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…