Children's Books _ A Wrinkle in Time

I would like to, from time to time, as my mind drifts around, to recommend some children's books. Teaching your kids to love reading is one of the greatest things you can do for them. Nothing against movies, I love them, but reading stimulates the imagination. To follow a book, especially fiction, you have to allow the words to paint pictures in your mind and you must allow yourself to give into the emotions of the characters.

The problem, as far as I can see, is that there are not a lot of kid's books that challenge them. Madeline L'Engle wrote a fine one, A Wrinkle in Time. The book is amazing, a science fiction tale that does not talk down to children. In short, it deals with time travel and a battle between good and evil. It is also a book that deals with family love and the possibility that non-human characters possess the same capacities for love and compassion that humans do. I do not want to say more about the plot than that because I hope that parents, if they have not read this book, will read it with their children. I read this when I was about 10, but I have known kids as young as 8 and as old as 13 who enjoyed it. There is enough substance to hold the attention of any adult reading with their offspring.

The book, while well received by most, did stir a controversy. L'Engle was a devout Christian and does not hesitate to bring religious beliefs into her book. The book contains a fairly advanced scientific concept in its explanation of time travel, and scientists, while lauding her explanation of the concept, disliked her religious stance. Christians, some of them, were upset by her deeply scientific views and, perhaps more upset by her non-traditional view of Christianity. While she was Episcopal, she expressed some beliefs more compatible with those of the Unitarian Universalist Church. Both side should be ashamed of their narrow mindedness.

Books like this are hard to find. They are complex without being too difficult for children. They have a very moral viewpoint without being preachy. The story is exciting. And, it never talks down to kids; instead it gently nudges them to use their minds. I urge parents to find this book and others like it for their children.