How can we possibly wade through the sea of books coming out every day? None of us Mama's can preview everything our children come across. This is where we have to help each other out!
As a Christian author, I get lots of requests for book suggestions, but the trick is that we all have different standards. For example: you might abhor any story containing magic, but I approve of some (like Narnia).
So you know where I'm coming from:
As a Christian author, I get lots of requests for book suggestions, but the trick is that we all have different standards. For example: you might abhor any story containing magic, but I approve of some (like Narnia).
So you know where I'm coming from:
- I have a strong dislike for stories where parents are seen as adversaries.
- I like stories that celebrate strong family bonds.
- I love fantasy, but am super picky about it. (I'm okay with Narnia-type magic, or magic that is simply how the story's world works. I will not be recommending magic where people are contacting/manipulating spirits).
- I like Christian books that don't feel "preachy." (But I will tolerate a bit of it if the story is really well written and exciting).
- No sex. No drugs. No drunken whatever. No gore.
- I love stories where characters have to dig deep and go against the flow to win the day.
- I don't think the people giving out the big book awards in modern times have the same value system as when those awards were originally created. A book may be well-written and have a shiny new medal to prove it, but that doesn't mean it will build my kids' faith.
- I don't want to be cussed at when I read, but this doesn't mean that one bad word will rule the book out for me (Ahem, go see how many times C.S. Lewis calls someone an ass in Narnia... Language is fluid and changes. I won't chuck Narnia because we've turned a donkey into a bad word).
- I read the first book of a series with my kids. If I have no red flags going off, I will allow my mature readers to go on without me. We talk about the other books, and I keep my finger on the pulse of the series. I do this for two reasons: One, I just can't read everything, and Two, my children are learning to be discerning of what they put into their heads. So if it's on this page, you know I have personally read the first book of the series and have given my kids the green light. (I find that most authors must remain true to the standards they set in a first book: readers rebel very quickly)
The Code:EZ = Easy Read AD = Advanced Read M = Magic (see my standards above!) ONC = Obviously Not Christian (But contains themes, characters, and/or qualities that would be considered Godly, such as choosing to do the right thing, no matter what) |
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Books: (alphabetical) |
Picture Books: (Most are ONC & EZ) |
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Also Super Helpful:
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But What About....???Curious about a book you're not seeing?
Please drop me a quick note! I hope this little list will help your family find a new read that you can enjoy. Please share a link on Pinterest!
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