Are Your Kids Reading Great Literature? {review}
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When people ask us how we get our kids to read classical literature, we end up sharing how Lamplighter Publishers’ Books have been a part of our children’s entire lives. Books like The Secret Bridge have given our kids a taste for classical literature, with great stories that span any era.
Here is a secret I always share: read over your kid’s heads.
Many people wait to read great books. They want to wait until their child is at the text’s reading level, but don’t wait that long. Don’t allow the difficulty of the words to be confused with the ability to comprehend the material. My son’s favorite book at the age of six was Moby Dick. Not because he could fully comprehend the text, but because I read it aloud as an exciting and sometimes hilarious story. We have always read over our kids’ heads, and now, as teens, they read at a college level with ease. I credit a great part of that to the fact that we were never afraid to read a book that was a bit “over” their heads.
Once established, that love of great books will continued into their teen years.
Even though my teens will devour most of the books in the YA section of the library and my oldest son is a Manga mini-novel enthusiast, they have maintained their love of classic books. Because we introduced great reading to them at an early age, they know what a great book looks like. They are not put off by unfamiliar syntax and Old English usage. They have all scored above the high school level on vocabulary tests. Why? We have learned words from context while reading more challenging books. When the books offer a great story, our kids love reading them.
Don’t wait to introduce your child to great literature that goes beyond school assignments
The biggest challenge is finding great books to read to your kids. Where can you turn for books that go beyond the “Classics” section in the local bookstore? Where can you find books that instill the same values and Christian worldview you would like for your children to embrace? This is where Lamplighter passes the test. Their books hold the reader’s interest with compelling stories and engaging characters. As a publisher, they seek stories that demonstrate strong moral character.
Where can we see Godly character modeled? This is the aim of Lamplighter Books
Every title has a message, whether it is courage, family connection, compassion, honesty, or walking out Christian values with integrity. Each book leads with a story that can enchant your reader and lead them on an adventure.
Lamplighter Ministries’ focus is to develop Godly character and reinforce moral values by sharing stories in which role models demonstrate such character or face the consequences of their poor choices. Either form is carried out in a story that is engaging and vibrant. There are many book sizes, so there are plenty of shorter books to introduce these stories without overwhelming a younger student. Teddy’s Button or The White Dove have been some of our long-time favorites.
Why I would rather read these out loud to my younger children
The language is older; this book was published in 1899. If your teen has only read selections of their choice at the library, they might be uncomfortable with the vocabulary. If that is the case, there is also no better time to introduce your teen to higher-quality, more varied English-language reading selections. Although this book scores 4.6 on the Flesch reading scale, it is not beyond the reading level of most teens. The back page of the book includes a link to comprehension and character quizzes, a bonus from Lamplighter Publishing.
So what book did we read?
This month, my older teens and I read The Secret Bridge by Amy Le Feuvre, and it did not disappoint. The story begins with Bridget returning to England, orphaned and alone. As a young woman, penniless and without prospects to turn to for her care, she is utterly without hope, yet she longs to put her trust in God even in her bleak circumstances. Can He reveal Himself to her even in these lowly and trying times?
A kindly gentleman passenger is intrigued with Bridget, and as he learns of her heart and her dire situation, he offers an unlikely scenario to bring an end to Bridget’s predicament. Would you marry a stranger? Her choice leads to an unraveling of buried family secrets and to keeping a huge secret of her own.
How can she serve God and keep her secret?
Bridget struggles to keep her promises and be honest with the people she encounters every day. The strain is almost too much to bear. Will Bridget lose hope before the truth is revealed? These questions kept us turning the pages and longing for a happy end to her troubles. As always, the end was worth the anticipation.
With school in full swing, it has been a while since I have read from our collection. I had forgotten how much I love Lamplighter Publisher. With graduation approaching, I would gladly select a few from their collection as gifts for the students I love. Ishmael is a favorite for a graduation gift around here. Lamplighter also offers a line of beautifully illustrated storybooks for younger readers as well. So there is a book for every reader in your family.
You should order a catalog to see the book descriptions. If you look forward to your yearly book orders as I do, you’ll all be so glad to have your name on their mailing list.
