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Jesus' teachings referring to Little Children appear in several places in the New Testament and in the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas.
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New Testament
The King James Version of Matthew's gospel relates that:
The word translated as converted in the King James Version (Greek: στραφητε, straphēte) literally means 'turn'. It is translated as "turn" in the English and American Standard Versions and as "change" in the New International Version. Elsewhere in the New Testament, the change of heart demanded by John the Baptist and by Jesus often uses the word metanoia (Greek: μετάνοια). German theologian Heinrich Meyer suggests that Jesus' challenge to his disciples is to "turn round upon [the] road), and to acquire a moral disposition similar to the nature of little children".
The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to little children at several other places in the New Testament:
Gospel of Thomas
Another saying referring to small children can be found in the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas. The two passages (Matthew 18:1-6 and the passage in Thomas) are different in tone. However, both start by comparing those who enter the Kingdom of Heaven to children, and then make references to eyes, hands, and feet. In Matthew, Jesus suggests that these offending parts should be "cut off," whereas the passage in Thomas takes a different tone in describing spiritual cleansing and renewal:
From the Gospel of Thomas: