I am a huge fan of children’s literature. Long before I was ever pastoring The First Door of Faith Church, I was teaching children in the public schools. My love for books has only increased since then and I realize the power that children’s literature has in providing a real forum to discuss relevant topics and even matters of faith. If we are carefully reading, we will come across a wide variety of options for children that will help them along with their own reading and hopefully encourage character development. It’s true. While nothing can ever replace Bible reading, it is healthy to read a wide array of genres to enrich your life and increase your general knowledge.
Recently, I read Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski and here are some topics you can glean from this action packed story. Perhaps you will want to use these ideas in your classroom, or among homeschooling parents or with your own children:
-study the map of Florida (maybe have your kids read the book before a drive or flight to Florida?)
-encourage your kids to grow their own strawberry plants
-visit a garden center to learn about plants in your area
-read up on the Seminole War (if you are a history buff)
-discuss how life is with your neighbors. Do you get along? Is someone always annoying or bullying others? Are there reasons for fencing?
-check out a petting zoo or an animal farm to enjoy some of the animals in this book
-talk about church life, prayer, hymns, music, camp meetings, the Bible, church organ, and conversion
-ask your child if he/she is interested in learning a musical instrument
-share family problems (in this book alcoholism is addressed)
Spoiler Alert: To my surprise, the antagonist in this book gets converted. If we want to talk about Jesus and what He can do to change a life, we can use the very books that are available to children to springboard these meaningful conversations.
Happy Reading!
Pastor Sharon's Blog 