So do all in this community in our various ways. They are really seeing, but it’s a different kind of sight. Those painters are seeing what is not yet but we hope will be. “Here we anticipate the Mended Wood, the Great Wood healed. Speaking of the rabbits’ current secret refuge in the mountains, one of the characters explains: The Great Wood, their former home, has been ravaged and polluted but they have a vision of a Mended Wood-with all the harm undone, the shadows hurled back, and peace and innocence and industry restored. Smith’s fantasy world focuses on talking rabbits who have lost their glorious, beloved king to treason and to his merciless enemies (birds of prey, and wolves), and now, as a defeated, hunted people, must struggle to survive in a ruined world.īut it’s not just survival that drives them. With these words the bravest and truest of the rabbits’ knights and vassals pledge loyalty to their king. Till the green ember rises, or the end of the world.” “My place beside you, my blood for yours. We hear them at a very early age and remember them forever. But fantasy is more like poetry, in that it interacts so intimately with the reader’s own imagination and brings his emotions into play. Try reading aloud Henry James’ The Ambassadors to any twelve-year-old, and he’ll run screaming to the sidewalk, bored beyond endurance. Young readers like stories of adventure, marvels, action, and passion. That it’s not generally considered important doesn’t mean it’s not important. Secondly, because it’s a significant part of our culture, fantasy helps shape our opinions, our attitudes, and the way we live our lives. Far from being a trickling backwater, fantasy is a mighty tributary flowing into the mainstream of our popular culture. Add to that the collective input of self-publishing, fantasy fan sites on the Internet, and the vast number of works already published and still in print, and you’ll see that this is no small enterprise. I can’t even guess the number of new titles published every year. “The world’s on fire-and you’re twiddling around with children’s books?” But there are two things they haven’t considered.įirst, children and teenagers consume a prodigious amount of fantasy. To some it may seem a trivial pursuit to try to reclaim territory for Christ’s Kingdom in the realm of fantasy literature. My first reaction, once I’d finished reading this book, was to say, “Oh! Now we’re getting somewhere!” PS – I LOVE following SD Smith on Instagram! I enjoy the behind-the-scenes look, the quotes, and original poetry he shares! Visit his website to learn more about his books and his family.(Story Warren Books: 2015) Reviewed by Lee Duigon He’s also three years older than my other three kids. My oldest is on the Autism spectrum and he prefers non-fiction. Once I conquered when we’d read, the fight became what we’d read. So, I began reading aloud in the hallway as they all lay in their beds. Until I realized, “What if I bring back reading at bedtime?” At bedtime, they’re all in their beds away from each other. When they were all younger, reading aloud was more successful when they had quiet activities to do as I read aloud.Īs they aged, they outgrew many of these quiet activities and once again, I was stuck. Instead of snuggling, mine always seemed to elbow each other in the eye, fight over who gets to turn the page, and constantly complain, “I can’t see.” I’ve always envied the moms who can snuggle with their kids as they read aloud by firelight. Yes, I fully understand that this is an ironic thing for “This Reading Mama” to say. Reading aloud has not always been a pretty thing in our house. **I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to and affiliated sites. This is me telling you about something we’ve loved that I think you should love, too! Oh my goodness! Have you ever heard of The Green Ember series? If not, you’re about to.īut first, let me back up and tell you how we landed on it…
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