The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is one of those delightful books that works on many levels. Children can imagine, through the main characters ,what it is like to bravely take up a noble cause and become themselves members of a royal clan. More mature children and adults appreciate the complex and subtle analogies to real life. Christians–at least those who are not put off by other issues described in Noteworthy Issues–delight in a portrayal of a Christ-like figure making the ultimate sacrifice, triumphing over evil, and exposing and redemning the human condition.

We introduced our children to both the book and earlier BBC Narnia films while living in England, making the cultural setting of the series of particular added interest. Our children were wide-eyed to see in a museum exhibit the actual prop used for the Aslan character in the BBC film. This also gave them the opportunity to see that the lion in the film was not real--just a device for telling a story.

The Narnia series has become much-beloved fiction in the culture and traditions of our own family. To this day, a European wardrobe stands in our house. Our children long ago got over the hope that inside they might find a world of wonder and the great lion, Aslan. Now, Narnia simply reminds us of the real struggle between good and evil and points us to the real answer to that struggle, the real Jesus.

Read our take on the controversy over witches, magic, wizards, fantasy and raising children, in 3 parts.

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A book with much to recommend:
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A book with much to scrutinize:
Fahrenheit 451