Tales for future Heros #1
As a young ADHD boy, I had a hard time sitting still for long periods of time.
Much less sitting still at all.
So reading long books for hours on end, seemed about as possible as flying to my eight year old mind, maybe even less so, being that I considered myself a future Superman.
But, my wise mother, while knowing how her son worked, also knew the value of good stories in my life. So, she found a way to work within my limitations and find a way for me to ingest the stories that would end up shaping me, while simultaneously doing it in a way I didn’t feel like I was going to explode.
Everyday I would pull out the pad of paper and colored pens she had bought me while she would begin reading aloud to me. It was my task to create the pictures for the story unfolding, I took my job very seriously and had no idea that my love of heros and righteousness was being made. I grew to love and look forward to these times, and as I look back even now at 23 years old, I can see what a deep impact they had on my life.
Boys are made to be hero’s and warriors, we are made to look at great men and emulate their actions. Being a great MOB, my mom knew how vital it was to give me good pictures of what real men/heros looked like.
So today I would love to share with you some of the books/stories that have had the biggest impact on my life.
Lets dive into the first edition list of the reads that shaped me, that just might have an eternal impact on your young man in training.
1. Hero Tales:
Oh my goodness! What a series packed with substance and inspiring messages. I think what I loved so much about this set of books, is that the stories were about REAL people in history who led amazing God honoring lives. As a young man it was immensely important to me to not just hear good stories with morals, but good stories about actual people who fought for goodness and chose to live a life worthy of being called heroic. I loved that they weren’t some fictional character, but rather these were real heros confronted with real problems, making real choices, and living REAL lives worthy of emulation .
2. Catherine Voss Bible:
I can remember every morning for the better half of my life, waking up, walking downstairs and sitting down to listen to one or both of my parents read the novelized version of the entire Bible. It was something I looked forward to my entire childhood and something that has never left me. It was the first time I can remember the Bible and the stories in it coming alive. To this day, the way I know most of the random and lesser known stories in the Bible, is not through heavy study guides and personal study, but rather through a childhood of listening to this awesome book.
3. God’s Smuggler:
This is the true story of a wayward boy, growing up to be one of the most influential missionaries and bible smugglers in the entire world. It’s the tale of Brother Andrew, a man who eventually learned what an adventurous and amazing life you can have once you make the choice to follow Jesus. I ended up reading the book myself again after it had been read to me. It inspired me to think about my life and what it could look like if I started even at my young age, making choices on faith in God.
4. Narnia
Some of the most enchanting but poignant books I have ever had the pleasure to read. I’m sure you have heard of them, but if you haven’t already taken the dive, I highly encourage you to. As a young boy, these books gave me an entire world to be apart of, and a story to be engaged with. They simultaneously showed parallels between the christian walk, God, and my understanding of this world, like no other books have.
It has all the markings of one of THE best fantasies series inviting readers to become emerged. And once you are, you are unable to ignore the beauty of the allegories it holds.
5. The Kingdom Series
This series is one of the groupings of books I look back most fondly on. In the vein of Narnia, but even more allegorical and understood by a border age group, these books are the stories and happenings inside the King’s Kingdom.
Each page is beautifully written with descriptive words and beautiful pictures unfolding into a beautiful allegory per chapter. Simple enough for a seven year old to understand but captivating for a 77 year old to be swept away.
My favorite chapter was always the one about the juggler who juggled to a different beat than all of the other dancers and performers and musicians in the kingdom.
There you have it! I could go on forever writing about the books that shaped (and continue to shape) who I am, but I hope that these first five of my favorite reads will help you on the journey to finding the stories and tales that will inspire, teach, and shape the young man in your life.
-Nathan
Question: What are some of your favorite character-shaping books for boys?
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Nathan started a fundraiser – click to help him save the world and get your future heros involved no matter how old they are.
Nathan John Clarkson’s Give a Cup of Cold Water
Read more of Nathan’s writing at his web-journal
I think my two year old son is rather like Nathan – difficult, strong willed, creative, and possibly he’d get some letters, – not ADHD, but maybe some other ones… he’s a great kid but he struggles with things like transitions and, you know, *behaving properly*… And the most common (unsolicited christian friend) advice is to spank, spank,spank more and more, and to blanket-train, and use will power, and all that jazz, until all resistance is beaten and lectured out of him. They’d have me break down his spirit. Your son growing up into a godly young man gives me hope for my boy, that he can grow up and serve God by being built up instead of berated and broken down. Course He is gonna have to do the building (and any breaking down) that needs to be done because I can’t change this kid, i can only help mold him and love, love, love him. That’s probably true with every kid, but it’s even more obvious with my two year old. With my one year old, I say ‘stop’ and he stops! It’s the strangest thing
Thanks for the encouragement and the book list.
Ah! Thank you so much for this. With three daughters and only one son, I often struggle to find books for him. This helps me so much. I look forward to hearing what others recommend, too
Thank you! From a Mama of 3 BOYS!!! This is helpful!
Thanks so much for these recommendations! I was wondering about what age Nathan and Joel were able to listen to and understand these books. My guys are 2 and 4 (my big boy has some delays), and I am struggling to find this kind of literature for younger listeners. Any suggestions?
In addition to strongly recommending ‘Hero Tales’ ‘God’s Smuggler’ and the ‘Narnia’ series, which Nathan mentioned above, here are a few book titles that helped shape who my now grown son is – I trust they will bless others too.
A few picture books worth a mention – ‘Dogger’ by Shirley Hughes – a lovely story of redemption, ‘The Empty Pot’ by Demi – about the courage it takes to tell the truth, ‘Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox – a delightful story of a young boy interacting with lonely, elderly folk and how each can bless each other, ‘Snowflake Bentley’ by Jacqueline Briggs Martin – for fostering wonder in nature, and the importance of perseverance, ‘The Boy Who Held Back the Sea’ by Lenny Hort and ‘An Orange for Frankie’ by Patricia Polacco – stories of contrition, compassion and courage.
As a sense of adventure in young boys increases, I found stories of courage and daring were very appealing. Some that my son enjoyed: ‘Redwall’ by Brian Jacques, ‘The Door in the Wall’ by Marguerite de Angeli and ‘The Silver Sword’ by Ian Serrallier. Around this age, outdoor skills, camping etc. can become important to young boys – helping them to see themselves as adventurers. The ‘Swallows and Amazons’ books by Arthur Ransome enliven the creative imagination (these books also helped shape my thinking about mothers being the facilitator of adventures at this stage – the provider of materials and nourishment – without needing to participate in/direct their activities).
In mid-late teens the ‘Hornblower’ books were favourites. Though I have not read them, my son spoke of the courage and integrity of the protagonist as inspiring, and the adventures make for exciting reading. Eric Metaxes book, ‘Bonhoeffer; Pastor Martyr, Prophet, Spy’ is a wonderful read -a well researched and written true story but a longer read – probably not suited for a son with ADHD.
Happy reading!
One of our favorite books (to date) for boys is Little Britches, by Ralph Moody. My husband read it aloud to our kids (our boys were 7 and 8 at the time, and our girls enjoyed it, too!) The Narnia books are well-loved in our home, too.
We use Catherine Vos’ Child’s Story Bible, too- and I agree: it is excellent!
Wondering? Is Nathan going to the NB HS gathering in Canada in June? “Teen Cafe Connection perhaps?” Just curious
The picture and the blog is so sweet. What a blessing to see people my age turn out well. I must say there are not many left.
When I was younger I had a reading competition with a boy that hated reading. The books were called “The Sugar Creek Gang”. They are a series of 32 books. The books themselves are short but packed with action and mysteries.
I love them for boys because they are written in “boy language” they are a group of christian boys that form a gang, solve mysteries (where adults are still more wise) they let non-christian in the group, love them and end up leading them to the Lord later on in the series. They learn to love their enemy, one even giving blood to save his life.
The books are easy to understand yet written to capture attention. They open different scenarios in life and challenge the reader to see how he would act and they give sound biblical wisdom. I can only recommend them!
I loved this, Sally!!! I was wanting to know books that you read with your children or would recommend. Could you have another post on more great literature. …I have 2 girls ages 4 and 7, so things that would pertain to them would be fabulous. …and also, I know you liked ot have audio books in the car — so ones that work great for that would be helpful too!
Thanks so much!
Dear Sally,
I write this letter from a heart full of so much emotion. I recently picked up your book, “Seasons of a Mother’s Heart” and I feel compelled to tell you that it is helping me hold on right now. I am a homeschool mom with 2 beautiful children. My daughter is 13 and my son, 10. Your stories of Nathan bring tears to my eyes because they remind me of my son in a marked way. This post brought me so much courage! (Thank you, Nathan, for sharing! I look forward with eagerness to hearing more!)
I am in a difficult place right now. We have recently had a failed business due to the economic downturn and my husband has to be out of state for work. There is no end in sight for this and we cannot move where he is. There have also been a number of friendships lost recently as well as other unsettling changes in our lives. I was becoming so weary and then your book and blog came into my life. I can’t tell you how much hope they have brought. I was losing my hope and my focus in the tiredness and sadness of it all.
I am so grateful for your emphasis on love and family closeness. I was beginning to think it didn’t matter what I did, I would likely make shipwreck of my children. But, you’ve brought so much hope! Thank you, thank you for sharing your story of children who are still passionate about God and learning even after they leave home. I needed to hear that!
I have noticed with my wonderfully unique son that when I take time to minister to him and love him and take him for alone Mommy/Son dates that he is a different child!
Please pray for me!
Hi, Nanette,
I am lifting you and your family in prayer right now. I want to encourage you that this season will not last forever. The Lord will see you through it to a better place. I, too, have been through painful desert places. I wish I had chosen to respond better while in them. God will show you important and sweet things right now, right in this season if you will let Him. Take your questions to Him. I speak from experience, if you need the right heart attitude to even ask those questions, He won’t mind your asking for the right heart attitude. Mostly, I’d like to encourage you to learn more about and receive God’s very personal, individual love for you, Nanette. When I began to really take that in, my whole world began to change.
In His Love,
Pamela
Thank you, Pamela for your kind words. They mean the world!
Nanette
Nathan and Sally, you have encouraged and inspired me with this article! Thank you!
Nathan, I hope to hear about many of the wonderful things you will do with God in the future!
Thank you Sally & Nathan for sharing this! I LOVE the concept of understanding that God has works prepared for our little ones…and sometimes the outward display of those “gifts” can go awry! I have a little “Nathan” my third child and a boy who has a baby sister and big sister and brother as well. When I hear from your family, I feel like we are so similar (probably because of the girl boy boy girl thing~but the temperament “sameness” is uncanny). I have such hope for my sweet boy who has been a delightful challenge, and also a light that has changed everyone in my family for the better. I know his little heart will resonate with these reading suggestions as he grows…so thank you! Also~we read the Catherine Vos Story Bible to our kids as well and we love it so much! It is the BEST! My dad was thumbing through it the other day and thought he might like it for HIMSELF! He didn’t think the title was appropriate
Thank you for being such a blessing to me and to my family Clarkson family!
Love this! Thank you! We are awaiting one of The Kingdom Series from our libary!
Despite the fact that I try to know books, many of these are new to me. My son is just 3, but I know that books that hold boys’ interests get harder and harder to find as they age. Thank you!!
I look forward to introducing mine to The Mysterious Benedict Society. The first book, especially, has lots of Truth to it, though it is not a Christian book.