“This must be a simply enormous wardrobe!” thought Lucy, going still further in and pushing the soft folds of the coats aside to make room for her. Then she noticed that there was something crunching under her feet. “I wonder is that more moth balls?” she thought, stooping down to feel it with her hands. But instead of feeling the hard, smooth wood of the floor of the wardrobe, she felt something soft and powdery and extremely cold. “This is very queer,” she said, and went on a step or two further.
I distinctly remember reading this passage from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a young girl. C.S. Lewis transported me right beside Lucy, traveling through the wardrobe into a magical, snowy world. It’s one of my most vivid memories as a child. So when the kids had the opportunity to join a book club this year through our homeschool co-op, I was overjoyed that The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first book choice.
Before the party, each family read the book together. My only concern was that the book might not keep the attention of a wiggly 4 year old. I couldn’t have been more wrong – they were both captivated throughout the story, as was I.
The kids talked about the party for weeks leading up to it and planned out which characters they wanted to be. Draven knew immediately that he wanted to be Peter, the oldest of the children who is very brave. Cullen decided he would be Mr. Beaver, a character who lives in Narnia and helps the children find Aslan, the king of Narnia. I loved seeing all the children in their costumes embodying the characters. They were so into it.
Two of my amazing friends had a vision for the party and completely transformed a neighborhood park into a winter wonderland. Each family pitched in and brought food or decorations. We hung paper snowflakes the children had made and set a table for tea. There was a beautiful wardrobe created from kraft paper with coats behind it at the entrance of the park that the children walked through.
On the other side, Narnia awaited them. They had tea, like Lucy did with Mr. Tumnis, while discussing the book. After tea they made snowflake sugar cookies, had snowball fights, ate Turkish Delight and just played. It was all simply magical.
I hope it’s a memory they will treasure.
I’m already dreaming of our spring book club party. I have it on good authority that we will be reading Anne of Green Gables. Be still my heart.
I’d love to know some of your favorite books you read as a child. We are always looking for good ones to add to our reading list.
kindness over coolness 