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Book Review: Noah’s Ark

Posted on February 5, 2010 | No responses

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Everyone should have at least one Noah’s Ark story, and Peter Spier’s version is one of the best available.  It is especially well suited to children, with its wordless format and careful attention to visual detail.  Sweeping illustrations fill up each page with well-developed vignettes, evoking the horror, danger and hope of the original story.

The story is simple, yet this book is complex enough for both pre-readers and readers.  Having discussed it with an adult, pre-readers will be able enjoy it on their own for an extended time, since the pictures convey at least as much information as the words.

Book Review: The Mitten

Posted on February 4, 2010 | No responses

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In this Ukranian folktale Nicki, a young boy, asks his grandmother Baba for snow-white mittens.  She protests that he will lose them in the snow, but because he wants them so badly she complies and knits some for him.  When he goes out to play, he does lose one, and it is found by a chilly mole who cosies up inside to get warm.  When a rabbit happens by, he crowds into the mitten, followed by a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, a fox, and a bear.  Finally a tiny mouse comes along and, perching on top of the great bear’s nose, causes him to sneeze, and all the animals tumble back out.  The mitten is thrown into the air and Nicki, on his way home, finds it.

The story is told with well-paced, pleasant repetition and a funny, dramatic climax with a visual joke at the end, as Baba inspects the mysteriously enlarged mitten.  Nicki is a likable and energetic child with a nurturing, sensible adult caretaker, and the animals are rendered in their animal characters, with only a shade of human personality.  But it is the gorgeous illustrations that really make this story: each scene is rendered beautifully, enclosed in elaborate borders that include the traditional folk art of the region, with “peek-ahead” sights of Nicki’s activities as well as the next animal that will be introduced.  This story will surprise and delight children from a wide range of ages, from toddlers (there is a simplified board book version just for them) to readers.

Book Review: Dogger

Posted on February 3, 2010 | No responses

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Dave’s favorite toy is a stuffed toy named Dogger.  He carries him everywhere and depends on him to help him go to sleep.  One morning, while out with his mother, meeting his older sister Bella at school, Dogger disappears.  When bedtime comes, Dogger is nowhere to be found, and although Bella loans him one of her teddies, he is very sad during the night.  In the morning at the school fair, Dave is too sad to have fun, and he wanders off from the rest of his family.  At one of the used-toy stands he is shocked to see Dogger for sale.  He runs to find his parents, but finds only Bella, who returns to the stand with him just in time to see another child walk away with Dogger.  Bella saves the day, trading her new teddy bear for the worn old Dogger.

This well-written story begins with concrete details and builds to a dramatic crisis and resolution that any child who’s had a “lovey” can identify with.  Hughes’ artwork is wonderfully rendered, with a particular eye to details that emphasize the warmth and closeness of this family.  Most importantly, Bella’s open-hearted self-sacrifice epitomizes the kindness that siblings ought to express toward one another.  Elder and younger siblings will appreciate this story for different reasons.

Book Review: The Frog and Toad Series

Posted on January 28, 2010 | No responses

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Frog and Toad are two friends whose similar appearance belies their distinctive personalities.  Toad is impulsive and emotional, and Frog easygoing and rational.  The two of them get into a number of scrapes and adventures together, most of which hinge on their unique character traits.  Lobel’s brief, easy-reader chapters spin out complex, suspenseful plots in a way that looks effortless but is quite rare.  Embedded in the stories are subtle moral implications relating to character qualities such as loyalty, wisdom, and self-control.  The books are interesting enough to use for read-aloud, but simple enough to introduce as a beginner’s read-alone.

Of all the easy-reader books in print, this series may be the best in writing quality, complexity, character development, and humor.  Lobel’s genius has earned, among other awards, a Caldecott Honor for Frog and Toad are Friends and a Newbery Honor for Frog and Toad Together.  Frog and Toad All Year and Days with Frog and Toad were both American Library Association Notable Children’s Books.

This fine collection is available in CD audiobook and mp3 format, but they do need the pictures as accompaniment.

Essay: The Goal of Childhood

Posted on January 26, 2010 | No responses

Diana West, in The Death of the Grownup,  writes compellingly about seismic changes in American culture, from family structure to political movements.  She traces the history of a shift in parenting and governance from the 1950’s until now, showing how adults have abdicated their legitimate role as society’s  leaders and gatekeepers, and instead have begun looking to children for leadership.  In “Out of the Mouths of Babes,” she claims that our society no longer values adulthood.  Instead,

Out of the ashes came the perpetual adolescent.  “With the ancient is wisdom,” said Job; but with the young was suddenly “where it was at.”  But if maturation was the new no-no, it soon became clear that it wasn’t just grey hair, smile lines, and cellulite that were on their way out. Also diminished was an appreciation for what ideally went along with maturity: traditional virtues including forbearance, honor, sobriety, decorum and … wisdom.

Along with this idea of the “wise child” I have observed a prevalent view in modern youth literature that childhood ought to be a season of carefree innocence, possibility, and enjoyment.  Eventually, the cruel world of adulthood intrudes on this happy condition, and the child must grow up.  This paradigm is played out quite explicitly in Marjorie Rawlings’ The Yearling.

I believe Americans choose to think of their children as wise and innocent because they don’t want to accept that they are sinful.  The romantic conception of innocent childhood arises directly out of the belief that humanity is morally  good.  If you believe children start out good and are then  ruined by their exposure to the world , it makes sense that they should want to remain in this ideal condition.  If adults think of themselves as having been sullied by their longer contact with the world, it even makes sense for them to look to children for leadership.  This way of orienting between young and old has brought tremendous confusion to our society.  It is in sharp conflict with the Biblical teaching that all humans are sinful, but those who trust in Jesus can be brought into true goodness (Romans 3:10-18; Romans 6:22-23).

Scripture describes children as being not only sinful, but naturally foolish (Proverbs 22:15).  From this foolishness, children are supposed to grow into maturity, as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13:11.  Parents’ vital role in guiding their children into wisdom and blessing is shown in the Fifth Commandment (Exodus 20:12), which is quoted by Paul in his instructions to New Testament church about how to structure their family relationships (Ephesians 6:1-4).

Even Jesus, the truly perfect, innocent and all-wise child, went through a process of growing into maturity (Luke 2:40).  After correcting Mary and Joseph for not recognizing God as His true father, He displayed a respectful, submitted orientation toward them (Luke 2:49-51).  In this He is our ideal example of wise childhood, because even in the acknowledgement of absolute perfection, which no other human can rightfully claim, He submitted to His parents.

God has placed parents in their children’s lives to help them grow toward genuine wisdom, and this calling comes in conflict with prevailing cultural winds.  Al Mohler, in his article “Seen But Not Heard,” writes that

The goal of Christian parents must be to raise children to adulthood — a genuine adulthood. The Bible honors children, but the biblical worldview establishes parents as the authority figures and adults as the figures of wisdom…. Christian parents are reminded that raising godly children in this age requires the courage of a counter-revolutionary*.

In building our childrens’ libraries, Bible-believing parents ought to refuse to accept the reigning cultural paradigm of child-focused practices that perpetuate their natural immaturity.  We can inspire and provoke our children toward true wisdom by providing great stories that emphasize maturity, responsibility, and respect for authority.  As David Mills writes in “Enchanting Children“,

A good story will not make [the reader] good, but it should help him understand goodness a little better and make doing good a little easier by making it feel more normal. It will teach him that the world is this kind of place and not that kind.

And our responsibility doesn’t stop there.  As parents, it is our duty and privilege to be the primary human authorities in our children’s lives.  As J.C. Ryle said, “Children learn more by the eye than they do by the ear.”  By God’s grace we must model wisdom and virtue, and invite them to walk alongside us and learn from us (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).  Our lives contain some of the most influential stories our children will ever hear.  Nurturing them on great literature will corroborate and confirm the lessons we want them to learn under our influence.

* Dr. Mohler further discussed this topic on his radio program of the same day, “Seen but Not Heard,” where I was given a call-in appearance.

Book Review: Warton and the Castaways

Posted on January 22, 2010 | No responses

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Warton and Morton are back for more danger, and this time Morton gets to come along on the adventure.  One morning, discovering they have run out of honey, the two brothers venture out into the rain to collect more.  On the way back they meet a hungry raccoon, and they persuade two eccentric and selfish toad sisters to give them refuge in their tree house.  During the night the rain fells their tree, washing it down a river, and they find themselves moored in the middle of a swamp, besieged by the same raccoon and a flock of great herons.

The story isn’t quite as good as A Toad for Tuesday, but it is lighthearted, funny, and suspenseful enough to hold the attention of a child transitioning into chapter books.  Just as in Toad for Tuesday, the toads’ escape has to do with extending kindness to an enemy, and a surprising character transformation is brought about through that kindness.  This is not a must-read, but it’s an enjoyable fantasy adventure, rooted in positive values of friendship, kindness, and courage.

Book Review: The Hundred and One Dalmations

Posted on January 21, 2010 | No responses

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Pongo and his new wife Missis, along with their two human “pets,” are delighted by the arrival of puppies, but their joy is shattered when the puppies mysteriously disappear.  The two dogs do some sleuthing to find out where their puppies have gone, and embark on a cross-country adventure to rescue them from the diabolical Cruella de Ville.

There is a genre of 1950’s British children’s literature, usually populated with animal characters, that is charming and enjoyable for both children and adults.  This is well written, with high action and suspense, appealing characters, and quite a bit of understated humor.

There is an unfortunate (and blessedly brief) scene reflecting a male attitude of superiority toward females, in which Pongo and a male spaniel laugh together “in a very masculine way” at Missis’ inability to tell right from left (p. 91).  This attitude does not permeate the rest of the book, however, and the story loses nothing in the deletion of the exchange.  It might be enough to explain that the spaniel thought Missis was not as smart as he because she was a lady, but that he was wrong because God created individuals with varying levels of intelligence, unrelated to their gender.

Apart from this small blemish, the story is full of humor, marital and filial loyalty, kindness, generosity, courage, and sacrifice for the sake of those we love.  Although the reading level is in the 8-12 range, it will appeal to younger listeners as well.

Book Review: The Wonderful Way That Babies are Made

Posted on January 20, 2010 | No responses

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Astonishingly, given the obsession our culture has for sex, many books on the topic (both Christian and secular) somehow make it boring and uncomfortable.  This book, beautifully written and pleasingly illustrated, is neither.  The author does a very nice job placing sex within a larger context by describing how God created the universe and the world, and how He allows living beings to participate in that creative work through procreation.  The institution of marriage is described as the appropriate place for sex, and the mechanics of sex and procreation are described accurately and respectfully.  Wonderfully, at the end of the book the author notes that babies also come into families through adoption, and that Jesus Himself was adopted by Joseph and subsequently listed in Joseph’s family tree.

The book is targeted for readers between the ages of 3 and 14, and strikes a balance between too much and too little information by giving simple lyrical text in large print for young listeners, and additional details in small text to be read by older children.  Unlike many other books on this topic, the illustrations are quite modest, with one image of partial nudity (Adam and Eve seen from behind, viewed from the waist up) and one image of a married couple embracing beneath a modestly-draped blanket.

There is absolutely no substitute for an ongoing conversation between loving parents and children about sex and marriage.  This book makes a very nice supplement (and possibly a jump-start) to that conversation.

Book Review: Big Red Barn

Posted on January 15, 2010 | No responses

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Big Red Barn is one of those baby books that provokes either charm or annoyance in adult readers, and delight in young listeners.  It is marked by Brown’s soothingly rhythmic, repetitive text, sprinkled with farmyard animal noises that toddlers will love to imitate.  The story opens with “a pink pig/ who was learning to squeal” greeting the sunrise.  Other farm animals go about their activities throughout the day, and (just as in Goodnight Moon) the pictures become progressively darker as night falls on the barn.

This classic board book is brightly illustrated, interactive and soothing.  It’s a good fit for both preverbal toddlers and children who are just beginning to understand how story events progress in sequence.  It’s a very nice choice for both boys and girls.

Book Review: A Toad for Tuesday

Posted on January 14, 2010 | No responses

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Warton the toad, undeterred by the dangerous winter weather, determines to visit his Aunt Toolia to bring her some of his brother Morton’s delicious beetle brittle.  He fashions skis and sallies forth, only to be captured by a dour owl who determines to eat him as a special treat on his upcoming birthday.  As the days count down, Warton’s kindness toward his captor causes the owl to question whether he really wants to eat the animal who has become his only friend.  The story culminates in a dramatic rescue — but not the one the reader anticipates.

Warton the Toad is courteous and helpful to others, and he keeps his environment orderly.  He brings a friendly conviviality to the lonely owl’s table by lighting candles and serving tea, even in the face of his impending death.  His courage, ingenuity and generosity commend him as a hero that young listeners will want to identify with.

This delightful story situates itself somewhere between Frog and Toad and The Wind in the Willows in reading level.  It has a wider vocabulary than most picture books or easy readers, and makes an excellent read-aloud for young listeners just transitioning into chapter books.

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