. No good men go to heaven. Bad men go there. Bad men that have been declared righteous, declared just, are made perfect when they arrive in heaven. Saying that good men made perfect walk in heaven is misleading at best and down right dangerous at worst. It can imply that if you're just good enough (by what standard?), you'll walk into heaven and be made perfect. That's not what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches that there are none good, not even one. That through the righteousness of Christ, a no good sinner, through faith, receive His perfect righteousness so that on the basis of Christ and Christ alone he can be made righteous and accepted by God and allowed into heaven. Salvation is completed when the saved sinner dies or Christ returns and he is brought to completion (or perfection) at that moment.Don't get me wrong, this is still a great modern version of PP for kids. Well worth the purchase. Just be aware that Bunyan was full of Bible and it bled out on every page of his works. We need to be careful when bringing his English up to date that we don't re-write his theology and unintentionally teach a different gospel in the process.

Great addition to our library

Bought as a gift for a young member of our church. It is an updated version sure to delight young people but remains faithful to the story line. Very proud of it.

I am teaching a class on Pilgrim's Progress and we are using this book for illustrations. I have given several copies of this edition to friends and to their children. It is a wonderful children's book.

This is a retelling of Bunyan's classic for younger children. My 4 year old loves it - so much so that it has to be read nearly every Sunday!The story is simplified, but not overly so - it still stretches to 80 pages, which is ideal for 3-5 year-olds.Each chapter is essentially a 2 page spread with a massive two page illustration and several paragraphs of text. There has been some modernising of the character's names, but not overly so. Not as much detail in the story as  Helen Taylor's version  (of which I am a big fan), which makes it ideal for younger readers. It is also good to read alongside Taylors so that older children can enjoy the illustrations.The illustrations that accompany the story are brilliantly done - humorous without being frivolous, cartoon-like enough so that the 'scarier' moments (Giant Despair and Apollyon) wont give nightmares!The only reason it doesn't get a full 5 stars is that it only covers the first part of Pilgrim's Progress - come on men give us the second half of the story, please!If you want to introduce the wonder of Pilgrim's Progress to a younger audience (3-6) or to a younger audience not used to being read a longer version (like Helen Taylor's) - then this is the book for you.

I purchased this book but can't read it. It will not allow me to change the font size.. reported it and got reimbursed. I tried again they next day same thing. Need another reimbursement.

Really good read. Although I am not sure if the book is for young kids. A little scary - in terms of drawings.

I read this book at a time of very low mood. My life needed to change for the better and this book was a start!! Basically it shows you where you go wrong in life and what to do to get back on the straight and narrow. Although a book for kids it wets your appetite for the full adult version.. Buy this and you have a workshop manual of how to find God and stay on the right path..Don't take my word for it, try it for yourself and prepare to be amazed by John Bunyan's writing..

I remember reading this as a child and wanted to share the story with my 4 (almost 5) year old. I read it with him every night and he is absolutely enthralled and loving the story. He asks lots of questions and makes lots of statements, showing me that he understands it.

This is well adapted in updated English and great for children 10 and upwards. It’s great for adults too because the story is so gripping.

Love this. Brought under the ISBN as suggested. Helped me revisit the process of becoming a Christian again. Solid pieces sturdy board, attractive box. Excellent modernisation of the Bunyan classic. Now want it as an app..