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Roar!: A Christian Family Guide to the Chronicles of Narnia
Can You Tell Me How to Get to Narnia?
You don’t actually have to journey all the way to Narnia to find everything you need to know in one spot (though you might want to anyway)! Roar! A Christian Family Guide to the Chronicles of Narnia is a beautiful volume that unveils a fun-filled world based on intriguing Bible insights for every Narniac! There’s something for everyone—from elementary aged children to their parents. Packed with fun activities, a “Narniac’s Creed,” tips on speaking like a British schoolboy, games, trivia, and more, it’s built on solid chapter by chapter discussion guides, conversation starters for parents and kids, and Bible parallels that will surprise even the most studious Christian. Now you can get the most out of Narnia—even if you don’t own a wardrobe!
“Tell me more about Narnia!”
Fans ages four to ninety-four just can’t get enough of C. S. Lewis’s timeless classic, The Chronicles of Narnia . That’s why Roar! takes your family on a one-of-a-kind adventure through every chapter in all seven books!* Peek inside to
• Interactive features like “Wisdom for Narniacs,” “Kid Test,” “Let’s Talk About It,” “Grown-up Thoughts,” and “Try This at Home”
• Helps for parents on big subjects including mythology, magic, violence, and life after death
• Fun articles from “Oh, I Wish I Were a Dufflepud!” to “Creature Hall of Fame & Shame”
• Indexes of creatures, characters, places, and Bible parallels
• A glossary of difficult words
• A memorable celebration of the Lord behind the Lion
Story Behind the Book
C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia have long captivated the hearts, souls, and imaginations of both youth and adults. This December, with the release of Disney’s The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, a craze among Christians and nonChristians is sure to erupt! Fans will be on the prowl for solid teaching to better understand this make-believe world that holds timeless gems of biblical insight. Now parents, kids, college students, and older Narniacs everywhere will find the answers they need in one convenient source. It’s unapologetically Christian, because that’s how C.S. Lewis was. And, true to form, not a tad of adventurous dust is left behind when readers embark on this exciting journey!
You don’t actually have to journey all the way to Narnia to find everything you need to know in one spot (though you might want to anyway)! Roar! A Christian Family Guide to the Chronicles of Narnia is a beautiful volume that unveils a fun-filled world based on intriguing Bible insights for every Narniac! There’s something for everyone—from elementary aged children to their parents. Packed with fun activities, a “Narniac’s Creed,” tips on speaking like a British schoolboy, games, trivia, and more, it’s built on solid chapter by chapter discussion guides, conversation starters for parents and kids, and Bible parallels that will surprise even the most studious Christian. Now you can get the most out of Narnia—even if you don’t own a wardrobe!
“Tell me more about Narnia!”
Fans ages four to ninety-four just can’t get enough of C. S. Lewis’s timeless classic, The Chronicles of Narnia . That’s why Roar! takes your family on a one-of-a-kind adventure through every chapter in all seven books!* Peek inside to
• Interactive features like “Wisdom for Narniacs,” “Kid Test,” “Let’s Talk About It,” “Grown-up Thoughts,” and “Try This at Home”
• Helps for parents on big subjects including mythology, magic, violence, and life after death
• Fun articles from “Oh, I Wish I Were a Dufflepud!” to “Creature Hall of Fame & Shame”
• Indexes of creatures, characters, places, and Bible parallels
• A glossary of difficult words
• A memorable celebration of the Lord behind the Lion
Story Behind the Book
C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia have long captivated the hearts, souls, and imaginations of both youth and adults. This December, with the release of Disney’s The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, a craze among Christians and nonChristians is sure to erupt! Fans will be on the prowl for solid teaching to better understand this make-believe world that holds timeless gems of biblical insight. Now parents, kids, college students, and older Narniacs everywhere will find the answers they need in one convenient source. It’s unapologetically Christian, because that’s how C.S. Lewis was. And, true to form, not a tad of adventurous dust is left behind when readers embark on this exciting journey!
448 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2005
13 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 1, 2018
I don't know why, but as a small child I loved this book. Anyway, I somehow still have it and wanted to read it alongside the Chronicles of Narnia. Despite the fact that I'm still a single young person it was beneficial. There are multiple articles in the back for parents that deal with big topics, like "Was Lewis a Racist?" (he's not), "Why is there so much alcohol in the Chronicles?" (historical context), and more. There are some very interesting theological points that are brought out in this book. There are parallels to Spiritual reality that I wouldn't have guessed if it wasn't for this book.
Overall it's great for reading, and if you're not going to read it, just look at the amazing illustrations. I think those alone are worth buying the book for.
Overall it's great for reading, and if you're not going to read it, just look at the amazing illustrations. I think those alone are worth buying the book for.
July 21, 2021
A cool guide I was reading alongside Narnia. The summaries are written for kids, which is dope because I read at a third grade level. It helped pick up on themes that I may have missed throughout the stories. Cool sections in the back that discuss CS Lewis's writing and symbols, as well as confusing topics taught in Narnia, such as magic, drinking, and race. Made me think a lot about the intentionality of parenting, especially when you are trying to raise your kids with faith, as there are a lot of complicated topics to be discussed. Made me appreciate how CS Lewis understands Christianity enough to teach its morals and values so that children could grasp them.
October 13, 2018
Great to use as a conversation guide while reading the books with your kids.
March 1, 2024
I liked this book but each page is more than 50% about the illustrations. It is a beautiful book but I wanted more substance for discussing C.S. Lewis books with children.
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December 19, 2024This has been a great addition to our family read aloud of the Chronicles of Narnia.
January 7, 2025
This was awesome to read alongside the lion the witch and the wardrobe. Gave great talking points to have with the kids.
June 19, 2025
Fantastic family guide to the chronicles!
December 20, 2015
A useful guide for adults who are reading The Chronicles of Narnia to kids. It goes through all seven books in chronological order. There are two pages for each chapter, with definitions of unfamiliar words, tips for adults reading to kids, biblical parallels, questions for discussion, and trivia or activities. The end of the book has several chapters for adults.
I learned less than I expected, but to be fair, I’ve read several books on the series. Also, this book is a family guide, with at least as much content for kids as adults.
My favorite chapters were A Boy Named Jack, Let’s Talk About The Chronicles, The Meaning of Magic in Narnia, Color and Culture in Narnia, and Bible Allusions & Parallels.
Notes
Lewis’ Inspiration
Many things in Lewis’ life influenced the Chronicles, including having an unfortunate name, a nurse who told mythological stories, making stories about talking mice, sailing ships, his mother being very ill, boarding school, bullies, a big house in the country with a professor, burying treasures in the garden, children living with him in the country during World War II, and a pessimist gardener.
The lowest stone at Stonehenge, called the stone of sacrifice, may have inspired the Stone Table.
Tashbaan is very similar to ancient Tashkent, an oasis city in central Asia.
Let’s Talk About The Chronicles
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• Peter: sword and shield (leadership, faith)
• Lucy: healing tonic (compassion, healing)
• Susan: bow and arrow and horn (prayer)
The Last Battle
The ancient Roman fable by Avianus has a donkey in a lion-skin.
“Emeth” Is Hebrew for "truth.” Emeth "suggests that anyone who truly seeks the truth is seeking Jesus, who is Truth (Acts 10:34-35). Emeth’s story is similar to the stories of the African official (Acts 8:26-39) and the Roman commander (Acts 10).
The Meaning of Magic in Narnia
“Recognizing Narnia as both fiction and fantasy can help Christian moms and dads get through the squirmy material. We can affirm that the Bible condemns sorcery and black magic in our world because they do exist as tools of a real devil on a real Planet Earth. But we can also know … that Narnia is in a different category. … Narnian magic, which is made-up, is different from earthly black magic, which is often real.”
Color and Culture in Narnia
• Chronicles were written in 1950s after two world wars, when nationalism and colonialism were in people’s minds.
• Lewis probably chose dark skin for Narnia’s enemies because it was the opposite of the protagonists’ white skin. In a way it was like a "team uniform."
• It’s the Dwarfs, bad characters, who use the word "darkies,” not Lewis.
• When Tirian says he feels "a true man again" after removing his fake dark skin color, he means that he's glad he’s no longer hiding, and he's now distinguishable from his enemies; not that he's white.
• Lewis says positive things about Calormen and Tashbaan, and has good Calormenes (Aravis and Emeth).
Bible Allusions & Parallels
The Magician’s Nephew
• Singing stars: singing stars of Creation (Job 38:7).
• Aslan’s tree brings healing: heaven’s trees will heal (Ezekiel 47:12).
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• Aslan says, “Do you think I wouldn’t obey my own rules?”: Jesus said he didn’t come to abolish the Law (Matthew 5:17-18).
• Caspian says he’ll choose from those he invites: Jesus said, “Many are invited, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).
The Silver Chair
Aslan tells Jill to repeat the signs in the morning and night: Moses instructed Israel to talk about God’s commands “when you lie down … and when you get up” (Deut. 6:7).
The Last Battle
• The children are revived by water trickling from a rock: God gave Israel water from a rock (Numbers 20:11).
• Ginger is struck dumb for lying about Aslan: Elymas was blinded for lying (Acts 13:11).
• The old Narnia is “a shadow or copy of the real Narnia”: Moses’ sanctuary was “a copy and shadow of what is in heaven” (Hebrews 8:5).
I learned less than I expected, but to be fair, I’ve read several books on the series. Also, this book is a family guide, with at least as much content for kids as adults.
My favorite chapters were A Boy Named Jack, Let’s Talk About The Chronicles, The Meaning of Magic in Narnia, Color and Culture in Narnia, and Bible Allusions & Parallels.
Notes
Lewis’ Inspiration
Many things in Lewis’ life influenced the Chronicles, including having an unfortunate name, a nurse who told mythological stories, making stories about talking mice, sailing ships, his mother being very ill, boarding school, bullies, a big house in the country with a professor, burying treasures in the garden, children living with him in the country during World War II, and a pessimist gardener.
The lowest stone at Stonehenge, called the stone of sacrifice, may have inspired the Stone Table.
Tashbaan is very similar to ancient Tashkent, an oasis city in central Asia.
Let’s Talk About The Chronicles
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• Peter: sword and shield (leadership, faith)
• Lucy: healing tonic (compassion, healing)
• Susan: bow and arrow and horn (prayer)
The Last Battle
The ancient Roman fable by Avianus has a donkey in a lion-skin.
“Emeth” Is Hebrew for "truth.” Emeth "suggests that anyone who truly seeks the truth is seeking Jesus, who is Truth (Acts 10:34-35). Emeth’s story is similar to the stories of the African official (Acts 8:26-39) and the Roman commander (Acts 10).
The Meaning of Magic in Narnia
“Recognizing Narnia as both fiction and fantasy can help Christian moms and dads get through the squirmy material. We can affirm that the Bible condemns sorcery and black magic in our world because they do exist as tools of a real devil on a real Planet Earth. But we can also know … that Narnia is in a different category. … Narnian magic, which is made-up, is different from earthly black magic, which is often real.”
Color and Culture in Narnia
• Chronicles were written in 1950s after two world wars, when nationalism and colonialism were in people’s minds.
• Lewis probably chose dark skin for Narnia’s enemies because it was the opposite of the protagonists’ white skin. In a way it was like a "team uniform."
• It’s the Dwarfs, bad characters, who use the word "darkies,” not Lewis.
• When Tirian says he feels "a true man again" after removing his fake dark skin color, he means that he's glad he’s no longer hiding, and he's now distinguishable from his enemies; not that he's white.
• Lewis says positive things about Calormen and Tashbaan, and has good Calormenes (Aravis and Emeth).
Bible Allusions & Parallels
The Magician’s Nephew
• Singing stars: singing stars of Creation (Job 38:7).
• Aslan’s tree brings healing: heaven’s trees will heal (Ezekiel 47:12).
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• Aslan says, “Do you think I wouldn’t obey my own rules?”: Jesus said he didn’t come to abolish the Law (Matthew 5:17-18).
• Caspian says he’ll choose from those he invites: Jesus said, “Many are invited, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).
The Silver Chair
Aslan tells Jill to repeat the signs in the morning and night: Moses instructed Israel to talk about God’s commands “when you lie down … and when you get up” (Deut. 6:7).
The Last Battle
• The children are revived by water trickling from a rock: God gave Israel water from a rock (Numbers 20:11).
• Ginger is struck dumb for lying about Aslan: Elymas was blinded for lying (Acts 13:11).
• The old Narnia is “a shadow or copy of the real Narnia”: Moses’ sanctuary was “a copy and shadow of what is in heaven” (Hebrews 8:5).
October 14, 2016
I enjoyed reading through this. There are chapter-by-chapter discussions for families with young children and there are facts throughout and essays at the end for older Narnia fans. I'm not desperate to buy it now, but when i have kids, this would be great to read along with the books.
I did notice a couple of errors i'd have to correct in any purchased copy, though. The one i can think of off the top of my head is that they switched up Cor and Corin in a description of Aravis.
I did notice a couple of errors i'd have to correct in any purchased copy, though. The one i can think of off the top of my head is that they switched up Cor and Corin in a description of Aravis.
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April 13, 2016I LOVED this book! I read it and it was awesome. It gave me a more in depth look at the Chronicles of Narnia series. Another book I read in the same category is Not a Tame Lion: Unveil Narnia Through the Eyes of Lucy, Peter, and Other Characters Created by C. S. Lewis (Paperback) by Bruce L. Edwards.
January 15, 2013
Delightful guide that will come in most handy if used when reading through any of the books as a family. Packed with information, quizzes, Biblical applications, explanations, and more for each of the seven books.
August 13, 2008
This is a really good book for kids to get involved into the wonderful world of Narnia. A definite recommend for the younger generation of Narnia. :)
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September 20, 2012Loved reading the books chapter by chapter, and doing this family guide with my kids. We got so much more out of it!
June 22, 2015
An excellent guide-- for youth and adults. Lots of great info, questions, and it is a really eye-catching book also. A great resource.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews