BOOK REVIEW - Growing Up Pagan (Children's Book)
Mike
978-0764331435 64 Pages Paperback $19.99 http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/
The only problem with writing a book such as this one is “too much
information” – there is such a wealth of information to share that it
borders on the impossible to choose what to include. Of course, once
that dilemma is solved you run into fundamental problems, and I mean
that. Which traditional story to illustrate what concept? Whose
belief about which pantheon gets included can be a real poser. Then
you need to decide what definition of “Pagan” you are going to use.
Once you get past those hurdles you still have to make the information
fun, easy to understand (but not boring) and engaging. Good luck!
Ms. Hill has managed to pull it off in this excellent book. The pages
are large and colorful (fun). The sentences are easy to understand,
and the illustrations are guaranteed to catch the eyes of youngsters.
There are simple crosswords and word searches to help cement the
knowledge conveyed. Symbols are included in a large scale to help
little hands and minds learn how to draw them. After the book is
completed there is a
Self Assessment” review to be completed before the child’s name is
inscribed on the Certificate of Achievement (the answers are included
in the final 7 pages of the book, but no fair peeking!). I really like
the idea of the certificate. While children love to hear “Well done”
from Mommy and/or Daddy, a physical object can help to reinforce that
good feeling.
Anyone can find something to object to in this book – I don’t like the
idea of writing in books, or cutting things out of books. In spite of
that, the book accomplishes what the author set out to do – provide a
basic understanding of fairly universal concepts within the Pagan
community. She chooses myths to retell from several cultures and,
just generally, talks TO the children, not down to or at them.
My children (when they were children instead of adults) got
essentially the same education as Raine provides with this book. The
advantage is that she has assembled it all in one easy to access
book. As more children are born to Pagan parents books like this will
become more valuable.
If you have children, are planning to have children, or are a Pagan
grandparent, I really recommend this book for your library. It is a
wonderful gift to give – the gift of wonder and understanding.