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| CHILDREN'S | BOOKS |
Wow! Another Good Book
by Elizabeth Yank
A Landscape With Dragons
By Michael O’Brien
Bethlehem Books * Ignatius Press
1-800-757-6831
“Wow! Another good book.” Don’t you wish you could say those words when you
go to the library. Now with the help of A Landscape With Dragons, you can. In the back of
the newer third edition, Bethlehem Books has done us a great service by creating a
literature list of excellent books for children of all ages, ranging in age from the
youngest “picture book” reader all the way through to the teenage
“adult” reader.
How often has a parent wandered aimlessly through the library aisles picking and choosing books for the children that appear from the cover to be a good book, only to read on the dust jacket of a less than desirable plot and characters. Not any more. With this book in hand, your children will be entertained for hours. In fact, you may forget what they look like, as they become engrossed in story after story.
One of the best features of this book list is its organization. That may appear odd, but it can be very frustrating to search for an author when the authors are not alphabetized, or the reading level is not included, and therefore too high or too low for the child.
For the most part, this list follows the order found in the library, distinguishing reading level and alphabetizing authors under each category, as well as informing us if a book is in print. Of course, all librarians classify some books a little differently. However, when a title comes up on the library’s computer screen, and it doesn’t identify where it can be found in the children’s section, you can be spending quite a bit of time checking the stacks from picture books to easy reader, and so on. Organized by picture books, easy readers, short chapter books, books for intermediate readers, and adult titles suitable for older teens, this book eliminates that frustration by telling you where to find that elusive title.
More importantly, the books suggested in this list are books worth reading and remembering. They are truly good books. Because they are mentioned for their quality foremost, they may not be in print. But do not be dismayed, most books in the library are not currently in print. Furthermore, in many libraries, the inter-library loan program allows you to borrow books from other libraries. Therefore, almost any book can be found that is worth the effort and time of hunting it down.
In perusing through this wonderful list of books, I can easily recognize a host of perennial favorites, as well as some interesting new friends, and that is what a good book is to a child, a friend that takes the child on a journey into the imagination.
As with any list, these books reflect someone else’s values and philosophy. However, I think you would agree that this list comprises many outstanding titles of worthy books to entertain your children for hours. Ultimately, the parent makes the final decision on what is a good book and Bethlehem Books respects that right.
At this point, you may be wondering about the rest of A Landscape With Dragons. I would be rather remiss if I did not mention that the original purpose behind this book was to enlighten parents with the ability to discern a good book.
After entering the child’s world of nightmares, Michael O’Brien takes us on a journey into the real world of nightmares, a world in which good and evil are thrown upside down. Unfortunately, the worst part of this world is that it has subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, invaded children’s literature.
After explaining the importance of symbolism in fairy tales and mythology, as a part of Western, Judaeo-Christian culture, O’Brien draws upon many examples to show us the difference between a good book, and one that is disordered, in part, or completely. Rather than despair at the decaying culture impinging upon us, O’Brien offers us the hope of good literature. In order to find out what those good books are, I strongly encourage you to delve into the recommended titles in this book, and be prepared to hear yourself and your kids say, “Wow! Another Good Book!”
Elizabeth Yank, a homeschooling mother of six, writes from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.