What did you think of Jonas’s community? Would you like to live here? When I first read The Giver, I felt uneasy. This community is nothing like mine. To me, Jonas’s community is like a doctor’s office, cold and sterile. Did you notice the rules of the community? Word choice, hair ribbons, how to park your bike,…

We love a good swordfight at our house. With three boys, we have not only watched numerous swordfights (from movies like The Princess Bride, various Robin Hoods and Zorros,  and The Scarlet Pimpernel) but also have staged many of our own. Plastic and foam swords leave little damage, but the real thing—it can take your…

Can you believe it? Zuno has chosen a cat book this week—Judy Shachner’s Skippyjon Jones. Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese cat who thinks he is a Chihuahua. Break out your favorite version of La Cucaracha and start rolling your Rs as El Skippito and Los Chimichangos battle a frijole-stealing bandito. Parents, there are several Skippyjon…

Can you keep a secret? When someone shares a secret, they are taking you into their confidence. Did you know that God takes some people into His confidence? Check out Proverbs 3:32b (NIV): “…for the LORD detests a perverse man, but takes the upright into his confidence.” God wants to be close enough to you…

This week, we begin The Giver by Lois Lowry. The first of a trilogy, The Giver introduces us to a world that is very different from our own. It is perfect, or is it? We meet Jonas, a boy of 11, who apprehensively awaits the Ceremony of Twelve. The ceremony marks the end of childhood…

Did you finish? In the last chapter (16), Reepicheep prepares to go to the end of the world. Caspian suddenly decides to go with him. In this scene, Caspian struggles with his desire to go into the unknown and with his duty to return to Narnia and to rule. If you were Caspian, what would…

Let’s look at Psalm 37: 4 again: Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. God promises to give us the desires of our heart if we delight in him. So what is a desire? It’s more than a want, like an iPod or a trip to Disneyland.…

Life on a tropical island sounds great compared to the normal, everyday routine, right? Maybe not. Find out as you join Al and Eddie in Arthur Yorink’s Hey Al! Zuno says all the birds in the book make him want to chase something. Do you have chores to do like Al and Eddie? Try playing your…

What “delights” you? Is it a good movie? A piece of your favorite candy? A surprise? King David tells us in Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the LORD and he will giveyou the desires of your heart. What? How do you “delight” yourself in someone? Think about a time when you were hanging out with…

Our voyage draws to a close as we read the final chapters of C. S. Lewis’s Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Chapters 13-16 bring uncharted waters. Three lords are still missing. Will Caspian and crew find them? Will Reepicheep discover Aslan’s country? Here’s a heads up for next week. On Monday, we will begin Lois…