Warren Lewis, a devoted and understanding brother, has penned a journal which reveils his nature, his brother, and the situations surrounding them very well. A joy for anyone who has ever been inspired by Lewis, and a collection of writings by a man the world should know more about.

This is the best diary I have ever read. The editors have done a superb job of pruning it down to a manageable reading size while still preserving the essential commentary. My appreciation for the outdoors was greatly enhanced by reading this book. Warren Lewis knew how to paint scenes and tell stories with flair. Recommended reading.

This book was an answer to prayer. I actually found it at a garage sale. After reading it, I realized the many things that I had been doing incorrectly to resolve an on-going problem in my relationship with my adult son. I have started to put some of the principles outlined in this book into practice. I have not seen progress from my son, however, my mental state is much better and positive. I still have a long way to go but will continue to reread this book to reinforce the principles found there.

This book helped me to retain (or regain!) a level of rational thinking at a time when there was nothing rational in my personal life. All three of my beloved children were out of control and our family life was in chaos. One child was into drugs, one was into alcohol, and one was trying to cope with severe trauma. I was on a guilt trip that threatened to engulph me, and it seemed like I had slipped into a deep black pit with slippery walls. The entire world seemed black to me. One of the strongest helps I received was The Hurting Parent. The various topics seemed to address my pain - - even the topics that did not apply to my situation. Since then I have bought several copies of this book, and then loaned them out. They don't seem to come back, so the people I have given them to must consider them helpful in their lives, too. Thank you Margie Lewis & son!

Want to be prepared for the rigors of college academics?. Then one should read the books included in this handy and usefull reference work, i.e., Outstanding Books for the College Bound : Choices for a Generation (Ala Editions) by Marjorie Lewis (Editor), Young Adults Library Services Association. In here one will find the most suitable titles in biography, nonfiction, fiction to mention a few areas. Highly Recommended.

I thought this was a great book about growing up and it inspires kids to keep trying. My favorite part of the book was when Applebaum got a hit playing baseball.

This is one book I had wanted to read for along time. It just seemed like an excellent idea to be able to experience an author in this extraordinary way, communicating with his number one fans: kids.

Sadly, when I read it, I didn't like it that much. First of all, it was a very short read. I finished reading it in one afternoon. Secondly, I found the book to be lacking information, because letters are presented here and there, but most of the time we don't get to read a "two-way" conversation, so it is hard to follow. Also, I expected to read letters to and from many children, and was a bit disappointed when I realised only a few children's letters were featured.

Still, I love C.S. Lewis, and was very happy to read his Letters to Children, and feel as if some had been written for me.

Every time I read another book by C.S. Lewis I become more grateful for his life and his writings. This book is a gem, and a wonderful window into Lewis' soul. He answers these children's letters with self-effacing grace and humor, and with a sincere respect for their opinions and their dignity. While being a great writer has no particular connection with being a good person, this book is, to me, irresistable evidence of Lewis' personal goodness. The Angler (as he once referred to God in "Surprised by Joy") snared a fine specimen when he snared the soul of C.S. Lewis.

It is said that as regularly as the mail arrived, professor Lewis sat down at his desk and personally responded... even if the correspondents were little children who had come to know of him through his Narnia books. In fact, he felt it was his God-given duty to do so! "C.S. Lewis: Letters to Children" is a collection of these heartfelt responses, spanning nearly 20 years (1944-1963).

Lewis's own direct contact with children was limited. He once said, "I theoretically hold that one ought to like children, but am shy with them in practice." (Letter to Arthur Greeves, Dec.'35). And in his "The Abolition of Man" he says (chap.1, para.11) "I myself do not enjoy the society of small children... I recognize this as a defect in myself." What he may have lacked in direct contact with children he certainly seems to have displaced with these personal letters, in which we see a lofty Oxford academic who is able to freely converse with children about such diverse topics as (of all things) Zoroastrianism, cats, the Gauls, Virgilian hexameter, the Renaissance, and his opinion that human faces are much easier to draw than animal faces. Never does he talk DOWN to his younger "friends". He usually signs off with an affectionate "yours ever"! And often he sprinkles a question or two of his own in a letter, which, rather than dismissing the sender, invites a response, showing he values these children. For example, an American girl (Joan) received 28 letters from Lewis over a 20 year period!

Why do I give this book a rating of 5 stars? Is the writing as deep, weighty, and significant as War & Peace? Not even remotely. But, to me, it is remarkable that an academician/author of the caliber of C.S. Lewis found the time to write such beautiful simple letters to inquiring kids all over the world. There's something very refreshing (for Lewis fans like me at least) about picking this book up and just turning at random to any letter. One ends with "It is still cold here but the snowdrops, crocuses, primroses and daffodils are up and the thrushes are building nests." Or another "Well, I can't say I have had a happy Easter, for I have lately got married and my wife is very, very ill." Such disclosure is an example of the respect Lewis felt children worthy of. One word of caution though: Does a proper appreciation of this book require a familiarity with Lewis's works? Quite frankly: Yes! The Narnia books! Because so many of the letters are alluding to Narnia, readers unfamiliar with that cycle of books may find most of this book quite boring.

Lewis never tired of corresponding with his child fans. His final letter, to a boy named Philip was written on November 21, 1963. The following day Lewis passed away peacefully at his Oxford home. Earlier, he had written the following to a group of fifth graders:

"I'm tall, fat, rather bald, red-faced, double-chinned, black-haired, have a deep voice, and wear glasses for reading.

The only way for us to get to Aslan's country is through death, as far as I know: perhaps some very good people get just a tiny glimpse before then.
Best love to you all. When you say your prayers sometimes ask God to bless me,

Yours ever, C.S. Lewis"

The reason I gave this book 3 stars is because I would automatically slap at least 3 stars on anything C.S. Lewis wrote (but usually it would be 4 or 5). And when I got this book, I was hoping that it would contain some great insights from his other books--but simplified so that I could see how even children are able to understand some of the complexities of the Divine. But it's nothing of the sort. Most of the letters contained in the book are rather dull, and many talk about the same books and characters ad nauseum. Also, while reading it, there is a feeling of discontinuity. If you have read every single other work by C.S. Lewis, then I guess maybe you should read this book--but otherwise, there are many other books that would be more worth your time.

This is a valuable addition to the library of anyone interested in C.S. Lewis. The letters are only a representative selection, but if you have read collections of epistles by anyone then you will be prepared for the character of this genre. By its very nature correspondence is occasional and somewhat disjointed. The letters in this volume are especially well-chosen, however, and the editors focus upon letters to the same children as they grow older, letters from the whole of Lewis's career, and letters addressing similar topics. Several themes emerge: childhood imagination, honesty with children (even fair-minded criticism), sympathy for their concerns, the busy schedule of a scholar, poetic details in the everyday, and clear-headed reasoning in even small matters. Lewis writes with a wry sense of humor, respect for children as people, and selflessness. The letters from the end of his life are especially touching. I heartily recommend this book to anyone familiar with Lewis, although novices would do better to start with __Surprised by Joy__, __Mere Christianity__, or one of the Narnian tales.

The problems in this book are filled with silly politically correct examples, even to the point of misinformation. In the future I am going to stick with boy scout materials. I would hate to meet the little monsters that this kind of book would help develop.

This book is definately a plus for educators and requires adult facilitation, especially for the younger range. We use this book, along with the leader's guide (5 stars!) as a tool in our violence prevention curriculum in an after-school setting. Perhaps it's too "politically correct" to teach kids to respect each other and include others to build frienships, and to be reflective on their own behaviors, but some kids need to hear this message.

Character education is a hot topic, and this book provides activities and resources that educators can easily adapt for use in the classroom. At our school, we began to develop our own program and were looking for a way to continue our activities.

What I liked best about this book was its emphasis on having the child evaluate his or her own character, and then selecting those "character muscles" to develop further, such as caring, fairness, honesty, etc. It also included several self-assessments for the child to complete that help in determining strengths and areas for improvement. Our school plans to use this book as a resource for teachers and students this coming year, and we look forward to the release of the Leader's Guide.

I'd rate it 5 stars for educators, but fewer stars for parents. While its activities are certainly adaptable in either setting, I wonder how effective it would be for a parent to work from a book in teaching a child about character. I prefer stories to read with your child and then discuss. This seems too academic for home use. Would be interested to see what parents think who've used this.