John Bunyan (1628-1688) was so pleased by the way children as well as adults liked reading The Pilgrim's Progress that he wrote a book specially for the young, entitled A Book for Boys and Girls: or, Country Rhimes for Children in 1686. Unlike previous books for the young, it consisted of "homely rhimes" about commonplace happenings; and Bunyan often added a "comparison" so that children might understand his allegories more easily.
The poem below still remains a favorite of children today.