TAKING YOUR CHILDREN TO NARNIA

The Sixty Minute Father

If you have not heard, the Disney/Walden Media adaptation of C.S. Lewis classic The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe releases on December 9. The release of this film creates some real opportunities to open up some conversations with your kids! Lewis' depiction of Aslan as a Christ figure can help them to understand the ultimate sacrifice - some have called this The Passion Of The Christ for kids.

Here are a few ideas:

Read the book with your kids - check your local store or library.

Listen to the Focus On The Family radio drama together.

Print off the colouring pages available for free at www.narniaresources.com

There are also some great books for all ages:

For The Kids:

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Activity Book and Gel Pen
Harper Collins

This book is full of games, taking children through the entire story, spanning from The Escape From World War II London to The Great Return of Aslan. Coloring pictures, wordsearches and mazes challenge while familiarizing the reader with the essential elements of the story.

Step Into Narnia: A Journey Through The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
Harper Collins

The graphic style is similar to Maurice Sendak's Where The Wild Things Are, and has a wildly colorful take on the story. Older kids will like the paintings of both the armies of Narnia and of The White Witch, ending with great photos from the movie shoot.

For Teens

The Chronicles Of Narnia: Beyond The Wardrobe, The Official Guide To Narnia
Harper Collins

This book gives an overview of the seven Chronicles of Narnia, not just "The Lion, The Witch...". There is a great mix of the classic illustrations and the movie photos, designed to bring readers into the history of C.S. Lewis and his inspiration for writing the Chronicles. 128 pages cover the themes, creatures and stories that are part of the 55-year-old Narnia series.

Music Inspired By The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
EMI Music

This is a compilation by artists that wrote songs about the spiritual themes of Narnia, and not released anywhere else. Standout songs are Jars Of Clay's "Waiting For The World To Fall", Jeremy Camp's "Open Up Your Eyes", Rebecca St. James' "Lion" and TobyMac's "New World". (I am hoping that Rebecca's new CD is as good as this song.) The fans of any of these bands are bound to like this compilation.

For The Adults:

Inside Narnia: A Guide To Exploring The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
Baker Books

Author Devin Brown delves into the book, and has provided 17 chapters with detailed footnotes, often referring to the other six Chronicles. Some of the book addresses the friendship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein, author of Lord Of The Rings. Brown provides great context to start to understand the artistic endeavors of these two writers.