*The Long Road Home by Sarah Walton

The Long Road Home combines beloved themes from the parable of the prodigal son and Pilgrim’s Progress in a lovely picture book for upper elementary.

*The Long Road Home: A Tale of Two Sons and a Father’s Never-ending Love by Sarah Walton and illustrated by Christina Yang. Crossway, 2024. 56 pages.

• Reading Level: Picture books, ages 8-10
• Recommended For: Ages 8 and up

Wander and Goodness live with their father in the Land of Belonging where they have everything they need, but one day Wander begins to wonder. Is there anything else out there in the world that he’s missing? He takes advantage of his father’s generosity to find out. 

Going down the road a little ways he reaches the town of Perfection in which no one makes mistakes. Everything seems to be wonderful, everyone is busy, but they are also exhausted and empty. Wander tries to fit in, but when he can’t live up to the standards and find happiness, he moves on to Prosperity. There are so many wonderful things to buy, but after a while he moves on feeling empty again (with a lighter money bag than when he arrived). The next town is Popularity. With a growing feeling of emptiness, Wander wonders if he has what it takes to catch the attention of the crowds, but it doesn’t take long for him to grow discouraged and move on to the town of Desperation where he finds work tending pigs, of course. All the while, his father’s promise of unwavering love whispers through his thoughts until Wander decides to return home to his waiting father and his brother, Goodness. You know the rest.

The illustrations and format of this retelling are really lovely. The dust jacket, the cloth cover underneath, the changing hues through the different cities, the expression of the characters, and the borders display artistic excellence. Although the narrative is based on a very familiar parable from Luke 15, Wander’s experience in the different cities will resonate with the book’s current audience. The text is long for a picture book, but the story is divided into chapters so it can be enjoyed over several read-aloud sessions.

Bottom Line: A literary Bible story retelling worth adding to a home or church library.
(What is a literary Bible story retelling? See chapter 6 in our forthcoming book, The Redeemed Reader: Cultivating a Child’s Discernment and Imagination Through Truth and Story)

*indicates a starred review, the best of the best in its field

Recommended Reading at Redeemed Reader

• Book Review: The Storyteller’s Bible is a great resource with good questions to ask.
• Book Review: How to Teach Kids Theology is another great resource for parents.
• Resource: Our Bible Pilgrimage is a great tool to use when reading through the Bible with children and teens! Members have access on your account page. Not a member? You can purchase it from our shop!

We are participants in the Amazon LLC affiliate program; purchases you make through affiliate links like the one below may earn us a commission. Read more here.

Buy The Long Road Home on Amazon.