Classic books: an ingredient for boy-building

Stories are often the best way to capture a boy’s attention, the best way to drive home a moral point, and are also just good fun.  With so many kid’s books tied into popular cartoons or shows, I fear our kids are missing out on enjoying and learning from classic books.  Our boys would be served and shaped better by spending more time with stories of boys taking on manly responsibilities than by emulating the funny, wise-cracking, sarcastic hero of shows popular right now.  (And -um, I know of what I speak, because the one popular cartoon I allow my boy to watch has a sarcastic hero. I kind of like him…)

I know as a homeschool mom, I can get bogged down with trying to tie everything together, to plan the perfect unit study.  But, often you will be best served by just sitting down and reading a good book together.  Simple.  Anyone can do this!  Sit down, read, enjoy and discuss.  Books on audio from the library count, too!

There are so many classic children’s books that highlight character, choosing right from wrong and growing into manliness.  A few classics a boy-heart might enjoy include;

• Peter Pan- “All children, except one, grow up.” Who can resist such an opening line?  There is something for mom here, too.. “Look at her in her chair, where she has fallen asleep…Her hand moves restlessly on her breast as if she had a pain there. Some like Peter best and some like Wendy best, but I like her [mother] best.” Peter Pan, chapter 16
• Old Yeller.  The Disney Movie was well done, but there are deeper man-truths in the book, and also, a sequel.
• The Summer of the Monkeys and Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.  Yes, mom will cry-and your boy might too.  Real men have real feelings, a good lesson.
• Encyclopedia Brown.  Maybe not classic, yet…but good, clean fun and good role modeling of being honest, fair and helping others.
• The Secret Garden.  Not automatically a ‘girl’ book, there are some boy characters..one a bit spoiled -to not be like, and one strong, intelligent hard working boy to emulate.
• Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  The book in the Little House series your boy will like the best.

Moms, our little boys are looking for heroes.  Don’t let let it be a dubious one, but set out before them a feast for the mind  by sharing classic books with them.  Read or listen with them, and then tell them who you admire and why.  Tell them who your heroes were when you were their age.  Encourage them to be heroes. There really is “no frigate like a book…”

• Character stories for boys
• Summer Schooling
• Wild Things: What a Boy Needs But Doesn’t Always Want (plus a Giveaway for Moms)