Event: Creating a Story-Formed Home

Join me in August for a day-long retreat all about children's books and childhood reading

Pirate Girl in Red by Janet Hill

I have an invitation for you.

Before I ever came to the formal study of theology (rather unexpectedly in my 30th year), I spent my twenties immersed in research about reading: what stories form in us, how books craft a sense of identity in young (and old) readers, what a large vocabulary kindles within us, why literature is important (nay, imperative!) to forming nuanced, wise, creative human beings.

That research resulted in three books: Read for the Heart, Caught Up in a Story, and Book Girl.

The first two, focusing specifically on the importance of literary reading in childhood, are out of print. (Book Girl is still widely available.) For various reasons, I’m not currently working towards republishing the first two (I have a new book project that will take every theological, creative ounce I possess) but I receive many emails and requests for the ideas, research, and book lists these past ‘books on books’ contain. I care deeply about reading and imagination, particularly as those are developed in childhood and I’ve gained a good bit of experience, a lot more philosophy, and countless more favourite books since having a few children of my own!

So, I’m seizing the day before the next baby arrives in October to host a last online event for awhile: a one-day online retreat in which I’ll return to an exploration of children’s literature, childhood reading, and the development of imagination.

We’ll explore some of the same topics and themes that I did in the original books, and look at specific genres and reading practices, and I’ll include a great big bundle of themed, childhood booklists as part of the registration. I’ll list the schedule and details below, but my goal is to provide a vision for the beauty of the reading life, some good research, and generous stack of practical booklists to help you begin to outfit and build a home library for the children in your life. While the event will be live, all sessions will be recorded and registrants may watch them at their own leisure, indefinitely. Also, a week after the main event, I’ll be hosting a Q&A where you can ask me all your questions about reading and anything I didn’t address in the retreat!

If you’ve wished these old books were still available, if you’re looking for resources and vision to build a home library and reading culture, if you’re a teacher or educator of young children in your life, or if you just love collecting children’s books (as I did for years far before any husband or child was on the horizon), I’d love for you to join me. Details below:

When: 5th August, beginning 9:30am UK time

Where: CLICK HERE for online registration. (Hosted in my home, in all the various vicarage library corners.) Note: while the event is live, all sessions will be recorded and will be available to registrants indefinitely, to watch at their leisure.

Talks: The event will consist of one longer talk (closer to an hour), followed by five library chats (20-25 minutes each) looking at various genres, reading practises, themes, or questions.

• Welcome and Introduction

• Talk: The Storyformed Soul
  What difference does story make to the life and formation of a child? What does it mean to nourish the imagination? Using the classic narrative arc (exposition, rising action, crisis, falling action, denouement), we’ll explore the way that great stories create a foundation of beauty, truth, and goodness in the psyche and self of a child. We’ll consider how stories have the power to profoundly shape a child’s sense of identity, purpose, hope in suffering, belonging, and creative presence in the world.

• Chat 1: Forming a Picture Book Philosophy
  Join me at our overflowing picture book shelves to think about what makes a good picture book, why it matters, and how to begin collecting the good ones for yourself. We’ll look at a few favourite authors as examples, and consider the impact of picture books on literary and artistic taste.

• Chat 2: Morning Time Reading
  For this chat, we’ll sit at my kitchen table and explore the morning time cupboard I keep next to my chair. We’ll consider how to create daily rhythms of reading for self and child, using words to kindle the day. We’ll also explore my favourite children’s Bibles, poetry sources, nature books, and various resources I cycle through our breakfast reading.

• Chat 3: Children’s Classics & Family Read-Alouds
  I’ll open this chat with a brief history of ‘the golden age of children’s literature’ in English writing, considering where ‘children’s classics’ come from, and what makes a book worth reading, especially in the formative years of educational and spiritual development. We’ll look at classics collections and also explore a number of titles particularly suited to group read-alouds.

• Chat 4: Crafting a Home Library
  Here, next to our overflow shelves, we'll consider how to think long term about creating a personal philosophy of book collection for your home, interests, and family. (I warn you, I’m not a minimalist when it comes to books.) We’ll also consider where to source good books.

• Chat 5: Fairy Tale & Fantasy? (Yes!)
  For our final chat, we’ll dive into a lively exploration of the wonders and confusions of the fairy tale/fantasy genre. We'll consider what fantastical stories offer, how to discern their moral and spiritual beauty, and how to explore them with children.

• To close: Q&A
  This session will be hosted just over a week after the main event so you have time to digest the material and discover any questions! Questions can be submitted via email - you’ll receive the information on how to do so in an email before the event.

Booklists: As part of the retreat, I will provide a great number of book lists related to each talk and chat, giving you a wealth of reading suggestions tailored to the themes covered. I’ll also provide a document with quotes and links, providing any quotes used in the talk/chats, and links to any research I mention.

Cost: $35 (this price is set for the summer, it may go up in future). This includes all sessions, the Q&A, all notes, and extensive book lists. You’ll have indefinite access to the talks and infinite replays.

Again, register HERE if you’d like to join.

And no matter what, read for your life!