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Pilipinto: The Jungle Adventures of a Missionary’s Daughter
In 1956, Valerie’s young missionary father, Jim Elliot, and four other men were speared to death by members of a remote Ecuadorian tribe. But the good news of the gospel did not die with them. When Valerie was just a toddler, she and her mother, Elisabeth, moved to live with that very tribe―showing the unconditional love of Christ so that the gospel could work in powerful and transformative ways. Pilipinto is an amazing story of courage and redemption―but it is also the simple story of a young American girl who grew up alongside the indigenous people of the 1950s Amazon jungle. That jungle, despite its dangers, became a delightful playground where Valerie learned to trust God's hand and respect all his gifts. Beautifully illustrated, Pilipinto is a child-appropriate introduction to several Christian heroes and heroines―powerful models in the faith who demonstrated reckless abandon for the kingdom of God.
64 pages, Hardcover
Published August 2, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 30, 2024
“Do you know what ‘the gospel’ is? It’s the true and wonderful story, the ‘good news’ of how God loved the world. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to live and die for lost sinners so that those who believe in him will be saved from their sins and go to heaven when they die.” After meeting at Wheaton College, Jim and Elisabeth Elliot find they shared a passion for Christ and want to tell everyone around the world about Him. His mottos are “Live life to the hilt” and “Wherever you are, be all there!”
Both of them feel called to a tribe in Ecuador. “They call themselves Waorani…That means ‘the people.’” But “the Quichuas called the Wao ‘savages’ because the Wao were not friendly.” When Jim and his four friends attempt to establish a friendship, they are killed. But Elisabeth and their young daughter–the author–Valerie remain. They call “the very tall lady with jaguar eyes,” Elisabeth, Gikari, or “woodpecker,” because of her pointed nose and her daughter, Valerie, Pilipinto, which means “butterfly,” because she is always eager to play. As her daughter grows, the woodpecker becomes the butterfly’s teacher. “The word THIMK! Is on the blackboard. It is spelled wrong to remind Pilipinto to think hard about her spelling and her arithmetic.”
When her mother worries about their safety, their femininity serves as their fortress. “Your husband was a man! You are a woman! We will say, She is good. She is like our mother. We love her.’...Pilipinto knows that death is a fearful thing. But she also knows that because Jesus rose from the dead, she can trust him to take her to heaven when she dies.” In time, Pilipinto’s father’s prayer is fulfilled: the tribe known by outsiders as “savages” and by themselves as “the people,” have truly become “the people” of God!
Valerie Elliot Shepard’s Pilipinto is a beautifully illustrated scrapbook collage tribute to life through the lens of a missionary kid.
Both of them feel called to a tribe in Ecuador. “They call themselves Waorani…That means ‘the people.’” But “the Quichuas called the Wao ‘savages’ because the Wao were not friendly.” When Jim and his four friends attempt to establish a friendship, they are killed. But Elisabeth and their young daughter–the author–Valerie remain. They call “the very tall lady with jaguar eyes,” Elisabeth, Gikari, or “woodpecker,” because of her pointed nose and her daughter, Valerie, Pilipinto, which means “butterfly,” because she is always eager to play. As her daughter grows, the woodpecker becomes the butterfly’s teacher. “The word THIMK! Is on the blackboard. It is spelled wrong to remind Pilipinto to think hard about her spelling and her arithmetic.”
When her mother worries about their safety, their femininity serves as their fortress. “Your husband was a man! You are a woman! We will say, She is good. She is like our mother. We love her.’...Pilipinto knows that death is a fearful thing. But she also knows that because Jesus rose from the dead, she can trust him to take her to heaven when she dies.” In time, Pilipinto’s father’s prayer is fulfilled: the tribe known by outsiders as “savages” and by themselves as “the people,” have truly become “the people” of God!
Valerie Elliot Shepard’s Pilipinto is a beautifully illustrated scrapbook collage tribute to life through the lens of a missionary kid.
October 7, 2025
Pilipinto by Valerie Shepherd Elliott shares her childhood in the jungles of Ecuador as the daughter of Jim & Elisabeth Elliot. Through her child’s eyes, you see God’s care, jungle adventures, and a faith that feels both simple and profound.
The language is simple for a child to follow and there is a glossary at the back with help on pronunciation of new words. It include photos & journal entries throughout as well as vivid water color pictures.
What I love most? This isn’t just another missionary story—it’s told through a child’s eyes. It’s filled with childlike faith, vivid memories of jungle life, and an honesty that makes you pause and reflect on God’s goodness and what you’d sacrifice to be obedient to him. I found myself both smiling and challenged as her words reached something deep inside me. 💛
👉 If you need a soul-stirring read, pick up Pilipinto.
⚠️ There are some topics in the book that may be difficult for some children e.g. the killing of Jim Elliott, the diet eaten on the jungle of monkey brains and the lack of clothing of the tribe people. It is recommended to age 4-7 but I feel each parent would need to discern if they feel it is suitable for that age group.
The language is simple for a child to follow and there is a glossary at the back with help on pronunciation of new words. It include photos & journal entries throughout as well as vivid water color pictures.
What I love most? This isn’t just another missionary story—it’s told through a child’s eyes. It’s filled with childlike faith, vivid memories of jungle life, and an honesty that makes you pause and reflect on God’s goodness and what you’d sacrifice to be obedient to him. I found myself both smiling and challenged as her words reached something deep inside me. 💛
👉 If you need a soul-stirring read, pick up Pilipinto.
⚠️ There are some topics in the book that may be difficult for some children e.g. the killing of Jim Elliott, the diet eaten on the jungle of monkey brains and the lack of clothing of the tribe people. It is recommended to age 4-7 but I feel each parent would need to discern if they feel it is suitable for that age group.
September 29, 2023
A memoir written for children in picture book form by Valerie Shepherd, Jim Elliot's daughter, who spend the formative years of her childhood living as a missionary child among the Waoroni tribe in South America, the same natives who murdered her father.
This was a well-written story that included key details about jungle life and limited access to the outside world that a child would be curious about, such as diet, sleeping arrangements, dangers in the jungle, language, and of course, how the gospel transformed sinners into children of God.
The book includes numerous photos along with beautiful artwork done by the author's uncle. I loved reading about Valerie's resilience and how her natural, inquisitive, enthusiastic personality absolutely thrived among the natives. She learned the language so quickly -- a language that had never been written down and was comprised of strange clicks and grunts that are foreign to English.
This is a great family read-aloud book or a resource for missionary studies of Jim Elliot and the other missionaries who died. This book shows that God does indeed work all things together for good out of devastation.
This was a well-written story that included key details about jungle life and limited access to the outside world that a child would be curious about, such as diet, sleeping arrangements, dangers in the jungle, language, and of course, how the gospel transformed sinners into children of God.
The book includes numerous photos along with beautiful artwork done by the author's uncle. I loved reading about Valerie's resilience and how her natural, inquisitive, enthusiastic personality absolutely thrived among the natives. She learned the language so quickly -- a language that had never been written down and was comprised of strange clicks and grunts that are foreign to English.
This is a great family read-aloud book or a resource for missionary studies of Jim Elliot and the other missionaries who died. This book shows that God does indeed work all things together for good out of devastation.
August 15, 2023
Who were the Elliots and where did they go for God? In Pilipinto: The Jungle Adventures of a Missionary’s Daughter, Valerie Elliot Shepard shares a story of the legacy of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot.
Family and Faith
This book is a beautiful introduction to the Elliot family and their faith. It is an engaging story of a missionary child, and what it was like to live in the Amazon jungle. There are even never-before published entries from Elisabeth Elliot’s diary.
God’s Work in the World
With lush watercolor art and vintage photographs, this inspiring book will capture the imagination of your young ones as you read it together to learn about God’s work and love for the world.
I received a media copy of Pilipinto and this is my honest review.
Family and Faith
This book is a beautiful introduction to the Elliot family and their faith. It is an engaging story of a missionary child, and what it was like to live in the Amazon jungle. There are even never-before published entries from Elisabeth Elliot’s diary.
God’s Work in the World
With lush watercolor art and vintage photographs, this inspiring book will capture the imagination of your young ones as you read it together to learn about God’s work and love for the world.
I received a media copy of Pilipinto and this is my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews