*Wild Things and Castles in the Sky from Square Halo Books

40 different authors write eloquently about children’s literature, faith in Christ, and shepherding imaginations in Wild Things and Castles in the Sky.

*Wild Things and Castles in the Sky: A Guide to Choosing the Best Books for Children, edited by Leslie Bustard, Carey Bustard, and Théa Rosenburg. Square Halo Books, 2022. 272 pages.

Reading Level: Ages 16+/Grown-ups

Recommended For: parents, educators, and children’s literature enthusiasts

“Stories can train our imaginations and help us grow in empathy and sympathy, but stories can also help us understand how we fit into the kingdom of God, as well as prepare us for a life of being molded by the word of God.” So writes Leslie Bustard in her introduction to this lively volume, and so the rest of the 40 different authors illustrate in their various essays.

Ranging from books for toddlers and grandchildren to meditations on particular authors such as Tolkien to pondering the need for windows and doorways (multi-ethnic and special needs characters) and more, this new addition to the books-about-books lineup is excellent, far-ranging, and fresh. I appreciate that the topics include such ideas as music and nature in addition to the more typical age-based or genre-based reflections. I also very much appreciate the willingness to grapple with weighty issues (suffering, race) alongside beloved classic picture books and big ideas about imagination and spirituality. Although I recognized some of the essay authors (including our friends, Mitali Perkins and Carolyn Leiloglou) most of the authors are new to me. I have very much enjoyed making their acquaintance through this book!

But how do these essays work together? And if you are not in a certain season of life, can each essay be relevant to you? There is a central thread that binds us all together: a shared faith in Christ, and a deep desire to be formed by Scripture and to share our love of Christ and His word with the generations after us. This is the lens through which each writer has determined which authors and illustrators to highlight, and it has served as the ultimate guide to help them choose books that good, true, and beautiful.

~Carey Bustard, Preface, p. 4

Each short chapter (essay) is followed by 5 annotated book recommendations from the author of that chapter. I may review children’s books for a living, but I was delighted to find many new-to-me recommendations. The editors include a complete list at the end of all the books recommended divided by age range as well as recommendations for holidays.

Wild Things and Castles in the Sky is the sort of book we here at Redeemed Reader call a “Literary Nightstand” title: the kind of book we have on our nightstands and read for fun, delight, and edification. Wild Things is in good company, but it will also be good company, standing up to the best in this tradition. At times, I wished some essays were more fully fleshed out, but the tone in this book is invitational: come, join us in thinking about children’s books and in reading children’s books with those we love. Overtly Christian, this book brings together many contemporary authors, illustrators, and thinkers in this field of children’s literature and will provide much food for thought.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 5 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 4.75 out of 5

Read more about our ratings here. *indicates a starred review (the “best of the best”)

Related Reading From Redeemed Reader

• A Review: Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt (the gold standard for our Literary Nightstand titles)
• A Resource: The Hive (select blog posts from the late Gladys Hunt that we are privileged to house here at Redeemed Reader!)
• A Resource: All of our Literary Nightstand book reviews in one place

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You may also purchase this book directly from Square Halo Books.