jeudi 17 avril 2014

Finding Christian Books For Tweens

By Anita Ortega


Christian parents know the importance of selecting edifying literature, music, movies, and activities for their children. Although finding Christian books for tweens might seem difficult, it's really not that hard. Past generations wrote novels and non-fiction in abundance, and today many publishing houses specialize in family-friendly literature of all sorts. If you know where to look, you can find books, reviews, and even recommended reading lists provided by ministries.

Parents will have criteria for what they think acceptable. Some people feel that pre-teens are not ready for romance, while others think that this genre is OK if properly handled. If romantic novels are out, there are still many others to choose from. Horse stories are always popular with young girls, and authors find the plot of girl-meets-horse a great framework for character and plot development.

Girl-meets-horse is one alternative that seems to be eternally popular. There are publishing houses that ask authors for a story that continues for three volumes. This format is great for character development and teaching life lessons. Pre-teen years are transitional ones, and fictional characters will face challenges that the readers also face. Many plots will spark meaningful dialog between parents and their children.

For boys, there are many adventure stories or series, as well as sports themes. Of course, boys can like horses, too, and enjoy reading about cowboys and the Old West. Exciting fiction doesn't have to depend on mythical creatures, science fiction, or the struggles between superheroes and world-destroying villains. Some books actually show main characters walking in faith, while others teach Biblical principles like honesty, self-sacrifice, acceptance of authority, and taking responsibility.

The Chronicles of Narnia is a series that uses fictional characters and allegory to depict the life of Christ. Parents may need to explain some of the underlying truths, which is a great way to have quality family time and interaction. This is not a recent story, but the movie made of it has reawakened interest.

Biographies that are well-written and true to fact make great reading for all ages. Stories of heroic doctors, nurses, missionaries, explorers, or martyrs abound. Many true accounts rival fiction, like the discovery of penicillin or the Dead Sea Scrolls. The internet is a great resource to tie in actual news reports of significant events; finding the Rosetta Stone comes to mind.

There is a wealth of non-fiction, which is an acquired taste for many. It's never too soon to expose kids to momentous true tales, like how people got to the North Pole or to the moon. Again, this kind of reading can be a great family activity; tales that might be tedious to read alone can be great when Dad or Mom reads aloud and everyone talks about them afterwards.

The fact is that many great men and women, as well as imaginary characters, were and are Christians. Reading accounts that do not gloss over this fact often gives a more accurate view of history as it really happened or adds an extra dimension to fiction. There is much value in reinforcing what kids hear at church with both true and fictional stories.




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