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Heaven is For Real
Heaven is for Real for Kids: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
Fixed Layout Edition
Heaven is for real, and you are going to like it!
Colton Burpo came back from his trip to heaven with a very important message: Jesus really, really loves children. In an effort to reach even more families with this eternally significant story, this runaway bestseller is now told from Colton—kid to kids! Children will receive the same comfort and assurance that so many adults have received from the trade book.
Beautifully illustrated under Colton's direction, he shares his experiences in first person and comments on things that will be important to kids. A letter to parents is included to guide them as they talk to their children about heaven. Scripture along with a Q&A section with answers from the Bible are also included in the book.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2011
47 people are currently reading
923 people want to read
About the author
Todd Burpo
16 books840 followersTodd Burpo is pastor of Crossroads Wesleyan and a volunteer fireman. He and his wife, Sonja, have four children: Colton is an active 14-year-old; he has an older sister, Cassie; a younger brother, Colby; and a very special sister he met in heaven, yet to be named.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
May 11, 2012
I read this book today. I'd never have picked it up, but a friend with a young child shared it with me. She was so excited about it. She knows I love to read, that I believe in God, and she was positively thrilled to share it with me. Heck, she sat there while I read it.
Alrighty then.... I don't even begin to know how to categorize this book. Certainly it's non-fiction as it recounts what society categorizes as a "near death" experience. Certainly it's a kid's book as it's the version of this story written and illustrated for kids (vs. the edition that's geared toward adults, as apparently there are different castings of this account). Surely, there can be hardly any more important topics than Heaven, immortality, and humanity's ongoing search for the meaning of life.
This remarkable little toddler--who is not the author of the book, I might note--apparently died while undergoing an unspecified surgery, had these remarkable experiences, and was returned to earth (that's not a spoiler folks, it's all implied right there in the title) in answer to his father's prayers. Interesting. The same father who is the "author" of this book. The same father who is a pastor. "Not his mother's prayers?," I wonder.
What a potentially marvelous, powerful and ultimately faith-affirming message. The child relays, presumably over the course of years, his memories and the details of his brief experience of Heaven. They are accompanied by illustrations that are not his own, and with assorted scriptural citations with which--at the age of three--he was doubtless not fully conversant. The final product however, this book, leaves me with far more questions than it does answers and certainty. My questions are not about the veracity of Heaven, or God, or the power of faith. They are, instead, all about the context--which is sorely lacking here--about how parents (I presume both parents approved of this effort) decide that this is a message that is unique and needs to be carried to the rest of the world--in formats targeted for specific demographics. This is the part where I'm caught short. This is the part where if I cared more (which quite honestly I don't), I'd do some research on the backstory. Why don't I care? Not because I don't care about the message, but because I care a whole lot less about Colton's parents' decision to publish these books and don't want to give them any more of my time. There's a vast and interesting literature on out-of-body and near-death experiences. If this were Colton's account, told in his own words and through his own filters, it could readily complement that rich body of work. As it's not, I'm simply left wondering what it's like to have this momentous occasion capitalized upon by one's parent(s).
One final point. The book contained a section addressing kids' questions after reading the book. One of the questions was something to the effect of "How do animals get to Heaven?" I was a kid once, admittedly a long time ago. My inner child doesn't want to know the specific mechanism by which animals get to heaven, esp. as the book depicts assorted animals including the range of Peaceable Kingdom lion and lamb imagery in Heaven. Nope. What I want to know is, "Do my pets go to Heaven, will I see them, and will they get along?" That's a very different series of pet-related questions than the one presented, and pretty succinctly dismissed in my estimation, at book's close.
So I'm left more than a little ambivalent here due to (1) the lack of context and (2) the inescapable fact that the child who actually underwent this powerful experience, Colton Burpo, was not afforded the opportunity to tell his own story. What has been lost or, more likely embellished and buffed to a glossy sheen, in the retelling by his pastor father? I'd be interested in Colton's story, but I'd like a good deal less of Dad in here.
Alrighty then.... I don't even begin to know how to categorize this book. Certainly it's non-fiction as it recounts what society categorizes as a "near death" experience. Certainly it's a kid's book as it's the version of this story written and illustrated for kids (vs. the edition that's geared toward adults, as apparently there are different castings of this account). Surely, there can be hardly any more important topics than Heaven, immortality, and humanity's ongoing search for the meaning of life.
This remarkable little toddler--who is not the author of the book, I might note--apparently died while undergoing an unspecified surgery, had these remarkable experiences, and was returned to earth (that's not a spoiler folks, it's all implied right there in the title) in answer to his father's prayers. Interesting. The same father who is the "author" of this book. The same father who is a pastor. "Not his mother's prayers?," I wonder.
What a potentially marvelous, powerful and ultimately faith-affirming message. The child relays, presumably over the course of years, his memories and the details of his brief experience of Heaven. They are accompanied by illustrations that are not his own, and with assorted scriptural citations with which--at the age of three--he was doubtless not fully conversant. The final product however, this book, leaves me with far more questions than it does answers and certainty. My questions are not about the veracity of Heaven, or God, or the power of faith. They are, instead, all about the context--which is sorely lacking here--about how parents (I presume both parents approved of this effort) decide that this is a message that is unique and needs to be carried to the rest of the world--in formats targeted for specific demographics. This is the part where I'm caught short. This is the part where if I cared more (which quite honestly I don't), I'd do some research on the backstory. Why don't I care? Not because I don't care about the message, but because I care a whole lot less about Colton's parents' decision to publish these books and don't want to give them any more of my time. There's a vast and interesting literature on out-of-body and near-death experiences. If this were Colton's account, told in his own words and through his own filters, it could readily complement that rich body of work. As it's not, I'm simply left wondering what it's like to have this momentous occasion capitalized upon by one's parent(s).
One final point. The book contained a section addressing kids' questions after reading the book. One of the questions was something to the effect of "How do animals get to Heaven?" I was a kid once, admittedly a long time ago. My inner child doesn't want to know the specific mechanism by which animals get to heaven, esp. as the book depicts assorted animals including the range of Peaceable Kingdom lion and lamb imagery in Heaven. Nope. What I want to know is, "Do my pets go to Heaven, will I see them, and will they get along?" That's a very different series of pet-related questions than the one presented, and pretty succinctly dismissed in my estimation, at book's close.
So I'm left more than a little ambivalent here due to (1) the lack of context and (2) the inescapable fact that the child who actually underwent this powerful experience, Colton Burpo, was not afforded the opportunity to tell his own story. What has been lost or, more likely embellished and buffed to a glossy sheen, in the retelling by his pastor father? I'd be interested in Colton's story, but I'd like a good deal less of Dad in here.
July 28, 2014
I have absolutely no respect for any man who will pimp his own innocent child for money nor any mother who will tolerate it. This is as much child exploitation as child porn or renting one's little boy out to perverts by the hour.
A little 4 year old child had a near death experience. Notice that I said NEAR death experience. There is a huge difference in being nearly dead and in being dead. Flash forward several years and his exploitative father, a Christian minister who sees other ministers writing books and making big bucks decides that he will write one too. What to write about? Christians are gullible and will believe any myth they see in the bible or told to them by those with credentials from the church but it needs to be something pretty spectacular to get attention in a sea of other books for gullible Christians. Aha! He will make up a tale about his little boy who was so sick years earlier.
That book was called "Heaven is For Real". Burpo (an apt name as he makes me want to burp, belch then vomit) and the little wifey conspire to declare that there is proof of a heaven and that their son said and did this and that at age 4 after being in a coma (but NOT dead). Now, one cannot prove that there is life after death (an absurd notion in the first place) or that there is a heaven when one has NOT died. This poor child has the misfortune to be a minister's son which means he has been brainwashed into believing christian myths since birth. Burpo and his wife decide to turn their son into a cash cow.
Heaven is not for real but gullible christians with checkbooks and credit cards are. The child was 4 when he was sick. It has been years and Burpo has just recently come out writing books about it. As psychologists, teachers, and parents know, preschool children have fantastic imaginations and they are also highly suggestible. The child likely (after being brainwashed into believing myths) was easy prey to his parents in establishing a story and convincing him he said things years ago.
There is no evidence that the child ever dreamed any of this or that it is anything other than a figment of the father's devious mind. He apparently has no shame for he has now written this piece of trash "for" his son pretending the child is telling a story about something that never happened to corner the kiddie market. This is simply disgraceful. This is why religious mythology is so hard to get rid of. Ignorant parents brainwash yet another generation of kids with garbage like this. There is no heaven and this kid has never been dead or gone anywhere. This is just a greedy father selling his kid for personal profit.
A little 4 year old child had a near death experience. Notice that I said NEAR death experience. There is a huge difference in being nearly dead and in being dead. Flash forward several years and his exploitative father, a Christian minister who sees other ministers writing books and making big bucks decides that he will write one too. What to write about? Christians are gullible and will believe any myth they see in the bible or told to them by those with credentials from the church but it needs to be something pretty spectacular to get attention in a sea of other books for gullible Christians. Aha! He will make up a tale about his little boy who was so sick years earlier.
That book was called "Heaven is For Real". Burpo (an apt name as he makes me want to burp, belch then vomit) and the little wifey conspire to declare that there is proof of a heaven and that their son said and did this and that at age 4 after being in a coma (but NOT dead). Now, one cannot prove that there is life after death (an absurd notion in the first place) or that there is a heaven when one has NOT died. This poor child has the misfortune to be a minister's son which means he has been brainwashed into believing christian myths since birth. Burpo and his wife decide to turn their son into a cash cow.
Heaven is not for real but gullible christians with checkbooks and credit cards are. The child was 4 when he was sick. It has been years and Burpo has just recently come out writing books about it. As psychologists, teachers, and parents know, preschool children have fantastic imaginations and they are also highly suggestible. The child likely (after being brainwashed into believing myths) was easy prey to his parents in establishing a story and convincing him he said things years ago.
There is no evidence that the child ever dreamed any of this or that it is anything other than a figment of the father's devious mind. He apparently has no shame for he has now written this piece of trash "for" his son pretending the child is telling a story about something that never happened to corner the kiddie market. This is simply disgraceful. This is why religious mythology is so hard to get rid of. Ignorant parents brainwash yet another generation of kids with garbage like this. There is no heaven and this kid has never been dead or gone anywhere. This is just a greedy father selling his kid for personal profit.
February 27, 2015
Wow - this may be worse than the book it is based on, since it has pictures and it's designed for kids.
The book states that Colton Burpo went to heaven and saw a heaven that was exactly like the Bible described. Which, to this father, means people walk around with literal halos, and Jesus has a rainbow-colored horse. Where is that in the Bible again?
It's one thing to believe heaven is real, and quite another to suggest that it conforms specifically to one narrow view.
I get that heaven may be different to different people - but the intent of this book is to make sure that kids believe this view of heaven is the right one; the intent of the original book is to prove that the fundamentalist Christian version of heaven is real, and that it's the correct version of heaven. And the arguments that are used to prove this make no sense. The basic argument is that everything Colton saw is how the Bible describes heaven. But, really, what Colton saw is how many fundamentalist Christians see heaven. Quite a bit different.
The original book reads like propaganda. By extension, this one reads like indoctrination.
The book states that Colton Burpo went to heaven and saw a heaven that was exactly like the Bible described. Which, to this father, means people walk around with literal halos, and Jesus has a rainbow-colored horse. Where is that in the Bible again?
It's one thing to believe heaven is real, and quite another to suggest that it conforms specifically to one narrow view.
I get that heaven may be different to different people - but the intent of this book is to make sure that kids believe this view of heaven is the right one; the intent of the original book is to prove that the fundamentalist Christian version of heaven is real, and that it's the correct version of heaven. And the arguments that are used to prove this make no sense. The basic argument is that everything Colton saw is how the Bible describes heaven. But, really, what Colton saw is how many fundamentalist Christians see heaven. Quite a bit different.
The original book reads like propaganda. By extension, this one reads like indoctrination.
October 19, 2017
Heaven is for Real for Kids: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd and Sonja Burpo, as told by Colton Burpo to his parents. Illustrated by Wilson Ong. ©2011. Tommy Nelson Publishing. 5 Stars. This is a great book for kids that contains appropriate Bible passages. Thanks to a local library for the availability of this title.
February 7, 2012
I loved it and give it 5 out of 5 stars! I had already read Heaven is for Real in just one day and thought it was an amazing book. My 11 year old daughter had read it also and loved it and I really wanted my 10 year old to read it but he's very sensitive and has some special needs so I didn't think that one would be ideal book for him but this Kids version is PERFECT! He was amazed and awed by what happened to Colton on his journey to heaven and back. Kylan had a lot of questions about heaven, some were answered in this book and some were not.
This is the perfect book for children, it's thoughtfully written with a child in mind and has beautiful illustrations that children love and even has a guide in the back to help stimulate conversation between you and your child. The main message behind this book is that Jesus really, really LOVES children. I feel it would be great for very young children up to 10 or 11 year olds and when they are old enough they will probably want to move on and read Heaven is for Real. This would even make a wonderful gift for expecting parents and will be cherished and loved by all that read about Colton Burpo and his AMAZING experience with life and death and HEAVEN!
This is the perfect book for children, it's thoughtfully written with a child in mind and has beautiful illustrations that children love and even has a guide in the back to help stimulate conversation between you and your child. The main message behind this book is that Jesus really, really LOVES children. I feel it would be great for very young children up to 10 or 11 year olds and when they are old enough they will probably want to move on and read Heaven is for Real. This would even make a wonderful gift for expecting parents and will be cherished and loved by all that read about Colton Burpo and his AMAZING experience with life and death and HEAVEN!
January 8, 2013
I received this book as a Goodreads giveway. Before I review this book, I should tell you that I feel indebted to this author. When my Grandma was dying we read the original book to her over and over again. She received a great deal of comfort from the descriptions of heaven in the book and I believe that it contributed greatly to her peaceful passing. However, I do not believe that this indebtedness is reflected in my review.
When I saw this book was available in a children's format, I was excited to enter and win the giveaway. The book is written and illustrated beautifully. All three of my children sat and listened while I read the book and, afterward, they had very appropriate questions regarding heaven and Jesus. I think that this would be a great book to read with children that had just lost a loved one and had questions regarding the after life.
When I saw this book was available in a children's format, I was excited to enter and win the giveaway. The book is written and illustrated beautifully. All three of my children sat and listened while I read the book and, afterward, they had very appropriate questions regarding heaven and Jesus. I think that this would be a great book to read with children that had just lost a loved one and had questions regarding the after life.
February 21, 2014
I read the original book quite a bit before I read this book with my daughter. I read the original book to help me with some things that my daughter had said to me at a very young age. Mind you like the child in book, she had several near death experiences as a newborn.
When she lost a dear friend in the first grade, I found the child version and bought it for her. We sat down and read the book. It helped her a lot in dealing with her grief for him.
I think that this is a great book for helping children dealing with grief for those who have passed.
When she lost a dear friend in the first grade, I found the child version and bought it for her. We sat down and read the book. It helped her a lot in dealing with her grief for him.
I think that this is a great book for helping children dealing with grief for those who have passed.
August 12, 2016
This book gives me a glimpse of what Heaven looks like.It's nice to know testimonies from little children and be inspired of their pure faith. Still, I anchor my faith in Truth that is in Christ, Jesus. I'm not saying I don't like this book,in fact this encourages me more to read the Scripture and to personally discover and confirm Colton's view (based on his 3-minute experience in Heaven)of Heaven.I'm soooo amazed on how this kid addressed the message of Salvation which is through Jesus Christ alone. Praises to God!
June 22, 2013
This really helped me prepare my children for the fact that their grandfather had passed away. After reading it and then explaining to them that he was in Heaven, they were excited (and a little jealous) for him.
August 30, 2013
i loved this book i opened this present on christmas day and i read it right away and i brought it to school with me and showed my class and they loved it to
December 30, 2013
I read this with my grandchildren. Loved it!
January 8, 2026
I approached this book as a skeptic, and frankly, I couldn't buy the central premise. The narrative reads less like a divine revelation and more like a child having a near-death experience where his brain simply projected the imagery his parents had already taught him. It feels like a feedback loop rather than a new truth.
My main issue is the "Trust Me" paradox: if a source is genuinely true, it shouldn't need to constantly tell you to trust it. Truth should be self-evident.
However, from a technical standpoint, this book is 5/5. The typography is genius marketing psychology—using blue for the narrative and red to highlight exactly what the author wants you to internalize. It guides the eye perfectly. The artwork is solid for a children's book, and using Bible verses as "evidence" was a smart move to ground the fantastical elements.
Verdict: I bumped it up two stars purely for the technical execution. It’s too fantastical for me to believe, but the design work is undeniably good. 3/5 Fantastic formatting, questionable logic.
My main issue is the "Trust Me" paradox: if a source is genuinely true, it shouldn't need to constantly tell you to trust it. Truth should be self-evident.
However, from a technical standpoint, this book is 5/5. The typography is genius marketing psychology—using blue for the narrative and red to highlight exactly what the author wants you to internalize. It guides the eye perfectly. The artwork is solid for a children's book, and using Bible verses as "evidence" was a smart move to ground the fantastical elements.
Verdict: I bumped it up two stars purely for the technical execution. It’s too fantastical for me to believe, but the design work is undeniably good. 3/5 Fantastic formatting, questionable logic.
February 13, 2021
I accidently ordered the kids version, but it was still interesting. I want to read the adult version. I'm a bit skeptical how "Christian" the claim that heaven is. I always envisioned heaven being open to everyone. Still I'll reserve judgement until I read the whole story. If you have children and you don't know how to start the heaven conversation and you are Christian, then this is a good place to start.
December 3, 2019
o Grades: 2-5
o Realistic fiction
o A shortened easier to understand version of the novel Heaven is Real. This is a great way to introduce the story, not from a Christian standpoint but from a teacher standpoint. The novel version of this book was big news and for children to be able to understand the story, it is important.
o Realistic fiction
o A shortened easier to understand version of the novel Heaven is Real. This is a great way to introduce the story, not from a Christian standpoint but from a teacher standpoint. The novel version of this book was big news and for children to be able to understand the story, it is important.
June 23, 2023
Love the Book: Just not on Kindle
I so love this children’s book. I was hoping to use this book tomorrow at a Christian Camp. It does not allow me to zoom that I can tell. It is written impossibly small. I am just bummed I cannot tell these kids who do not know what a Christian or a what a pastor is tomorrow. Maybe I will learn how to use it soon.
I so love this children’s book. I was hoping to use this book tomorrow at a Christian Camp. It does not allow me to zoom that I can tell. It is written impossibly small. I am just bummed I cannot tell these kids who do not know what a Christian or a what a pastor is tomorrow. Maybe I will learn how to use it soon.
October 1, 2024
Recuerdo que lo leí la historia me conmovió en saber cómo es la vida del cielo saber cómo son los ángeles, Dios, Jesús, El Espíritu Santo, El niños que regreso del cielo es increible me inspira a tener Fé y confianza en Dios tanto el libro como la película son enseñanzas para nosotros ya sea que seamos creyentes o no a no perder la esperanza en Dios.
January 31, 2020
i love this book i highly recomend it to EVERYONE !!! this book studys a certian religion and he visits heaven and sees his moms baby that she lost it just is sooo amazing and i love it i will defenetly read it again x 1000 times
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2021
Genre: Biography Age: K-2nd
First off, the illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful! It brings heaven, Jesus, and angels to life in a way I've never seen before. This book is related to the movie "Heaven is For Real" and that is one of the reasons I decided to read it. It is written from the little boy's perspective, which is ideal for younger readers. This helps the audience to better relate to the story. It is so powerful to see this child's faith come to life through the words written in this book. I highly recommend this book!
First off, the illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful! It brings heaven, Jesus, and angels to life in a way I've never seen before. This book is related to the movie "Heaven is For Real" and that is one of the reasons I decided to read it. It is written from the little boy's perspective, which is ideal for younger readers. This helps the audience to better relate to the story. It is so powerful to see this child's faith come to life through the words written in this book. I highly recommend this book!
July 24, 2024
Children's version about Heaven
So thankful that it agrees with the Scriptures in all accounts of Heaven. Plus matches what my experience during my daughter's and husband's deaths that are believers.
So thankful that it agrees with the Scriptures in all accounts of Heaven. Plus matches what my experience during my daughter's and husband's deaths that are believers.
August 22, 2025
I read this book because I know the grandmother of this child personally. She shared with me some of the amazing things Colton said, things that he could not have known. I enjoyed the book, and I felt the anguish of the parents as their child hovered over death. I found the book inspiring.
August 10, 2018
Child remembers cartoons about heaven while brain is oxygen deprived. Worth it for one illustration of kid being weirded out by Jesus showing him the sick nail holes in his palms, bro.
July 17, 2019
#cbad 2018-2019 (guest reader) - 5th grade SCA - 9/19/18 - average rating 4.8
August 31, 2019
interesting, thought provoking
December 26, 2019
It would be hard to find a worse case of the exploitation of a child and a bad situation than the story in this book. Lauded by evangelical Christians, the story is of a c
January 5, 2020
It was a cute book for little kids. I wasn't sure what age would be good for this so I picked it up..., this is great from children that are 6 and under.
July 27, 2020
This great book I think is for all.😊
Thank you, blessed child Colton for sharing the love of GOD for all who read your lived experience. A very nice book for everyone.
Thank you, blessed child Colton for sharing the love of GOD for all who read your lived experience. A very nice book for everyone.
December 11, 2021
Sometimes we too need to be reminded.
Thank you Colton Burpo for spreading the Word.
Thank you Colton Burpo for spreading the Word.
May 1, 2022
An amazing story of a boy who visits Heaven and comes back to tell about it.
June 15, 2022
Cute story about the details of heaven.
July 15, 2022
Being American put me off but actually found it a real emotional read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews