Twaddle: A Gateway Drug to Literature

What’s on your reading list right now? What’s on your kids’ bookshelves? If those questions make you squirm, fret not. Sometimes, books of sub-par quality can be the beginning of a richer literary life.

Read on to find out what Charlotte Mason says about “twaddle” and where I humbly beg to differ with her opinion.

A Read-Aloud Book List

Reading aloud to kids of all ages is a great way to enjoy time together, deepen relationships, and create lasting habits. For that matter, reading on your own is pretty great, too. Here’s a list of books to help you get started!

Coming of Age: The Yearling and Family

It’s the final installment in the Coming of Age series! Jody Baxter wrestles with the hard truth that fathers are mortal, too. See how family plays a major role in Jody’s coming of age.

Coming of Age: Family in Peter Pan

In the coming-of-age process, we’ve seen how first love and death play a vital role in a child’s maturity. Today we look at the role that family plays in this same process. Peter Pan is the boy who never grows up, so how does he navigate family to preserve his eternal innocence? Let’s find out!

Coming of Age: Death in The Yearling

While death is probably the hardest part of the human experience, it’s also an unavoidable tool in the journey to maturity. Jody Baxter learns this lesson in unforgettable ways as he comes of age in The Yearling.

Coming of Age: Death in Peter Pan

In literature, as in life, coming of age is hastened by three realities: first love, death, and family. Today’s post looks at the role of death in Peter Pan; its presence and absence both bring insight into the unique mind of Peter Pan and the agelessness of Neverland.

Coming of Age: First Love

In fiction, as in real life, first love plays a big role in the coming-of-age process. How do Peter Pan, Wendy Darling, and Jody Baxter face this challenge? Find out in today’s post!