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Magic Tree House books - 12/2/2008 1:17:36 AM
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leebug1998
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My son read the first 4 Magic Tree House books and loves them. I started to grow concerned in book 4 when the Magic became pretty prevalent and went, in my opinion, beyond harmless, to almost witchcraft.
I love the overall concept of traveling to another time or place and learning about people and history, and frankly, I can't find any other decent series along the same line for a boy his age (he's 6). I found the Trailblazer books, which are great, but he's too young for them (maybe when he's about 8).
Can I get some input from other parents - do you let your kids read the Magic Tree House books? If not, what is your reasoning? If so, what is your reason (I'm looking for more than, "they're good books that teach about history." I'd love scriptural input from both sides.)
I pray this does not turn into a debate. I really would just love some wisdom. He was having so much fun with them, and now I've "cut him off" from the books until we figure this out.
Thank you so much.
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RE: Magic Tree House books - 12/2/2008 6:02:56 AM
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csl7037
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No one is more wary than I am of the witchcraft that is downright prevalent in our society. It's mainstreamed and it's rampant in materials for children (books, cartoons, toys, movies). Drives me nuts!!! We have to be on guard for this stuff. There are so many people who say I'm being silly but it's a matter of discernment, IMO and it's so important!! ...Not to foster debate (I've heard it all), just to say I totally know where you're coming from.
BUT, my ds has probably read twenty of the Magic Treehouse books and his goal is to read the whole series. I was wary at first...my ears perked up at Morgan LaFaye popping in and out. But I have read most of them with him and see nothing at all wrong with them. Actually, the more I read with him, the more I do appreciate this historical lessons. (My degree is in medieval history.) They're solid historically, for that age anyway, not propagandist, which is more than I can say for what they get in school, and he's really learning a lot from them. We enjoy them together.
I think the vast majority of parents are way too blinded themselves to the occultic influences in our society. It is most definitely not harmless kid stuff! But, at the same time, I remind myself that fantasy is a literary device that's been around for centuries, even in the Church, and is a tremendous teaching tool and fosters imagination and creativity. I try to guage whether something is fantasy (along the lines of CS Lewis and the classic fairytales) or delves into "new age" (which isn't new) or occultic themes. For example, I think the classic fairytales are timeless and precious - but what Disney does with them borders on witchcraft sometimes. Harry Potter, don't get me started! But when you read something like Narnia, I think it's a reminder that fantasy is a valuable literary device that we can't shun fantasy in our fear of witchcraft, which is my tendancy if I'm not careful.
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RE: Magic Tree House books - 12/2/2008 10:13:27 AM
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garsyt
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quote:
I treat them just like I do with any other type of fantasy literature. Is my child old enough to discern that this is FANTASY and not real? Does my child understand that he CAN'T go back in time and view history?
Thing 2 will be 9 next month (*gasp!* I can't believe he's that old already!) and he reads the Magic Tree House. I've had a slight advantage though...his 2nd grade teacher is a strong Christian woman who's values I admire and she and I talked about them before she introduced them to him. She felt that Thing 2 was more than mature enough to handle reading them and so far so good. He loves the stories and everyonce in a while tells me a true historical fact but that's it. To him, and to me, the time traveling and magic is just a small piece of it.
And yes...let's not get started on those other fantasy books.
This is about how I feel about them. My now 11 year old has read through all of these as has my 12 year old nephew in years past. I believe Aryn, my dd, read all of them between 2nd and 4th grade. My 9 year old has read some of them, but they just didn't keep his attention, and my almost 8 year old is just not interested yet. I'm one that reads at least one book of every series my kids pick up. These didn't bother me at all because I KNOW my children have their feet firmly in reality. The history that my kids have picked up from these far outweighs the magic stuff.
Blessings,
Garsy
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RE: Magic Tree House books - 12/2/2008 10:25:27 AM
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Auben
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From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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With Morgan le Fay's magic I too was skeptical, but after reading a few I noticed how little she's involved in the story.She's been whitewashed into a fairy librarian as far as I can see.
I have no difficulty with time traveling though. I think the history is well-done (they also have non-fiction fact books.
I'm not sure I've read #4 (which one is that?), but we have a general rule against witchcraft which tells the future (ie Saul's sin) or which calls up or allows the entrance of spirits. The boys know that and we have a lot of discussion. My oldest polices himself mostly. I just keep up with the blurb and flip through a bit.
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Magic Tree House books - 12/2/2008 10:47:13 AM
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pbaribeault
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My 4 year old has been listening to the unabridged audio book of book 4 in this series, so I have a younger perspective. She is enthralled, and listens about 4 times every day. I'm planning to buy a few more episodes soon.
I think even she is old enough to know what is real from what is pretend in that context... not that she understands time, time travel or magic at all, just that she knows that most books, stories and TV shows just aren't real -- they are silly and pretend. (I always make a point that Bible stories are real and true). She has no more chance of believing in magic spells on tree houses than she has of believing in talking tigers, the cat in the hat or Backyardigans.
As for magic tree house, it's definitely presented as fantasy, just like the rest of 4 year old literature.
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RE: Magic Tree House books - 12/3/2008 12:25:28 PM
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coolfamily6
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My seven yr old loves these, we own about 25! I, too, was leary with the magic but I think it is very minor in the stories. Which book are you concerned with? Maybe just preread them and eliminate the ones that are questionable.
All of my kids are into the fantasy genre, so I have had to really pay attention to things. DD (14) and DS (12) when questioned about why they like fantasy they both said because of the action. They also said they understand that it is not real and that some of the books are not appropriate because they go too far into "bad" things. Their description not mine. DD who hates to start a book and not finish it has actually given me a couple of books and said is this ok? My answer is if you have to ask then no. One we returned the other is put on a shelf for her to read when she gets a bit older.
_____________________________
If your bible is a mess; your life won't be.
~Encouragement a mom gave to our children at our First Grader's Bible Ceremony!
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RE: Magic Tree House books - 12/3/2008 5:39:54 PM
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ladyingrace1979
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From: Fresno CA
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My dd loved them. We are about to start the younger one's on them. For me, the way I decide about occult and witchcraft in books, movies, etc is both the amount and the maturity of my child. My oldest was very well able to separate the makebelive from the real. She has read all of the Harry Potter books. But I would not let her see the "Twilight" movie. He looks too much like an ordinary kid. Even if they don't show anything about him being a vampire. The fact that he looks and acts like a normal kid pushes it into the danger zone for me.
Kim Q
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RE: Magic Tree House books - 12/4/2008 1:20:22 AM
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leebug1998
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Thank you so much for all of your replies. I've diverted his attention to The Bobbsey Twins for now, which I feel a bit better about. Maybe when he's a little older we can revisit Magic Tree House. It's a bit tough because he's in 1st grade but reads at a 3rd grade level, and I want to keep him challenged, but the content for 3rd graders isn't quite what he's ready for.
Thanks so much for taking time to answer. God Bless You.
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RE: Magic Tree House books - 12/4/2008 4:21:44 PM
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ladyingrace1979
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I understand that dilemma. My eldest daughter is an 8th grader. From second grade on she has read at least 2 grade levels above. In 4th grade she was reading at an 8th grade level.
It's hard to find challenging but appropriate reading even now.
Kim Q
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RE: Magic Tree House books - 12/7/2008 2:31:45 AM
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cynthia
Posts: 8080
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: Beautiful Puget Sound Region
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There is a great book on this subject called, "A Landscape with Dragons," (link). It does a great job of laying out an understanding of what is and is not appropriate for Christian children to read and why. I loved this book.
I have read several of the "Magic Treehouse" books with my children. I am quite sensative to this topic, but have found them to be fine so far.
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My husband and I have a motto:
We are the leader. We are one.
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