The Tortoise Website

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Sunday 13 April 2014

Old And New Christian Books For Tweens

By Anita Ortega


People exposed to good literature early in life love to read, and parents want to encourage this in their children. However, finding christian books for tweens - ten to twelve-year-olds - can be a challenge. Fortunately, books have been written for centuries that meet this need, and there are modern publishing houses which specialize in this genre. By reading short synopses and reviews, you can find suitable books to entertain your kids.

Parents have to decide what is 'suitable'. Many girls enjoy fairy tales and romances, for instance. However, some parents think pre-teen girls do better without romantic fancies in their heads. Even if properly-handled romance is out, there's a lot to choose from . Girl-meets-horse is always a winner, and the infinite possibilities of this scenario open up many life lessons and Biblical principles.

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.

Boys often like adventures or sports-based stories better than anything to do with horses. Of course, there are some great westerns, like 'My Friend Flicka', which deal with boys growing up in the west. Many exciting books are based on real life rather than superheroes and mega-villains. Books can show people walking out their faith or simply illustrate Christian principles.

The Chronicles of Narnia is one series that uses allegory to teach the life of Christ. This sort of book demands parental involvement to draw out lessons and parallels. Although this story is not new, the fairly recent movie version has reawakened interest in it.

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.

Historical accounts of important events are fun for the whole family to read. Explorers who reached the North Pole or the top of Mount Everest, the exploits of deep-sea divers, the faith of our founding fathers, and the adventures of people who lived on the frontiers of civilization are fascinating. From the search for the Ark to the first steps on the moon, real life is better than fiction.

Mainstream society often ignores the fact that many influential men and women were and are Christians. Often this aspect of history is lost. However, thrilling accounts read in the formative years can help pre-teens know who they are and the heritage they have. Sermons and Sunday School lessons can be reinforced and enlivened by great literature both old and new.




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