Age 04-08. 5 Stars. 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.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. Every child should read Aesop at some point, not only because of the time-honored wisdom contained in the stories, but also because knowing Aesop gives a cultural literacy that will bring great pleasure… This gorgeously illustrated version makes the ancient genre of morality tales accessible to young listeners… If you must choose only one Aesop collection, choose one with more stories, but if you can afford a version just for the younger set, this is an excellent choice.

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 04-08. 5 Stars. A book for boys by the author of The Princess and the Kiss, this one follows the story of a kingdom whose treasure is “The Lantern of Purest Light.”… The book is a compelling parable about the importance of God’s Word, the Bible. It tells a story of a quest worth winning, a young man proving himself in the company of his elders, and dangers on every side that seek to destroy him. He holds on to courage and moral purity only by means of the scroll, to which he submits every decision, and by which he achieves victory against great odds. This is a powerfully winning story that will influence a boy’s imagination in the best possible way.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. This exquisite parable is delivered in a gentle, lyrical manner, and enchantingly illustrated in a style probably influenced by Maurice Sendak. The two kisses are presented as objects so radiant their form cannot be seen, but they illuminate the entire scene in which they appear. This story dramatizes the beauty of pure sexuality, making a persuasive argument for why young people should guard their expressions of romantic love to share them in the protection of covenant. It will appeal more to girls than to boys, but is still a good addition to any child’s library.

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 00-04. 4 Stars. A reassuring story of patience and parental acceptance, cheerfully illustrated and told with simple and well-chosen words. Leo’s father is worried because Leo doesn’t have the skills that his friends do…. emphasizes the importance of patience, and a recognition that each person possesses unique abilities which are expressed in different ways.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. A wonderful story about an arrogant king… who decides that he wants to rule the sky as well as the land, and brings down horror on his kingdom when his magicians cook up a dangerous, sticky new kind of precipitation…. There are echoes of King David’s deadly hubris (2 Samuel 24) in this story of divine retribution. Additionally, Bartholomew’s example of speaking truth to power is an excellent one, and for those who wish their children to grow into thoughtful, conscientious citizens, this isn’t a bad place to begin.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. A very nicely illustrated, faithfully told version of Little Red Riding Hood…. I especially enjoyed how the text describes Red Riding Hood’s foolish disobedience, implicitly connecting her experience with her actions.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. The classic story of seven anthropomorphized goat kids whose mother leaves them to go out for food. She leaves them instructions to watch out for the wolf…. This genre of predator fairy tale appeals to children, who instinctively know they are vulnerable to evil, and this one reinforces the responsibility of parents to protect their children from danger…. The illustrations in the book are quite pleasing, evoking a rich mood of simplicity and warmth. It’s not on the level of Little Red Riding Hood, but it would make a very nice addition to any fairy tale collection.