In advance of our online book fair beginning next week, enjoy this article written by our very own Mrs. Cross!  Be sure to stay in touch with E-News for links and information.  The online sale will run April 3rd-28th.

“Excelsior!” by Terry Cross

 “If you live with people long enough, you get to be like them.” These were words my 7^th grade teacher, Miss Sullivan, said to me. (Then she moved my desk away from a classmate I was goofing off with!)  I’ve never forgotten her reprimand.

It turns out this applies to reading material as well.  When you live with book characters long enough, you get to be like them. How easy it is to slide into their way of thinking. Children are particularly susceptible, being of tender hearts and impressionable  minds. Young readers who consume a steady diet of worldly material tend to excuse and then mimic worldly behavior and attitudes–sassiness, dishonesty, and downright disrespect.  What’s the harm, they think?  After all, so-and-so did it. Or said it.  If the mystery is solved or the conflict resolved, it shouldn’t matter how the characters arrive there, right? The end justifies the means, right? The answer is a resounding no!  The Bible is clear that these attributes are sinful regardless of the circumstances.

This is the dilemma with so many books, especially those written in the last 30 years. The traits of deceit, rudeness, or flippancy are often found in the protagonists. The protagonists are the very characters we are supposed to root for and identify with!  Then there’s the angst–that insidious victim mentality that adolescents gravitate towards in the “coming of age” genre. Ugh.

Better alternatives are books whose protagonists display virtue: courage, kindness, or perseverance. “Excelsior!” is the Latin phrase, meaning go higher.  We must reach for literature that elevates, sharpens, and inspires.  Girl of the Limberlost, A Door in the Wall, The Good Master, or A Tale of Two Cities  are books which lift the heart toward noble themes. Eloquent sentence structure and vivid word pictures create beauty and long-lasting satisfaction.

How can parents assist kids in the reading department? For those with kids who have voracious reading appetites, I get it:  it’s hard to stay ahead of them! For those who have reluctant readers, parents just want to see those kids reading something. Anything!

Mrs. Murph, our school librarian who happens to have a masters in Library Science, recommends the following websites offering solid book reviews from a Christian perspective. 

1. Plugged In (by Focus on the Family) 
2. Read Aloud Revival with Sarah Mackenzie
   
3. Triple Crown Awards (clean novels that have been selected by librarians for awards) 

Another helpful resource is www.classicalreader.com which has recommended titles by age/genre.

If you are currently speed-reading the Redwall or Percy Jackson series to preview these popular choices, why not pop onto these book review sites instead?  

Or better yet, settle in with a classic favorite as a family read-aloud!  Swiss Family Robinson, Heidi, Little Women, or The Book of Three are great books to get started with. Or you could read biographies.  Never Quit by Glenn Cunningham, an Olympic runner whose legs were horribly burned in a school house fire when he was a boy, is one of our family’s most memorable read-alouds. If you prefer short stories, grab a copy of The Blue Fairy Book from the library. Your child’s teacher will also have recommendations. Truly, the benefits of family storytime is unparalleled for fostering deep discussions and closeness. (And don’t be too quick to give up this impactful habit. Young adults may balk at first at sitting together, but they will get drawn into a good story just like those little ones.)

Now more than ever it is imperative to keep tabs on reading material that is coming into our homes.  With support and the use of helpful aids, we can be sure our homes are havens for hallowed literacy. 

Happy reading!