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The Book Tree

January 14, 2009 by Carrie

The Book Tree: A Christian Reference for Children’s Literature is exactly what it says it is – a book reference guide. Although the preface is addressed to Christians, I really do think this book would serve Christian and non-Christian alike quite well. Published by Canon Press, the authors of this book have “done the leg work” in compiling a list of some of the best children’s literature of all times. There are hundreds of titles included in this book, with short descriptions for each work. The books are separated in appropriate age categories beginning with Preschool Literature and taking you all the way through high school. All of the titles are nicely organized in the back both by title and then again by author for easy access.

What this book attempts to do is to provide a handy reference for parents, teachers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. to be able to offer good reading material to the children in their charge. This book is friendly enough and easy enough to use that children themselves should be able to open this book and grab a suggestion for a good book to read.

The reason it is subtitled “A Christian Reference for Children’s Literature” is because the authors and compilers of this work are Christians and they’ve taken the time to eliminate books from their “Master List” that involve language, sexual references, etc. Basically they’ve removed things which might be considered objectionable by the conservative reader (Christian OR non). However, anyone and everyone has different standards and areas in literature that they are perfectly willing (and enthusiastic about!) quibbling over. Assume that the books recommended within the covers of this one are generally clean and unobjectionable.

In the preface to the book they take the time to talk about the benefits of reading good literature. They quote C.S. Lewis as saying, “a children’s story which is only enjoyed by children is a bad children’s story.” His point was that good literature is good for all. McCallum and Scott also argue the point that abridged stories aren’t really beneficial to children and that instead of “dumbing down” literature we should raise our children up to classic standards. I do happen to agree with them with the caveat being that I also happen to think that illustrated works and some manipulatives can be helpful in better understanding works of the past.

Yet this is not just a book that focuses on classics. It is updated through today’s literature and, as our editor at 5 Minutes for Books will be delighted to know, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? also makes the cut. (The second edition of the this book didn’t catch The Mysterious Benedict Society but I’ll be lobbying for that in the Third Edition.)

On the whole I find this book to be a marvelous resource full of good ideas and good stories to introduce children to. It’s a tool worth investing in and I think you’ll be delighted with it.

The publisher of this book, Canon Press, has graciously offered to giveaway one copy to one of our readers. You must be a U.S. Resident to win. If you would like to be entered in the contest, please leave a comment below. Good luck! We’ll announce the winner on Wednesday January 21.

The winner of last week’s giveaway, a subscription to Happy Times from Concordia publishing is #20 Stacy.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

Filed Under: Carrie, Children's Books, Gift Ideas, Non-Fiction, Parenting

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Comments

  1. tracey says

    January 18, 2009 at 12:49 am

    Hmm, a book that “christians” can use to make certain their little pumpkins don’t read anything pre-approved by their controlling parents Some of the world’s finest literature are “banned” books. Just say no to censorship

  2. Meredith Rogen says

    January 18, 2009 at 3:46 am

    Looks like a good read.

  3. Christina G. says

    January 18, 2009 at 3:56 am

    This sounds like a good book. Thanks for the giveaway!

  4. crystle tellerday says

    January 18, 2009 at 4:57 am

    please pick me

  5. Robert A. Piacquad says

    January 18, 2009 at 5:33 am

    I hope I win the book.

  6. Sharon Jones says

    January 18, 2009 at 6:54 am

    great prize…would love to win. THANKS

  7. susan varney says

    January 18, 2009 at 8:07 am

    love to be the winner thank-you

  8. Megret says

    January 18, 2009 at 10:32 am

    I’d love, love to win this book! Thanks for the chance!

  9. Megret says

    January 18, 2009 at 10:32 am

    I subscribe to your feed.

  10. Andria says

    January 18, 2009 at 11:22 am

    Great prize. Thank you

  11. Cathy Casper says

    January 18, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    Right now my favorit book is Marley and me and I would love to win this book

  12. Belenda says

    January 18, 2009 at 1:41 pm

    Please enter me. Thank you.

  13. Annette says

    January 18, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    The books sounds good.

  14. Susan Smith says

    January 18, 2009 at 6:45 pm

    Sounds like a nice book

  15. joni chadwell says

    January 18, 2009 at 7:13 pm

    Oh… How nice this would sure come in handy!

  16. Gabriel J. says

    January 18, 2009 at 9:20 pm

    Please, enter me, great prize!!! I would love to win this.

  17. Jennifer Hedden says

    January 18, 2009 at 10:19 pm

    enter me

  18. SharonC says

    January 18, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    What a great resource. Thanks

  19. Amanda says

    January 18, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    We are kid book crazy and would love to be able to use this book as a reference!

  20. Carla Pullum says

    January 19, 2009 at 12:06 am

    Would like this for my two daughter’s!
    Carla
    cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

  21. Alicia says

    January 19, 2009 at 12:45 am

    Totally cool

  22. Erma says

    January 19, 2009 at 7:33 am

    I would love the chance to win thanks.

  23. Sharon Whitehurst says

    January 19, 2009 at 9:20 am

    I just want a chance to win this.

  24. Kryss says

    January 19, 2009 at 2:23 pm

    Would love to win!

  25. Sharold says

    January 19, 2009 at 2:31 pm

    This would come in real handy in my daycare.

  26. CHARLENE S. says

    January 19, 2009 at 6:05 pm

    Great book!

  27. Marion B says

    January 19, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    This book would be nice to have!

  28. Julie Donahue says

    January 19, 2009 at 7:13 pm

    This would be an awesome resource!

  29. Julie Donahue says

    January 19, 2009 at 7:13 pm

    I have your button.

  30. Julie Donahue says

    January 19, 2009 at 7:13 pm

    I subscribe.

  31. Ed Nemmers says

    January 19, 2009 at 7:43 pm

    Happy Inauguration Day Eve!

  32. Terry Vanderpool says

    January 19, 2009 at 8:17 pm

    Please enter me in this great contest thanks

  33. Katherine Frazier says

    January 19, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    Sounds like a great reference book and help in picking out reading material for my kids.

  34. Hesper F says

    January 19, 2009 at 8:41 pm

    What a great resource! Thanks for the chance to win.

  35. Brenda says

    January 19, 2009 at 8:55 pm

    Wounds like a great reference for families, thanks for the giveaway

  36. Cassandra Janda says

    January 19, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    This will be so helpful. Thanks so much!

  37. Stuart says

    January 19, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    Would make a great resource for my kids AND church youth group.

  38. Angela Cisco says

    January 19, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    I would love to win thanks for the contest.
    angelacisco at rocketmail.com

  39. Jason Lawless says

    January 19, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    This looks like a great resource, especially since we have 3 kids in our house!

  40. Ronda C. says

    January 19, 2009 at 10:43 pm

    What a great resource. Would love to read this.

  41. Chrysa says

    January 19, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  42. Amy A says

    January 19, 2009 at 10:52 pm

    Thanks for the chance! I could use this!

  43. Marcia S says

    January 19, 2009 at 11:55 pm

    This looks like an excellent resource–I’d love to win!

  44. Miss Heidi says

    January 20, 2009 at 12:58 am

    Please enter me. Thanks.
    Heidi
    [email protected]

  45. Michelle H. says

    January 20, 2009 at 12:58 am

    This sounds like a great resource and I would love to win.

  46. john ferris says

    January 20, 2009 at 1:39 am

    This sounds great.

  47. Geri Nyland says

    January 20, 2009 at 2:21 am

    Thanks for a great web site that gives us the oportunity to win such a great book :o)

  48. Heather B says

    January 20, 2009 at 2:52 am

    I would really love to have this for my daughter who is just learning to read.

  49. Elizabeth M. says

    January 20, 2009 at 6:57 am

    What a wonderful resource this would be!

  50. Renee Borders says

    January 20, 2009 at 6:58 am

    I have 7 grandchildren……I need this! 🙂

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