The Wind in the Willows

Michael Hague (Illustrator). Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) 2003, Hardcover, 216 pages, $16.64

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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.  The rat invites him to an extended stay at his home, introducing him to all the local animals: the lively otter, stalwart badger, and reckless toad.  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.

Parents will need to use discernment when considering whether to read chapter 7, in which Rat and Mole encounter and worship a “wood-god” who resembles the mythical Pan.  This chapter does provide a calming respite from Toad’s breakneck adventures, but some parents may choose to skip this chapter until their children can discern the difference between this creature and the God of their own faith.  In addition, parents may want to discuss a passing reference in chapter 10 to a gypsy (Roma) man as one accustomed to horse-stealing.  This stereotype of Roma, so prevalent in the past century and continuing into the present, has caused much persecution for this people.

Kenneth Grahame’s brilliant prose is full of unusual and enriching words, making it excellent as a read-aloud for early readers, and good as a read-alone for confident readers.  Precocious pre-readers will also be able to enjoy the story, although they will miss many of its complexities.

There are a great number of illustrated versions of the book, many of them abridged.  Michael Hague’s unabridged version depicts the story in exuberant oil paintings, with period costumes and architecture basically consistent with the book’s original publication in 1908.  There are three free audio versions of this book available at librivox.org.

The books tell the story of the orphaned Harry Potter, who lives with his outrageously abusive (and nonmagical) aunt and uncle.  On his eleventh birthday he receives a letter inviting him to study at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where his parents attended before him.  There he discovers that his unique gifts make him special, and he earns his place at Hogwarts through excellence at the wizard’s sport Quidditch.  At Hogwarts he deals with the everyday trials of preadolescents, making some enemies and a few good friends, who join him in his adventures.

Most of the wizarding community are goodhearted, and many are heroic; but Voldemort, an evil wizard, holds the wizarding world in terror, and he emerges as Harry’s nemesis.  In each installment of the series his vendetta against Harry is expressed in a new way, and each time Harry defeats him.

I have read books 1-6, and found that books 1-4 seem to be entertaining, basically innocent magical fantasy including loyal friends, some positive adult role models, and a classic good-against-evil struggle.  Unfortunately, books 5-6 grow quite dark and are rather disturbing as Harry matures into a young teen.  His confrontations with evil become progressively more frightening (at times horrifying and macabre), and sensitive readers will definitely be disturbed.

More troubling than the magical elements, which can be dismissed as mere fantasy, are Harry’s relationships with the people in his life, especially those in authority.  The Hogwarts faculty who care about Harry often overlook important safety concerns, forcing him to break the rules in order to oppose Voldemort.  Even Dumbledore, his primary advocate and father figure, is unable to prevent his own murder in front of Harry, and his death leaves Harry bereft of his primary source of adult guidance.  Young teens are already prone to the belief that they know more than their elders, and Harry’s experiences will do nothing to discourage this delusion.

Harry’s isolationism is also troubling.  While his friends do show courage and loyalty as they join in the fight against evil, it is always Harry who ends up facing down the villain.  At the end of book six Harry walks away from the wizarding community as a one-man vigilante.  While his heroism is not all bad, there is an individualistic and self-absorbed quality to his departure that is likely to appeal to adolescent pride.  If any readers have read book seven, I would be interested to know if this quality is altered in his final confrontation with Voldemort.

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.

Some families may feel that the books’ popularity with their children’s peers is reason enough for reading them, and a reasonable case may be made for their inclusion in home reading as a part of cultural literacy.  However, 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.

Charlotte’s Web (Trophy Newbery)

E. B. White. HarperCollins 1974, Paperback, 192 pages, $1.98

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Wilbur is a white, runty pig who lives in Homer Zuckerman’s barn.  He is childish, innocent, and amiably piggy, and has two good friends: Fern, the girl who rescued him at birth, and Charlotte, a spider who eats the flies drawn to his pen.  One day the old sheep informs Wilbur of his future as bacon and ham, and Charlotte promises to rescue him from this dreadful fate.  How she intends to keep her promise remains to be seen, and her plan unfolds in chapter after delightful chapter.  The story closes soon after her natural death, and Wilbur, mourning her loss, welcomes her children into his life.

This memorable story provides an example of genuine, loving friendship, which blooms among the hard realities of farm life: Charlotte does trap and eat insects, and the people do kill their animals.  But even given their carnivorous inclinations, the people are goodwilled and faithfully care for their livestock.  Both the human and animal characters are well developed with a careful eye to human nature.  The geese are hilariously goosey, and the old sheep provides several instances of savvy wisdom.  Templeton the rat is memorable in his odious self-centeredness, providing a contrast to Charlotte’s generous love.  The general tone of the book is warm, which makes Charlotte’s death stand out in profound sadness.  But 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.

This is a chapter book with occasional illustrations, and should appeal to ages 5-10.  Because its story quality appeals to a wide age group, I recommend it as a first chapter book, although parents should be aware that Charlotte’s death may come as a shock to sensitive listeners.

The Snowy Day Board Book

Ezra Jack Keats. Viking Juvenile 1996, Board book, 28 pages, $1.50

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Snowy Day is a simple, elegant story about a little boy’s experience with snow.  It is very tactile, showing rather than telling the reader about snow’s characteristics as the little boy interacts with it visually, manually, and imaginatively.  In one charming scene, he puts a snowball into his pocket “for later” before entering his warm house, and is disappointed later to find that it is gone.

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.

Quena and Anthony (19 months), July 2009

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

J. R. R. Tolkien. Houghton Mifflin 1999, Paperback, $12.95

Rating: 5 out of 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.  Frodo, a peace-loving hobbit of the Shire, is given the Dark Lord’s One Ring of Power, which his Uncle Bilbo found on his adventures.  Soon he is forced to flee his home, pursued by the Dark Lord’s servants.  All the strength of Middle Earth — men, elves, dwarves, wizards, and hobbits — is called upon to oppose the Dark Lord’s plan to conquer Middle Earth, but in the end the fate of the world turns on whether or not Frodo succeeds in destroying the Ring.  But the Ring itself is imbued with the Dark Lord’s evil, and seeks to corrupt everyone around it — including Frodo.

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.  David Mills, in his essay Enchanting Children, writes:

The world as it appears under the sun is a world loved and governed by God, and The Lord of the Rings is among other things a study in Providence. Though no god of any sort is ever mentioned in the story, the world has a moral law, recognized as eternal and binding, obeying which brings blessing.

Frodo and his friends do what is right, and their courage and moral fortitude are rewarded by peace, even though the effects of the defeated evil are never fully eradicated.

The Lord of the Rings is best appreciated by mature readers who are able to appreciate its deep themes as well as its complicated plots and often weighty prose.  While the movie version is worth seeing, the books are probably best enjoyed prior to experiencing the films.  Because of this, parents may be inclined to introduce the books earlier than otherwise.  This may be a wise choice, but requires sensitivity to avoid pushing the books on readers before they can fully enjoy them.

The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien. Graphia 2002, Paperback, 320 pages, $2.10

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Hobbit, like The Chronicles of Narnia, defines the standard for children’s fantasy literature.  Bilbo is one of the endearing hobbit-folk who populate Tolkien’s imaginative world of Middle Earth.  One day he is compelled by the wizard Gandalf to leave his comfortable home and set out with thirteen dwarves on a quest whose ramifications he does not fully understand.  This reluctant “burgler” plays a crucial role in the quest as the group faces monstrous orcs, giant spiders, wolves, and worse, until finally Bilbo comes face to face with the dread dragon Smaug.  Throughout his adventures, Bilbo’s true character emerges and the reader comes to understand that underneath his soft exterior there is a steely center of courage and the will to do what is right.

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.

The Hobbit forms an important prelude to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, but is written for a younger audience and may be a better choice for reading aloud, since its prose is simpler and includes enjoyable repetitive elements in its storytelling style.

The Butter Battle Book

Dr. Seuss. Random House Books for Young Readers 1984, Hardcover, 56 pages, $8.46

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

A thinly veiled political screed against the Cold War between the US and the former Soviet Union.  The Yooks (Yanks) and the Zooks are two peoples living on opposite sides of a great Wall.  Their feud begins because the Yooks prefer their bread buttered on the top, while the Zooks prefer it on the bottom.  They begin to antagonize each other, escalating with each new episode as military representatives approach the wall.  There they face off, posturing with larger and larger weapons, until finally each side concocts a weapon that will wipe out the entire population.  The story ends in the middle of a sentence as each threateningly proffers their bomb against the other.

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 minor 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.

The Chronicles of Narnia Box Set

Pauline Baynes (Illustrator). HarperCollins 2000, Paperback, 0 pages, $23.95

Rating: 5 out of 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.  Lewis, one of the great Christian thinkers of the past century, was a contemporary of J.R.R. Tolkien and together they formed a literary discussion group called The Inklings, meeting at the University of Oxford, England in the 1930’s to 1940’s.

This superlative fantasy begins when the Pevensies, a family of British children, stumble upon the doorway to a magical world 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.  The interaction of Narnia with our world is developed throughout the series as more magical doors open for the Pevensies and other children, just when they are needed most.

The series is an allegory of the Christian Gospel, wherein Aslan represents Jesus.  However, it has become a classic in its own right because of its excellent writing and outstanding imaginative qualities.  Narnia has had a resounding impact on the fantasy of today, and there is still a lively discussion among scholars and other thinkers about the profound themes of Lewis’s vision (one interesting example of the ongoing discussion is here).

While the books are worthwhile simply for the experience of reading the stories, there are a number of resources to help readers interact with their literary, religious and cultural themes.  Elisabeth Wilson in Books Children Love recommends Paul Ford’s Companion to Narnia to assist in this process.

The series is available as a boxed set (which I recommend for ease of reading), but also as a nice single-volume edition with original illustrations.  There are also several audio versions including the unabridged read-aloud, a dramatized audio version, and a radio theatre version.

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Scott O’Dell. Yearling 1987, Paperback, 192 pages, $1.09

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful story of a “girl Robinson Crusoe.”  Karana is a member of a tribe living on the island of Ghalas-at off the coast of California.  When her tribe decides to leave the island with some ships, she is accidentally left behind with her younger brother, who is killed soon afterward.  She builds a home for herself, befriends a wild dog, and lives alone for many years before being discovered by sailors.

This novel is inspired by the true story of a woman who was left alone on this island for 18 years, called The Lost Woman of San Nicolas.  Very little is known about her.  After leaving the island, she spent the rest of her life at a Catholic mission in California, where no one spoke her language.  O’Dell does incorporate what little is known about her into his story: the leap from the ship, the wild dogs, and the skirt made of cormorant feathers.  He adds an encounter with an Aleut girl, and a few guesses about cultural details of her tribal tradition that may or may not be substantiated historically.

Although the story is pure fiction, it achieved classic status because of its timeless human themes.  O’Dell’s heroine shows great courage in building her shelter, finding food, taming her dog, and finally revealing herself to the island’s visitors.  For many years she lives alone, maintaining not only her own safety and sustenance but also seeking out expressions of beauty and kindness, and caring for the animals within her sphere of influence.  It is a romantic story, but one that is marked by deep loneliness.  In a bittersweet ending, she leaves her lifelong home for the sake of hearing another human voice.

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.

Hatchet

Gary Paulsen. Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books 1987, Hardcover, 208 pages, $135.03

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

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.  Brian shows courage, resolve, and creativity in facing the dangers and challenges of his situation, and the ending is quite satisfying.

Unfortunately, a sub-plot of the story is that Brian’s mother is having an affair, which has led to his parents’ divorce.  Before the divorce, Brian witnesses a scene he calls “the Secret,” which troubles him repeatedly: his mother kissing another man.  This betrayal is not dealt with by forgiveness but rather repression, as Brian decides that crying “doesn’t work” to help him survive.  He instead focuses entirely on his physical survival, deciding that “food is all” (129).  At the story’s close his parents remain divorced, his mother continues her affair, and Brian never discloses “the Secret” to his father.  This troubling element of the story might introduce suspicion and insecurity to vulnerable readers.

Another troubling element is the way in which Brian rather mystically becomes part of the wild landscape.  In an encounter with a wolf (121), the author writes that he was not afraid because he “knew the wolf for what it was — another part of the woods, another part of all of it… He knew the wolf now, as the wolf knew him, and he nodded to it, nodded and smiled.”  In another scene, unpacking a survival pack which he salvaged from the wrecked plane, he experiences uneasiness at holding a gun (186), because he feels it distances him from his surroundings: “Without the rifle he had to fit in, to be part of it all, to understand it and use it — the woods, all of it.  With the rifle, suddenly, he didn’t have to know; did not have to be afraid or understand… The rifle changed him, the moment he picked it up, and he wasn’t sure he liked the change.”

These two scenes seem to reflect an ideal of human-animal equality, which denies the Biblical command to dominion and stewardship.  The assumption is that for a human to really understand the natural world he must descend to the level of the animals.  The exercise of power, by this way of thinking, necessarily introduces distance between humanity and the natural world.  This ideal is in direct contradiction to the Biblical mandate for humans to care for the earth as its rulers, the crown of God’s creation.

Although it is memorably well-written, the sub-plot of parental infidelity and the unbiblical perspective on humanity’s place in the created order make this a book I don’t recommend.