A Book Review from Books At a Glance
by Kristin Stiles
Your children may be familiar with his stories, especially The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but do they know about C.S. Lewis, his conversion, and the events in his life which inspired so many of his tales? Daniel DeWitt takes us on a journey through the life of this famous author to find out his inspiration and to see the shaping influences in his life.
We begin with young Jack, as C.S. Lewis was nicknamed. He faced great sorrow early on from his mother dying of cancer. He refused to believe God could exist, because how could a loving God deprive a boy so young of a mother? He was fascinated with nature and learning, however, and pursued higher levels of education. It was during this time that he met J.R.R. Tolkien and struck up what would be a lifelong friendship. These two had frequent long discussions on a variety of topics which often included theology. God used these discussions to break down Lewis’ atheism and ultimately the Holy Spirit did a work of regeneration, and Lewis was saved. He wanted to share what he had learned and experienced with others and chose the venue of fantasy to bring it to readers of all ages. He also wrote many non-fiction books on theological topics, as well.
Aside from the story itself, what makes this book delightful are the illustrations. They are beautifully rendered by Marcin Piwowarski who is a very gifted artist. To encourage more interaction with the book, he has even included 20 lions throughout the pages that children are directed to search for.
This is an enjoyable book that sheds light on the life and times of a beloved author in his quest for joy which he was only able to find in Christ. This would be a nice addition to your collection of Christian biographies for children.
Kristin Stiles is a home-school mom, a Sunday School teacher, and helps lead the “Young, Reading, & Reformed” children’s ministry at Reformed Baptist Church of Franconia, PA.