vendredi 18 avril 2014

Select Christian Books For Tweens

By Anita Ortega


Many Christians want to provide literature for their children that adheres to Biblical principles as well as engaging their interest. Christian books for tweens - kids between the ages of ten and twelve - are easy to find if you research publishing houses dedicated to promoting the faith and serving families. Once you know where to look, you can then find customer reviews and excerpts of titles that might fit you needs.

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.

Often a publishing house will contract for three-volume series, which gives the author a chance to follow the main character through several story lines. Growing up is a transition, so following a character who is also growing both physically and in the Lord can be inspirational as well as entertaining. Pre-teens often feel pressured to grow too fast or conform to peers, and the right books can certainly spark dialog with parents on these issues.

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.

Sometimes family discussions can focus on principles that might be lost in the general excitement of the story. 'The Chronicles of Narnia' is an allegorical tale which has found new popularity with the recent movie version. Parental involvement in the reading experience of children is one way to keep the family strong.

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.

Mainstream literature may ignore or even deny that many of the greatest men and women were and are Christians. Using novels and non-fiction that tell the true story or teach valuable lessons is a way to reinforce Sunday School and church messages and show kids how faith relates to their real life.




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