Heaven is not a guess and it is not a fairy tale. It is the home of God. Jesus told His friends He was going there to prepare a place for them. That is where every conversation with a child could begin—with what the Bible already says—before any storybook is opened.

This guide is for parents and grandparents of children ages 4–8. It gives you verses to read aloud, simple words a child can repeat, short scripts for the hard questions, and two Heaven Is for Real books that help your talk continue at bedtime.

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What the Bible teaches about heaven

Keep these five truths at the center. A child does not need a map of eternity. A child needs to know who is there and that they are loved.

1. Heaven is where God lives. Jesus called it His Father’s house. It is a real place, not an idea. (John 14:2–3)
2. Jesus really loves children. He told grown-ups not to send the little ones away. The kingdom of heaven belongs to people who come to Him like a child. (Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14)
3. Heaven is happy, safe, and forever. God will wipe every tear. There will be no more death, crying, or pain. (Revelation 21:4)
4. Jesus is the way home. He died and rose again so we can be with God. Teaching heaven always leads back to Jesus, not to fear. (John 14:6; John 3:16)
5. We do not know every detail—and that is all right. The Bible gives us enough to hope. What God has prepared is more than we can imagine. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

How to start the conversation

1. Begin with Jesus, not with dying. “Jesus is in heaven with His Father. He loves you. He is getting a place ready for the people who love Him.”
2. Read one short verse. Do not lecture. Let the words sit. John 14:2–3 and Matthew 19:14 are enough for a first talk.
3. Ask one question and wait. “What do you think it would feel like to be with Jesus?” Children often say more when we stop talking.
4. Use pictures and story. After Scripture, a picture book gives a child something to point at. That is when Heaven Is for Real for Kids and Heaven Is for Real for Little Ones help.
5. Close with love, not a quiz. “You can ask me this again tomorrow. There are no wrong questions.”

Verses to read aloud (and words a child can use)

John 14:2–3
Bible: “In my Father’s house are many rooms… I go to prepare a place for you.”
You might say: “Jesus is making a home for the people who love Him. We will be with Him.”

Matthew 19:14
Bible: “Let the little children come to me… for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
You might say: “Jesus wants children close to Him. He is not too busy for you.”

Revelation 21:4
Bible: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”
You might say: “In heaven, God makes the sad things stop. No more ouchies. No more goodbyes.”

Isaiah 11:6
Bible: “The wolf will live with the lamb… and a little child will lead them.”
You might say: “God’s world will be peaceful. Even the animals will be friends.”

1 Thessalonians 4:14
Bible: “We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
You might say: “Because Jesus is alive, the people who loved Him are with Him. We will see them again.”

When the hard questions come

Give the child a short, true sentence. Keep the longer help for yourself.

If someone they love has died

For the child: “Their body stopped working. The part of them that loves and thinks is with Jesus now. It is all right to be sad. I am sad too.”

Parent script: Sit at their level. Use the person’s name. Do not say “they went to sleep” or “God needed another angel.” Those phrases make bedtime and God feel unsafe. You can add, “Jesus cried when His friend died. Crying is not a lack of faith.” Read Revelation 21:4 if they want a promise, not if they only need a hug.

If they ask about a baby who died, or a brother or sister they never met

For the child: “That little one is with Jesus. Jesus loves children—even the ones we only got to love for a little while.”

Parent script: Keep it brief. You do not have to explain every medical detail. If tears come, let them. The adult book Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo includes the Burpo family’s own loss of a child they had not yet told Colton about. That story is for you first. When your child is ready, the kids picture book gives a gentle way to keep talking.

If they ask whether pets go to heaven

For the child: “The Bible shows a peaceful world where animals live without fear. God loves what He made. We can trust Him with the pets we love.”

Parent script: You do not need a final doctrine at the kitchen table. Romans 8 says creation itself longs to be made new. Isaiah 11 pictures animals at peace. Colton’s story, told in the kids book, includes animals in heaven—and many families find that comfort matches the hope of Scripture without turning the talk into an argument.

If they ask how a person gets to heaven

For the child: “Jesus made the way. We tell Him we are sorry for the wrong things we do. We believe He loves us and we want to follow Him.”

Parent script: Keep salvation as an invitation, not a scare. John 3:16 is enough. If your child wants to pray, use simple words. The hardcover Heaven Is for Real for Kids includes a prayer of salvation and a Bible Q&A written for this age. Do not force a prayer so you can feel finished. Welcome a yes when it is theirs.

Books that keep the conversation going

Scripture comes first. A well-loved picture book is how many 4-to-8-year-olds ask for the conversation again tomorrow night.

Heaven Is for Real for Little Ones by Colton Burpo — board book gift set. Best for laps, toddlers growing into the story, and gift-giving from grandparents. Short, colorful, and dedicated to adults who need a gentle way to talk about heaven.

Heaven Is for Real for Kids by Todd & Colton Burpo — illustrated hardcover for ages 4–8. Colton tells, kid to kid, what it was like to be with Jesus. The book includes a letter to parents, Scripture, a Bible Q&A, and a prayer of salvation—the very tools this guide is built around.

Parents and grandparents who want the full family account can read Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo, the original paperback. Read it yourself first if you still have adult questions. Then bring the children’s editions to the sofa.

Find both children’s books, the adult paperback, and encouraging gifts in one place:

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A simple four-night reading plan

Night 1 — Jesus loves children. Read Matthew 19:13–15. Look at a picture of Jesus with children in the kids book. Ask, “How do you know Jesus is kind?”

Night 2 — A place prepared. Read John 14:1–3. Say the child words above. Ask, “What would you like a home with Jesus to be like?”

Night 3 — No more tears. Read Revelation 21:3–5. If someone your family loves is in heaven, say their name with hope, not pressure.

Night 4 — Questions are welcome. Use the Q&A pages in Heaven Is for Real for Kids. Let your child pick the question. End with a short prayer: “Jesus, thank You for loving us. Thank You that heaven is real.”

Questions parents ask us

What if I do not feel ready?
You do not need a seminary answer. You need one verse and a calm voice. Ready is often just “I will sit with you.”

What if they ask something I cannot answer?
Say so. “The Bible does not tell us that part. It does tell us Jesus is good, and we can trust Him.” That sentence teaches more than a guess.

Should I wait until someone dies?
No. Ordinary nights are kinder. A child who has already heard that heaven is God’s happy home is less frightened when grief arrives.

Is Colton’s story a substitute for the Bible?
No. The Bible is the foundation. Colton’s story is one child’s witness that has helped millions of families start talking. We sell the books because they make the next conversation easier—not because they replace Scripture.

Art & SoulWorks · More about Colton’s story: About Colton Burpo