What Ginger Plowman Taught Me About Kids’ Books

Roughly three years ago, I read Ginger Plowman’s book, Don’t Make Me Count to Three.  It’s a fantastic resource with lots of practical advice for dealing with kids in a way that points to Christ.  I am sure I disagreed with something somewhere in the book, but it’s been so long ago that I’ve forgotten those points.  However, one thing I really took to heart and which has served our family very well was this piece of advice: when correcting kids, don’t use the language of the culture.  Instead, use Biblical language.

For instance, if my kid locks me out of the house to avoid a scolding (purely hypothetical, mind you), when I correct him, I don’t say, “Now, Tim, that was a silly thing to do.”  I tell him it was sin and that it was wrong not because it inconvenienced mommy, but because it broke God’s law.  God has said children should respect their parents.  It’s not respectful or obedient to lock mommy out of the house.  Thus, Tim has sinned and broken God’s law to do so.  (Just for the record, I don’t think there’s any need to be legalistic about this.  But as a general rule, I do think it’s helpful.)

This seems like a small difference.  But using the categories of Scripture to rebuke and restore does two things, at least: 1) it makes the Bible relevant for kids.  They can understand the language of Scripture because they see how it applies in their everyday lives; and 2) it teaches them to interpret everyday life through a Biblical lens.

What does all this have to do with kids’ books?  As I began to look for opportunities to build a Biblical worldview in my children, I quickly found that Ginger’s advice–to speak in Biblical terms–was often effective in those happy moments reading a book to them.  Snuggled up to mommy, listening to the trials and tribulations of talking animals, my kids are open to instruction in a way they usually weren’t when they’d just had a temper-tantrum.  Plus it’s not about them–the distance of the characters makes it a safe place to think about the consequences of actions.

Of course, some books are better than others for this.  Some books are just silly and funny, and they aren’t meant to be taken too seriously.  I’m imagining here someone trying to make Mr. Brown Can Moo a proof-text for some spiritual insight…and yeah, I think a lot of Dr. Suess falls under the category of pure silliness.  (Although Green Eggs and Ham does seem pretty preachy about the benefits of colored eggs.)

Others, though, are really wonderful teaching tools.  Perhaps the best book I’ve found on idolatry is a book called Little Rabbit’s Christmas by Harry Horse.  Aside from the enchanting illustrations and the compelling protagonist at the heart of the story–Little Rabbit, the story is a vivid picture of idolatry.  I know it’s not the right season for the book, but I’ll try to do a more in-depth review closer to Christmas.   Still, we have read it year round at our house.  Little Rabbit falls in love with a sled, and his adoration becomes so all-consuming that he doesn’t want to do or think about anything else.  When he finally gets the sled as a Christmas present, he won’t let anyone else use it but selfishly hoards it.  Until it breaks.  Then through the kindness of friends, he learns that the sled alone isn’t really worthy of all his admiration, but rather, it’s much better when shared with friends.

Talking about the story in terms of idolatry–that what happens to Little Rabbit is what happens when we idolize something–has been very fruitful in my kids’ lives.  So often we become obsessed with the gift over and above the giver, and we can’t enjoy God’s many blessings in our lives.  But when we love God first, what does He give us back?  “Seek ye first the kingdom of God…and all these things shall be added unto you.” I would even go so far as to ask my kids, “What is like that sled for you?”  The give and take has been so insightful for us all.

Of course, that’s just one way of helping kids see life in Biblical terms.  Hopefully soon I can tease out some other books and questions that would be useful for this exercise.  Til then, do you have any books, Christian or secular that have been really eye-opening for your kids when it comes to seeing the world aright?

For more insight on choosing good kids’ books, check out our interview with Tim Challies or Janie’s post Three Cheers for Free Enterprise: The King of Mulberry Street.  Or read more of my picks for younger kids in $20 Bookshelf Challenge: Best Books for Beginners.