Age 08-12. A lonely mole, exasperated with Spring cleaning, abandons his home and goes for a long jaunt ending at a river, where he meets a friendly river rat… Thus follow some of the most implausible and wonderful adventures ever to enthrall a young reader. The story delights with what C.S. Lewis calls “scandalous escapism,” yet within the animals’ adventures, dangers, and reveries, if you are looking for them, you will find timeless moral qualities: the value of friendship, the beauty of unblinking courage, and the consequences of foolishness. It really should not be missed.

Age 12-16. The Harry Potter series is entertaining and well written, and follows a good-against-evil motif that is in some harmony with a Christian worldview. The magic in the early books seems for the most part fantastical, although the later books move into darker, more occultic territory. More problematic is Harry’s isolationism, as well as the absence of trustworthy, competent adults in his life…. I would recommend that if the books are approved, their introduction should be delayed until the early teen years, when readers are old enough to engage the problematic elements with the help of a discerning adult.

Age 05-10. This memorable story provides an example of genuine, loving friendship, which blooms among the hard realities of farm life… it is these contrasts that have made this story such an enduring classic — the reality of death and pain make joy and love all the sweeter where they exist.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. This story really captures a child’s wonder at experiencing snow for the first time. The collage-type art is interesting and unusual, and it makes a very nice addition to your winter reading basket. Probably best for the 2-4 age range, although older children are also able to appreciate it.

Age 12-16. 5 Stars. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy continues the story begun in The Hobbit and more fully develops the world of Middle Earth. In this epic saga, ordinary beings must use their small gifts in a struggle against great evil…. This work has becoming a defining influence in the genre in fantasy literature, and none of the works that came after it have matched it for its marvelous use of language, the deep coherency of the fantasy world, and the epic themes which propel the story to its climactic finish. Christian readers have long appreciated the way in which Tolkien’s stories express his Christian view of reality.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. The Hobbit, like The Chronicles of Narnia, defines the standard for fantasy literature for children…. Tolkien’s works have attained classic status through their excellent story quality, deeply coherent story world, and a perceptive eye toward human nature. Christian thinkers especially appreciate that Tolkien’s stories, while not allegorical, are firmly rooted in a Christian view of the world.

Age 04-08. 1 Star. While the book is written in typically lighthearted Seussical style, with wordplay and plenty of visual humor, this story is unsatisfying for young readers because of its cliffhanger ending, which they will not understand. Even for those who accept the premise that the Cold War was a bit of ridiculous posturing over cultural differences ought to concede that this is not the venue in which to make such an argument. It’s a dirty trick for Seuss to use his reputation as a basically harmless fun writer as a soapbox for a political agenda, and then attempt to disguise it as a real story.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis is one of the definitive works of children’s fantasy literature that still influences the imagination of our present culture…. [It] begins when the Pevensies, a family of British children, stumble upon the doorway to a magical kingdom called Narnia, wherein they are called upon to oppose evil forces… The world is populated with dryads, unicorns, and large talking Beasts as well as humans, and the ruler of this world is Aslan, the great lion. … Narnia has had a resounding impact on the fantasy of our present time, and there is still a lively discussion among scholars and other thinkers about the profound themes of Lewis’s vision.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. A beautiful story of a “girl Robinson Crusoe”…. This is a quiet, memorable story of survival and persistence in the face of difficult conditions and profound grief. Karana’s practical means of surviving against the elements and predators are interesting in themselves, but her courage in facing hunger and danger, and living alone year after year, make her a heroine worth emulating.

Age 12-16. 2 Star. A riveting, can’t-put-it-down story of a boy’s survival in the Canadian wilderness for two months, after crash-landing a small plane when the pilot dies of a heart attack. Very well written, this could be a modern Robinson Crusoe story with a protagonist young enough for its target age to identify with…. Although it is memorably well-written, the sub-plot of parental infidelity and the unbiblical perspective on humanity’s place in the created order disqualify this story from our home library.