A Definite Don't-Read

I just read The Lighting Thief by Rick Riordan. Don't let your kids read it. It's a wanna-be Harry Potter book, but far more dangerous. For example, the main character gives burnt sacrifices to Greek gods and prays to Poseidon as "Father" (supposedly because Poseidon is his biological father, but still not good). The writing is just fine and the author is imaginative, but the storyline is dangerous for kids who are not emotionally and spiritually mature enough yet.

A Definite Must-Read

This term, I'm taking a class called "Books, Children and God." I get to read a lot of children's classics in chapter books, picture books, fairy tales, and poetry. Then, I also get to read some books that I have never heard of. Since they are children's books, I easily breeze through most of them with little thought (except when having to write about or discuss them). But, today, I read one that really struck me.

This short chapter book is called What Child Is This? by Caroline B. Cooney. It has been a long time since I've read a book that caused me to have an emotional pit in my stomach. It has been a long time since I've read a book that made me cry. It has been a long time since I've read a book that caused a paradigm shift in my perspective on life and people. But this book did all those things. I highly recommend it. It's a great book to read aloud or quietly... for children and for adults. For a little preview, here is what's on the back cover:

Katie, a foster child, wants only one thing for Christmas: a family. Who can bring such an immense gift? There are no wise men coming from the East. There are no shepherds watching in the fields. But there is Matt Morden, age sixteen, who believes he is doing a good deed. There is Liz Kitchell, also sixteen, whose family decorates and celebrates but leaves Liz wondering where the meaning of the holiday has gone. There are Mr. Knight and his son, Tack, who run an inn and put up a tree on which children's wishes will hang, waiting to be granted.

It's the season of joy, hope, and miracles. Is the Christmas spirit strong enough to bring about the impossible?

Here are some things I pondered while reading the book. (If or when you read this book, please let me know other things you pondered.)

• I have so much. How can I give more?
• Maybe it's okay that kids in the Angel Tree Project have asked for expensive things after all.
• How does my church impact the community... the world?
• What does it truly mean to know God? How should this be reflected in my life?
  
• Maybe that odd guy in high school has more to his story... maybe I should have taken the time and energy to find out.

I don't know if this book in available at your typical Borders or Chapters. I had to specially order it from Vancouver Kidsbooks.