Childrens' Books

I'm looking for opinions on popular childrens' books. Is anyone a Chlidrens' Lit. officionato? Do you have any suggestions?

For the "Lord of the Rings" Fans

Resolve and Commitment as discussed by characters created by J. R. R. Tolkien from his book The Lord of the Rings

The following is a conversation between Gandalf the Grey, Gimli the dwarf and Elrond the elf before the Fellowship leaves to take the Ring to be destroyed.

'The further you go, the less easy will it be to withdraw; yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further than you will. For you do not yet know the strength of your hearts, and you cannot foresee what each may meet upon the road.' (Gandalf)

'Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens,' said Gimli.

'Maybe,' said Elrond, 'but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen nightfall.'

'Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart,' said Gimli.

'Or break it,' said Elrond. 'Look not too far ahead! But go now with good hearts! Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you. May the stars shine upon your faces!"

In Defense of Harry Potter Fever

I got an email this morning that said my Harry Potter book was ready to be shipped to me. Yes...I pre-ordered book 7. I know...I'm a nerd. I usually go to the movie openers at midnight, the day they open. That's when you get to see alot of fanatic kids and their overindulgent parents at the movie theatre. Good stuff.

I was at Borders Bookstore the other day and I happened upon a book called "Looking for God in Harry Potter" by John Granger. Albeit, I only glanced at it, I was interested to see what Granger had to say, before I zipped over to the coffee bar for my tall, caramel machiato with whipped cream. Though I would like to say I have alot to say about it, my desire for my caramel machiato (with whipped cream) overcame my desire to read excerpts from Granger's book.

So! I looked up the book on Amazon today. Here is the book as portrayed by Publishers Weekly:

"Granger (no relation to fellow brainiac Hermione), a homeschooling Christian father of seven, initially resisted when a friend encouraged him to read the Harry Potter books. But Rowling's novels, sprinkled with literary allusions and strong biblical values, won the classicist over quickly, and he became an avid spokesperson for the series. This book transcends the responses of some other Christian writers (those in support, like Connie Neal, or in sloppy accusations, like Richard Abanes) to offer a serious literary and Christian appraisal of the first five books. Granger begins with the thesis that all humans are "wired" to respond to "stories that reflect the greatest story ever told," including that of Harry's struggle against evil. The best part of the book is Granger's lucid commentary on Rowling's use of language—the insights into character names alone are worth the price of admission—and his keen awareness of word play. Although some arguments are a stretch, and there are a few tiny mistakes (in a footnote, for example, Granger claims that the hero of James and the Giant Peach was named James Potter, like Harry's dad, when it was James Henry Trotter), this is obviously a painstakingly researched book. It is easily the best examination to date of the spiritual legacy of "the boy who lived." Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."


So, if you have been told that Harry Potter and his creator J.K. Rowling are "of the devil" then perhaps you will give the books a chance and read them for yourself, before you poo-poo them as pagan prose. You might just find a series you will enjoy!

Personal Literacy Statement

I have enjoyed reading and writing since I was very young. I still have volumes of phonetically spelled stories I wrote in kindergarten in a scrapbook at home (thanks to my mom). I also have multiple diaries I kept through high school and some into college.

When I was a child, my mother took my sister and me to the library all the time (it was only a short walk from our house growing up). Mom read to us often and I became interested in fiction and storytelling from childhood.

I remember that in 3rd grade we had a book worm made of construction paper that stretched all the way around our classroom. The segments of his body were multicolored circles baring the name of a book, and the child’s name who had read it. I used to get a thrill every time my name and a book would go join the book worm on the wall!

Besides my mom, I had several influential teachers who not only read to us, but also encouraged us to read independently and out loud in class. I remember being transported to C.S. Lewis’s land of Narnia again and again. I visited the prairie with Laura Ingalls Wilder and I solved mysteries with Nancy Drew.

Today I continue to enjoy reading and writing. I read independently whenever I have the opportunity, and I maintain a personal Blog. I find that reading and writing not only relax me by allowing me to vacation from the pressures of life, they also help me to express and process my feelings and give me an outlet for my thoughts. I cannot imagine life without these abilities. They have helped shape my life.

My Return from Neverland

Growing up is a peculiar thing.
All of us do it, except for Peter Pan.
I am not a Lost Boy,
though perhpas once I was one
of sorts.

When are you "too old to..."
Call your parents "Mommy" and "Daddy"?
Go home to do laundry?
Raid their refrigerator?
Impose on their hospitality?


When is it "OK to..."
Call in sick to work?
Be occasionally "a little bit late"?
Dress casually on a non-casual day of the week?
Sleep in....on Monday?


When did I learn personal responsibility?
When did I become too old to sleep in the nursery?

What happened to those Darling boys and Wendy,
to that flying boy dressed in green
carrying a short sword
and crowing like a bird?

Sprinkle me with fairy dust
and watch how high I fly
to the second star on the right
and straight on, til morning

I returned from Neverland
to trade in my green tights for a business suit
and my sword for my palm piolet.

They told me that
The pen is mightier than the sword
I'm not sure that was the truth.