Believing in Narnia: A Kid's Guide to Unlocking the Secret Symbols of Faith in C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia

by Natalie Nichols Gillespie

Shows the Christian message within The Chronicles of Narnia ® To coincide with the release of Prince Caspian , this book helps kids ages 7-11, understand the symbolism of the Christian faith written by C.S. Lewis in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Christian concepts are simply explained, along with excerpts from the Narnia books. Each section of the book explains the characters, events, places, and themes and gives insight in the spiritual parallels. Kids, parents, teachers and ministers will all find this to be a great tool for use in preparing to see the movie.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Childrens

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2008

Reviews

[Zia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book helps grasp the simplicity of the gospel by breaking down the key components of the Narnia series.

[Eyehavenofilter · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of a heavy handed Christian connection to EVERY thing in the C. S. Lewis 's Chronicles of Narnia. This is touted as a kids guide to unlocking the secret symbols of faith.how to discover hidden meanings behind favorite characters, creatures, places, and objects. Solve mysteries such as why kids follow Aslan and what that means to their faith, etc.
with quotes from the bible that coincide to each of the 7 stories it could be fun but I found it to be very repetitive even for the most devout reader. There are translations of names, and "secrets" of Narnia to be discovered, but it gets tiring after the first 6 pages!

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, makes me want to read the series all over again. I have volunteered to lead a Young Adult Book Club based on it at our Church and hope they will grab onto the idea! I would highly recommend this to adults and kids as young as 9 or older to read, best would be to read it just after finishing the series. But even for those who have only read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe - it will be an enticement to get into the other books.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource book - written for children, but it really helped me to see many of the "Secrets of Narnia." We've watched the first 2 movies, and after reading this book it makes me want to read (or listen on CD to ALL 7 books). This book also helped me start some conversations with my oldest son (9) about our faith and following God.

[RaeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are studying Narnia for our literature component and I wanted to start by introducing key concepts and ideas before we took a deep dive into the series. The book has been really enjoyable and stimulated great conversation through the questions about our own faith. I am really looking forward to reading this again after we finish the series and seeing all the interesting conversations that we will have from that. If you are exploring Narnia this is a really great supplement and useful tool!

[Jewell isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aww so beautiful 😭😭

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would have helped if I had read the subtitle A Kid's Guide. Regardless, it was a very concise review of all my favorite stories, allowing me to replay the adventures in my head. There were a few new gems I had either forgotten or never heard such as Aslan is the Turkish word for lion. I did enjoy the explanation of symbolism in certain objects or people, especially Father Christmas and his gifts. I had not remembered their importance and seriousness. I also loved the author's quote from Lewis. The chronicles were not an allegory, they are a "supposal." They are just a suppose the world was actually like this. It reminds me of his space trilogy, especially Perelandra. Evil still enters the world but the people make different choices. It's really quite amazing to think about. I find myself being extremely angry at Eve especially once a month and I am often reminded that I am also Eve. I chose sin too. Things could have been so great. I think patience is the ultimate test. It is really what we constantly fight in every decision. This McDonald's meal will heal my hunger and fulfill my emptiness, while in reality a gourmet meal is being prepared that will not make you feel fat, or wasteful or empty half an hour later. I find that almost all my decisions are made better in waiting. Advent is here and I am constantly bombarded with messages of waiting. If I could just hold out, there is something better. It gets better. It becomes fuller. I will be made perfect. Just wait.

[Miss Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I wish Natalie would write a spinoff book called "Believing in Middle Earth." This book is just precious! It, along with Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings: What You Need to Know about Fantasy Books and Movies, has done so much to reevaluate my opinions on the fantasy genre. Great, great book!

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book was GENIUS! Natalie Nichols Gillespie interprets the Chronicles of Narnia's religious meaning in a way that is friendly for all ages. Have you ever wondered why C. S. Lewis had Aslan die and come back to life or what the purpose of his characters are? This book gives a wonderful description of Narnia's spiritual value. When you have finished the Chronicles of Narnia series, read this book, especially if you are a Christian or if your religion is undecided. No matter who you are, those who loved Narnia will love this book!

[Merritt Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this prior to reading the Chronicles of Narnia to my granddaughters. Most of all the symbolism pointed out by this book would be clear to people with a good knowledge of Christianity and Christ's role. One thing I might have missed is that Susan is not included in the end scene. It appears she is symbolic of someone who accepted Christ but then while not going back on Christ's teachings took them for granted.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent book to read with a child who has finished the Chronicles of Narnia series. It's simple and explains well C.S. Lewis' hidden meanings. Sometimes the Chronicles have been reinterpreted or warped into some philosophical mumbo-jumbo the author clearly never intended. This one is great.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful in showing kids the Christian themes throughout the series. Has some good discussion questions after each section, and is helpful for discussion character traits and understanding the reading at a deeper level.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Video review here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvqELG...