My husband and I have had the fortune to spend all summer at a cottage that is a stone’s throw away from Russell Kirk’s personal library. Kirk, a native Michigander who received acclaim about 50 years ago for his philosophical and political writings, was also an enthusiastic writer of ghost fiction!
Earlier this summer, Kirk’s youngest daughter, Andrea, compiled all of her father’s essays on literature for children and young adults. A mother of four, Andrea turned to her father for recommendations of books that spark a child’s moral imagination, that particular kind of imagination that is “an enduring source of inspiration that elevates us to first principles as it guides us upwards towards virtue and wisdom and redemption.”
Such stories are the kind that we return to again and again when we are young, and re-discover with delight when our children, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren start to build their own libraries.
A classic summer read for children of all ages! Kenneth Grahame grew up on the English and Scottish countrysides, and he later turned his pastoral experiences into bedtime stories for his son. The Wind in the Willows chronicles the adventures of several woodland creatures: Mole, Rat, Mr. Toad and Mr. Badger as they navigate the waters of the Thames and the ebbs and flows of true friendship.
White is a 20th century English author who is perhaps best known for his re-telling of Arthurian legends in 4 parts. He has a knack for storytelling-- the legends of King Arthur are enlivened by his wit, humor, and precision. The Once and Future King chronicles the tale of King Arthur’s humble beginnings as the “Wart” who, with the help of his tutor Merlin and a unique cast of characters, becomes a great king!
Edith Nesbit was a 19th century author and poet who penned over 60 children’s books! C.S. Lewis grew up reading her stories, and they had a powerful effect on his own novels. This book contains 8 stories of strange encounters between heroes and dragons that are sure to delight any child who loves to guess how the characters will get out of a particularly bad scrape!
James Thurber was a well known American humorist and cartoonist of the 20th century. Most famous for his widely anthologized short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” he was a contributor to The New Yorker for more than thirty years and wrote nearly forty books- collections of essays, short stories, fables, and children’s stories. The plot of The Thirteen Clocks may seem familiar- a princess trapped in a tower, unable to escape the clutches of her evil uncle, the Duke- but the vivid illustrations and characters make up a grand reflection on how each hour we live is so very precious.
Many know Indian-born British author Rudyard Kipling for his acclaimed works The Jungle Book and Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, but this collection of stories was particularly close to his heart, as they were the bedtime stories his daughter Josephine insisted must be told “just so”. These tale will capture the imagination of the curious child, as each chapter considers a funny solution to a unique conundrum, like “How the Leopard Got His Spots” or “How the First Letter was Written”.
This list is only the beginning! What books capture the moral imagination of your children?