Little Pilgrim's Big Journey Part III: The End of Days & The Eternal Kingdom

Little Pilgrim's Big Journey #3

by Tyler Van Halteren

Little Pilgrim's Big Journey Part The End of Days & The Eternal Kingdom (The Pilgrim's Progress Fully Illustrated for Kids)

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books

228 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2023

About the author

Tyler holds a M.div from the Master's Seminary and has spent most of his life seeking to inspire children and youth to follow Christ and know God's Word.

After seeing 20 minute bedtime stories change his son's life, Tyler decided to take up the challenge of changing the world through biblically faithful and beautifully illustrated books.

Reviews

[Jordan Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my son and we both really enjoyed it. It sparked great questions and conversation between us. We will definitely reread again. Though it is a children’s book, the truths portrayed are comforting and thought provoking for adults too. I realized after finishing it that we skipped the second book in the series, so I will have to go back and read it as well.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

brought tears to my eyes

[Coley Mangano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of our family ‘Morning Time’ over the past week and a half or so. It was a wonderful, victorious finish to/extention of the children’s version of Pilgrim’s Progress. Showing the victorious return of Christ, calling saved christians to labor for the kingdom until that day. I read the finish out loud to my children through tears! And each day we read they were begging me to keep going! Can’t wait for the second Mansoul book next month, following the same theme of the victorious return of Christ.

[Blessing Bloodworth (naptimereaders) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read-aloud with 5yo & 3yo girls.

“The King invited all the pilgrims together for a great feast. Words fall short to describe the joys and delights that these pilgrims experienced in the presence of their King.”

This third volume in the Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey is different from the others in that it is not inspired by John Bunyan’s original works. But do not let that deter you. It stays faithful to the message of the Pilgrim’s Progress and to the ultimate Truth of the Word itself. One of my favorite parts is the sheer number of direct quotes of Scripture the pilgrims make to each other and to themselves as they face difficulties on their journey.

In telling of the fight against evil and the Last Battle, this volume is naturally a bit more intense than the first two. The danger of Beelzebub and his servants is clear, but so is the victory of the King. This is something to be aware of if you have little ears that are more sensitive. Artistic portrayals of Beelzebub, a dragon named Apollyon, and evil servants are balanced by glorious renderings of the celestial city, the Shining Ones, and the King’s Son.

[Brad Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids have loved this series!

[Bethanyanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with my 4 year old. This was my favorite out of all 3.

[Saljo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, my children were completely gripped by this book. They talked about it alot and I loved the conversations it created. This is definitely the scariest of the three books, but my kids were cool with it.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations could have been better but we like the set of books otherwise.

[Missy Barnhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids absolutely loved this and kept going back wanting to read more.

[Lizzie Attaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have few words to describe my love for this series!

[Gabrielle Houweling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud to the kids- I preferred the first 2 books in the series

[Roger Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids loved this book. It has helped us talk about spiritual realities and how sweet Jesus is.

[Shelly Patularu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful conclusion to the trilogy of Little Pilgrim's Big Journey. These books sparked wonderful gospel conversations with my kids and so much creative play!

[Emily Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect finish to a journey that has shaped our family’s faith.

I’ll be honest: it’s easy to get stuck in "Bible story mode" where everything feels like a standalone moral lesson. But Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey Part 3 was the shift we needed to move toward actual progress in our kids’ understanding of the Gospel. This final leg of the journey takes the pilgrims through the Shadow Valley and across the Dark River, and it is handled with such grace and theological depth.

What Stood Out:
• Addressing the "Hard" Parts: This book doesn't sugarcoat the Christian walk. It shows that the road can be dark and difficult, but it roots every ounce of bravery in the King’s presence rather than our own strength.
• The Visuals: The illustrations are stunning and manage to depict intense moments without being terrifying for young hearts. The gold-foiled edges and map make it feel like a true heirloom on the shelf.
• Accessible Theology: It turned complex concepts like perseverance and eternal hope into something my daughter could actually visualize and articulate.

The Impact on Us:
The biggest shift wasn't just in what we were reading, but in our evening routine. We stopped just reading to get to sleep and started reading to finish the race. It has given our family a shared vocabulary for talking about fear and hope—reminding us all that the "Shadow Valleys" aren't signs that the King has left us, but parts of the path He has already walked.

If you have Parts 1 and 2, don't leave the journey half-finished. Seeing the Celestial City through the eyes of the pilgrims is the payoff your family's consistency deserves.
High Recommended for: Parents and educators looking for deep, Gospel-centered allegory that respects a child's ability to grasp big truths.

[WildesKopfkino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kleiner Pilger auf großer Reise vom Verbum Medien Verlag ist nicht „nur“ ein christliches Kinderbuch. Denn alle 3 Teile sind ein echtes Schatzkästchen. Diese Bücher zählen zu den bedeutendsten Werke der englischen christlichen Literatur und sind nicht einfach nur Geschichten – sie sind kleine Entdeckungsreisen für Herz und Hirn.



Ich hab sie mit meiner Tochter gelesen. Es war wie ein gemeinsames Wandern mit viel Staunen, Lachen und ein paar ehrlichen Fragen. Und genau da liegt der Clou: Nach jedem Kapitel kommen Fragen, die nicht nur sinnvoll sind, sondern tatsächlich zum Nachdenken anregen. Keine langweiligen Abhakfragen, sondern richtig gute Gesprächsstarter – auch für Erwachsene.



Was mich richtig begeistert hat: Die Illustrationen. Schön, aber nicht überladen. Ausdrucksstark, aber nicht kitschig. Für meinen Geschmack genau richtig. Die Bilder holen einen ab, vertiefen die Stimmung und machen das Ganze lebendig.



Der kleine Pilger hat’s drauf. Er nimmt einen mit auf eine Reise voller Herausforderungen, Hoffnung und himmlischer Perspektiven – kindgerecht, aber niemals oberflächlich. Für mich sind diese drei Bände einfach perfekt fürs gemeinsame Lesen, Entdecken und darüber Reden. Ein echter Volltreffer für Familien, Kindergottesdienste oder einfach zum abendlichen Schmökern auf der Couch.



Fazit: Diese Bücher sind wie eine Schatzkarte mit eingebautem Kompass fürs Leben – und dabei unterhaltsam, liebevoll und ehrlich. Klare 5 Sterne von mir. Und ein fester Platz im Bücherregal.

[Kate Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third part of Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey is the imaginings of what Bunyan might have created if he’d written a third part. At first I kind of dragged my feet about reading the third part since Bunyan never wrote a third part, but I’m so glad we read it. It’s absolutely amazing and my kids were enthralled! Its combines characters from Pilgrim’s Progress, stories from Bunyans life and Acts and Revelation. Lithos Kids has such an incredible ministry and I love that I can trust them to only put out biblically sound, beautiful and true resources for families. This third part is no exception and definitely measures up to the first two books. I love that it tells the end of the story for Pilgrims, it ends with Beelzebub being defeated and the children feasting with Jesus. During the battle scene, my kids all started cheering when the King’s Son rides into the battle on a white horse.

‘“You are not alone!” A great voice called down from the sky. “You have never been alone!” Eli looked up and could not believe his eyes. High above them, blazing brighter than sunlight, was the King’s Son, riding on a white horse! He was surrounded by a great army of saints in armor that shone brilliantly and pierced through the dark clouds around them.”

If that quote doesn’t make you want to read it, I don’t know what will!

[Kevin Halloran · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Bunyan intended to write a third Pilgrim's Progress book to show what happened to Christian’s siblings but never completed one before his death. So the third 'Little Pilgrim' book imagines what Bunyan might have written to complete the story, following Christian and Christiana’s two brothers and their new friends. Author Tyler Van Halteren explains, “[The third volume] combines characters from Pilgrim’s Progress with stories from Bunyan’s own life, as well as from the New Testament books of Acts and Revelation.”

My family loved this book! This third volume is my favorite in the trilogy. I won’t share spoilers, but will share that I teared up in the second half of the book at the beauty of our God and the glorious hope we have in Him—not a bad thing to say about a children’s book!


See my review of the trilogy.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed in this one. We really enjoyed the first two books but this one seems forced. The illustrations are also not as appealing as the first two books. Odd animals peak out from behind and around various objects that I don’t remember in books 1 & 2, both my daughter and I lost track of the multitude of new characters introduced plus old characters reappeared and we had to look back to remember who they were….

Books one and two were beautifully written and illustrated but this last installment presents like a result of poor time management- hurry up and finish- losing all its wonderful storytelling features.

[Abi Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is one of my kids favorites. If you are familiar with Pilgrims Progress, you’ll see that the storyline has not been altered or dumbed down in this retelling, just simplified enough and colorful pages added so that young kids can read and enjoy the stories. There are engaging discussion questions to get their minds rolling, or you can lean into the questions that arise as you’re reading. It’s a wonderful series!

[Amanda Siegmeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our family adores this entire series! This is truly a keepsake collection that belongs on everyone's bookshelf. The images are captivating and my children beg for me to keep reading. I especially love the review and questions at the end of each chapter and the conversations that arise from the summary.

[Simon Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read all three of the books in this series with my children and they have been such a blessing. The illustrations, story, end of chapter summaries and discussion questions are all excellent.

It's very clear that these books have been published with the primary desire to help children better understand the gospel and live the Christian life. Thank you Lithos Kids.

[Katie - Mud Pies with Sprinkles · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a parent with young children (ages 3-8), there’s no need to worry if you haven’t read the original Pilgrim’s Progress, as it isn’t necessary. This story is shallow enough for a young reader but deep enough for you. I ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND THE WHOLE SERIES.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunningly beautiful and well-done. We wrapped up this trilogy as a family, and it was all Scripturally rich and wonderful. Definitely a series we will return to multiple times as our own little pilgrims grow and learn.

[Emily Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completed the Little Pilgrim's Big Journey trilogy. These are my kids' favorite books of all time. The perfect amounts of scary and comforting. The animations are bright and beautiful, and it's a good retelling of Pilgrim's Progress.

[Stephen Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

a brilliant imagining of a continued world teaching many valuable lessons which seem to be derived from parables. also shows the second coming in a good amount of detial which is unusual and very useful within a children's book

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the rest of the series, the third book holds up upon reread. The only one not directly adapted from a John Bunyan original, in my opinion it offers a very satisfying wrap up to the stories that come before and with the same tone and quality.

[Jennalyn C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and enjoyed reading aloud to my child. Great discussion points and we will read again and again as they get older.

[Jori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it through tears to my children. Come, Lord Jesus!

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questions are best suited for ages 7+

But the stories and pictures will be enjoyed by all ages.

[Jonah Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the first two books, me and the kids both loved this. Read it a few times over now.