LifeWay Books

On Books.LifeWay.com, you will find a selection of articles, book reviews, recommendations, author interviews, coupons, and challenges that will motivate you to discover impactful books, rewarding your reading as you grow.

I’ve Read The Chronicles of Narnia. Now What?

By

I remember the first time I read The Chronicles of Narnia:The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I was a short, quiet nine-year-old who wanted to live in a magical world where anything was possible (blame Disney). I was immediately transported to this place where talking beavers were completely normal, Turkish delight was easily accessible, and I couldn’t put the book down. I was hooked and had crossed over from the real world through the wardrobe and into Narnia. From the moment Mr. Tumnus helped Lucy back to the wardrobe to the moment the White Witch was destroyed forever, I was captivated (spoiler alert).

Now, one could say I was obsessed because of the great characters created by the wonderful C.S. Lewis, but I think it was because of the truth and the grace that he brought to this story through those characters. He presented the gospel in a way that people in this century could understand. I fell in love with the characters and related to them so much that when Aslan took the punishment off of Edmund and onto himself, the gospel became real for me.

Once I finished reading the book, I felt a major ache. It’s like when you are watching a really good series on Netflix and you reach the end and think, Now what? Well, now you go on to the next book and the next series, and just keep reading, exploring, and letting your imagination take you places you never would have gone before. You discover the exciting treasures that await in series like J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Andrew Peterson’s The Wingfeather Saga, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, Priscilla Shirer’s The Prince Warriors, and so many more. All of these series teach us about life, friendship, community, the seen and unseen world, the constant struggle between good and evil, and more. These series have been handed down through the generations and will continue to be.  

If someone were to ask me if I had a list of books that helped transform my life, many of these would be on it. I plan to pass down these titles to my kids, even though right now my children are only three and one. I’m excited to share with them this fantastic literature that can also teach them more about the character of God and the world around them. I can’t wait for my kids to experience and explore the unseen world of Ahoratos and feel as though they are in the battles that Evan, Xavier, and the rest of the prince warriors face. I’m excited to relive with them a first reading of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness when they begin feeling they are part of the Igiby family. And there are so many others that are just waiting to be explored and shared with the next generation.

If you’re a parent and looking for a magical list of books for different age groups or find a book and are wondering if it’s good or appropriate for your kid, check out this awesome list at Little Book Big Story. Here you will find books grouped by category like the few listed below and so much more!

  • Holidays (Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Christmas)
  • Awkward talks for those awkward conversations
  • Fiction books with or without a series