January 14, 2009

The Book Tree

Written by Carrie

The Book Tree: A Christian Reference for Children's Literature is exactly what it says it is – a book reference guide. Although the preface is addressed to Christians, I really do think this book would serve Christian and non-Christian alike quite well. Published by Canon Press, the authors of this book have "done the leg work" in compiling a list of some of the best children's literature of all times. There are hundreds of titles included in this book, with short descriptions for each work. The books are separated in appropriate age categories beginning with Preschool Literature and taking you all the way through high school. All of the titles are nicely organized in the back both by title and then again by author for easy access.

What this book attempts to do is to provide a handy reference for parents, teachers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. to be able to offer good reading material to the children in their charge. This book is friendly enough and easy enough to use that children themselves should be able to open this book and grab a suggestion for a good book to read.

The reason it is subtitled "A Christian Reference for Children's Literature" is because the authors and compilers of this work are Christians and they've taken the time to eliminate books from their "Master List" that involve language, sexual references, etc. Basically they've removed things which might be considered objectionable by the conservative reader (Christian OR non). However, anyone and everyone has different standards and areas in literature that they are perfectly willing (and enthusiastic about!) quibbling over. Assume that the books recommended within the covers of this one are generally clean and unobjectionable.

In the preface to the book they take the time to talk about the benefits of reading good literature. They quote C.S. Lewis as saying, "a children's story which is only enjoyed by children is a bad children's story." His point was that good literature is good for all. McCallum and Scott also argue the point that abridged stories aren't really beneficial to children and that instead of "dumbing down" literature we should raise our children up to classic standards. I do happen to agree with them with the caveat being that I also happen to think that illustrated works and some manipulatives can be helpful in better understanding works of the past.

Yet this is not just a book that focuses on classics. It is updated through today's literature and, as our editor at 5 Minutes for Books will be delighted to know, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? also makes the cut. (The second edition of the this book didn't catch The Mysterious Benedict Society but I'll be lobbying for that in the Third Edition.)

On the whole I find this book to be a marvelous resource full of good ideas and good stories to introduce children to. It's a tool worth investing in and I think you'll be delighted with it.

The publisher of this book, Canon Press, has graciously offered to giveaway one copy to one of our readers. You must be a U.S. Resident to win. If you would like to be entered in the contest, please leave a comment below. Good luck! We'll announce the winner on Wednesday January 21.

The winner of last week's giveaway, a subscription to Happy Times from Concordia publishing is #20 Stacy.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

Filed under Carrie, Children's Books, Gift Ideas, Non-Fiction, Parenting by Carrie

Find out about our relationships with publishers and affiliate networks in our full disclosure statement.

Buzz Up Digg Mixx Twitter

Email Print

114 Comments

Pings on The Book Tree

January 14, 2009

Visit Our Sisters For Some Giveaway Fun

Comments on The Book Tree

January 14, 2009

Cindi M @ 1:38 pm

I've read several similar books lately. From "Books Children Love" to "Books that Build Character" to "Honey for a Child's Heart" to "The Read-Aloud Handbook." I love having these books on my shelf as references when I'm looking for books for my kids (or myself!) I'll be glad to see this one too!

stephanie @ 1:43 pm

Sounds like a great resource!

Heather J. @ 1:55 pm

I'd love to use this to help me find books to read with my son – I have lots of ideas, but a reference book would be perfect!

Jennifer @ 2:20 pm

This looks and sounds really great!

Katrina (Callapidder Days) @ 2:23 pm

Sounds like a fantastic book. (A book about books — is there a better combination?) Thanks for the giveaway — please enter me.

Mark @ 2:29 pm

I'd love to win a copy, especially since I am going to become an uncle this year.

d @ 3:13 pm

This looks like a great book to have for my boys.

Elizabeth @ 3:23 pm

I love books like this that give suggestions for books I can read to my kids. The library gets so overwhelming. I like that it comes from a Christian perspective. I'm curious about what books they include and which ones they don't.

Amy @ Hope Is the Word @ 4:05 pm

Sign me up! I'd love to have this one in our home library!

Jennifer @ 4:32 pm

Wow, this sounds lie an excellent resource to have around. I do not know how many time I have read Brown Bear, Brown Bear what do you see, but I do know I have it memorized.

RebekahC @ 4:37 pm

OOh, this sounds very interesting. I'd love to have a look at it. Thanks for the post, and please enter me in your draw.

RebekahC
littleminx@cox.net
from
Ready Set Read Reviews
Bookish Mom Reviews

Sharon Walling @ 5:05 pm

I would definitely be interested in this. I've also been looking for books like this with adult books in it. Does anyone know of any?

sharon54220@gmail.com

Carrie K. @ 6:26 pm

I love books about books! This one sounds great – please throw my name in the virtual hat.

nnjmom at yahoo dot com

bekahcubed @ 9:09 pm

I'm always looking for books about books–especially ones that give recommendations for sharing my love of books with children!

I'd love to be entered in the drawing.

Janie @ 9:47 pm

I actually have this book on my wishlst. I love books about books. AND, I was privileged to hear Elizabeth McCallum speak at the '07 ACSI conference. Even though I have a shelf full of books about books, hearing such wonderfully wise words from Mrs. McCallum made me want to get yet another reference.

Reading to Know is new on my radar, and I've already added it to my blogroll. Keep up the good work!

Janie

Gail @ 11:30 pm

Sounds like a great reference book! Thanks, I'd love to be entered in!

Monica Brand | Paper Bridges @ 11:52 pm

me! please?

January 15, 2009

Mozi Esmes Mommy @ 1:28 am

Looks like a great book! With a 21-month-old, this would be handy in selecting reading material for our household…

gahome2mom @ 10:04 am

I really would like to win this book. I have 4 grandchildren and a 3 year old at home that would enjoy it. Thanks.

John @ 10:06 am

I am big into reading. I have hopes my kids will benefit from this book.

Maria Delgado @ 10:35 am

I would love this!

Alice Hansen @ 4:48 pm

Loved your review – thanks for the chance!

Beth @ 10:40 pm

I love annotated book lists and book guides, and if the folks at Canon Press pulled this together, it's bound to be excellent. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

January 16, 2009

Cindy B. in Montana @ 12:13 am

I would love to win this. We have grandkids about to become readers!

John @ 12:14 am

This sounds like a great reference for parents and grandparents.

Courtney from Mommie Blogs @ 11:18 am

I would love to win a copy!

jenna @ 11:33 am

This sounds like a great book. I would love to win. Thanks!

Elizabeth @ 11:50 am

I'd love to be entered to win. Id love reference guide for my CHILDREN and HUSBAND (whos agnostic and just doesn't understand my whole "Christian thing" as he calls it)

)

Christy @ 1:17 pm

I would love to win this book! How great to have a resource to protect your kids from even books. There are too many books targeted for kids that are not even appropriate for them at all!

Page Turner @ 10:51 pm

This looks like a great addition to my resource library. Please enter me, too!

Ginny @ 10:53 pm

I have a friend that would get use out of this.

Jayme @ 11:43 pm

sounds like a good read…please sign me up! thanks!

January 17, 2009

Jen @ 3:32 am

I would love to win this book!

Janet @ 6:52 am

ty 4 the awesome giveaway and entry:)

Michael Capp @ 8:17 am

I'd love to win!

Brian @ 9:34 am

What kids read when they do read these days can be frightening. I'd love to give a copy of this to my church's school, for my kids and all the others, too.

shannon Baas @ 10:36 am

This looks like a great book. Please enter me.

susan varney @ 11:19 am

i'd certainly love to win this book

Cee @ 11:25 am

Thank you so much for this giveaway! I am always interested in book recommendations, and this would be the perfect tool to build my seven-month-old daughter's book collection as she grows.

c. clemens @ 11:27 am

i have never heard of the book but would enjoy reading it. thanks

Pat @ 1:28 pm

What a fantastic resource!

James Coyne @ 3:09 pm

Enter me please

Denise @ 3:12 pm

I'd love to win this. It sounds like a great reference.

MRS.MOMMYY @ 5:19 pm

looks great thanks

Karen Gonyea @ 5:29 pm

Count me in please

michele anne jaquays @ 5:31 pm

Hey…….a great item. I would like to win very much

christopher h @ 6:34 pm

love to win this

Sherry Early @ 6:53 pm

I shouldn't, but I love this kind of book. Book lists of all kinds are my joy.

Amanda @ 9:54 pm

This sounds like a great resource. I use my copy of The Read-Aloud Handbook a lot and would love some more ideas.

January 18, 2009

tracey @ 12:49 am

Hmm, a book that "christians" can use to make certain their little pumpkins don't read anything pre-approved by their controlling parents Some of the world's finest literature are "banned" books. Just say no to censorship

Meredith Rogen @ 3:46 am

Looks like a good read.

Christina G. @ 3:56 am

This sounds like a good book. Thanks for the giveaway!

crystle tellerday @ 4:57 am

please pick me

Robert A. Piacquad @ 5:33 am

I hope I win the book.

Sharon Jones @ 6:54 am

great prize…would love to win. THANKS

susan varney @ 8:07 am

love to be the winner thank-you

Megret @ 10:32 am

I'd love, love to win this book! Thanks for the chance!

Megret @ 10:32 am

I subscribe to your feed.

Andria @ 11:22 am

Great prize. Thank you

Cathy Casper @ 1:20 pm

Right now my favorit book is Marley and me and I would love to win this book

Belenda @ 1:41 pm

Please enter me. Thank you.

Annette @ 2:32 pm

The books sounds good.

Susan Smith @ 6:45 pm

Sounds like a nice book

joni chadwell @ 7:13 pm

Oh… How nice this would sure come in handy!

Gabriel J. @ 9:20 pm

Please, enter me, great prize!!! I would love to win this.

Jennifer Hedden @ 10:19 pm

enter me

SharonC @ 10:33 pm

What a great resource. Thanks

Amanda @ 11:08 pm

We are kid book crazy and would love to be able to use this book as a reference!

January 19, 2009

Carla Pullum @ 12:06 am

Would like this for my two daughter's!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

Alicia @ Experiencing Each Moment @ 12:45 am

Totally cool

Erma @ 7:33 am

I would love the chance to win thanks.

Sharon Whitehurst @ 9:20 am

I just want a chance to win this.

Kryss @ 2:23 pm

Would love to win!

Sharold @ 2:31 pm

This would come in real handy in my daycare.

CHARLENE S. @ 6:05 pm

Great book!

Marion B @ 7:10 pm

This book would be nice to have!

Julie Donahue @ 7:13 pm

This would be an awesome resource!

Julie Donahue @ 7:13 pm

I have your button.

Julie Donahue @ 7:13 pm

I subscribe.

Ed Nemmers @ 7:43 pm

Happy Inauguration Day Eve!

Terry Vanderpool @ 8:17 pm

Please enter me in this great contest thanks

Katherine Frazier @ 8:40 pm

Sounds like a great reference book and help in picking out reading material for my kids.

Hesper F @ 8:41 pm

What a great resource! Thanks for the chance to win.

Brenda @ 8:55 pm

Wounds like a great reference for families, thanks for the giveaway

Cassandra Janda @ 9:07 pm

This will be so helpful. Thanks so much!

Stuart @ 9:09 pm

Would make a great resource for my kids AND church youth group.

Angela Cisco @ 9:12 pm

I would love to win thanks for the contest.
angelacisco at rocketmail.com

Jason Lawless @ 10:39 pm

This looks like a great resource, especially since we have 3 kids in our house!

Ronda C. @ 10:43 pm

What a great resource. Would love to read this.

Chrysa @ 10:46 pm

Thanks for the giveaway!

Amy A @ 10:52 pm

Thanks for the chance! I could use this!

Marcia S @ 11:55 pm

This looks like an excellent resource–I'd love to win!

January 20, 2009

Miss Heidi @ 12:58 am

Please enter me. Thanks.
Heidi
sweet_soul_sistermi@yahoo.com

Michelle H. @ 12:58 am

This sounds like a great resource and I would love to win.

john ferris @ 1:39 am

This sounds great.

Geri Nyland @ 2:21 am

Thanks for a great web site that gives us the oportunity to win such a great book )

Heather B @ 2:52 am

I would really love to have this for my daughter who is just learning to read.

Elizabeth M. @ 6:57 am

What a wonderful resource this would be!

Renee Borders @ 6:58 am

I have 7 grandchildren……I need this!

Becky Ann Medvetz @ 6:58 am

This would be perfectreading for my grandaughter who has been struggeling with her reading. I know she will like this book and it will help encorage her to read

Candie L @ 7:28 am

My children are starting to make independant choices on the boks they are reading. Would like some guidance

Buddy Garrett @ 8:45 am

I would love to win this great referece bool for Christian literature for children.

jerry ekstrom @ 9:11 am

I want to write for kids.

Lily Kwan @ 9:37 am

Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

April B @ 12:03 pm

This would be a great addition to our library..thanks

Brandlyn @ 12:04 pm

sounds like a great book to have for your kids

John Deal @ 12:22 pm

This sounds like a great resource for anyone trying to help children find uplifting reading material.

Sue @ 2:14 pm

Please enter my name in your drawing. Thanks!

Jason Nickolay @ 4:25 pm

Books about books are neat to read

Marcy Strahan @ 4:40 pm

I love this book! Teaching children about Jesus Christ & God in words they can understand.
Please enter me into this giveaway!

zestywonderland@gmail.com

Krista Clark @ 8:08 pm

As a teacher, I would find this very interesting and useful.

Jill Lund @ 8:27 pm

I'd like to see this book set in a prominate reference site at a public libraries.

Suanne Giddings @ 9:43 pm

What a great resource! Finding just the right books for children can become overwhelming. I seldom walk into a bookstore without doing my "homework" first. This book would certainly help a lot! Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this giveaway!