By Sarah Arthur
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
www.tyndale.com
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
800-323-9400
The artfully composed paperback cover of Walking Through
the Wardrobe invites you open its pages. A picture of a wardrobe that was actually owned by C. S. Lewis adorns the front. Peeking out from beneath the dark brown cover is a glimpse of a blue page that conceals an artistically rendered lamppost. Like Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, you know that your journey is about to begin.
In preparation for your quest, Sarah Arthur advises that you either read The
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe or watch the movie version. She also encourages the use of the New Living Translation Bible as well as some paper and a writing utensil. Along with your imagination, these are the only other tools needed.
This is not a book to read in one sitting; each chapter needs a chance to percolate. The wording and humor give the book relevance with the pre-teen to teenage group, and it would be a great family devotional for those age groups. At the end of each short chapter, you'll find "Further In" questions that allow the reader to delve into the subject matter as well as a list of Bible passages pertaining to the chapter topic. Arthur uses these sections to pull the reader into a more meaningful fellowship with and understanding of God.
As an aficionado of C. S. Lewis, I was eager to read Walking
Through the Wardrobe, and I was not disappointed. I liked the thematic use of walking carried on throughout the book. In part one we "walk" with Lucy, and eventually throughout the book we "walk" with all the major players, including Lewis himself. There was a nice balance of theology, history, and self-knowledge that left you feeling energized and close to God. At the end of the book, you will not only know more about the world of Narnia, but also know more about God. If Walking
Through the Wardrobe is representative of Arthur's work, I look forward to reading her other books.
Product review by Amy Wilbur, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, July 2010
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