27 Jun 05 Champion For My Kids
What is your favorite book? Ask Reese and he will tell you, without hesitation, Danny the Champion of the World (by Roald Dahl). I’m not sure exactly how many times he has read the book. He reads it again and again and just laughs and laughs. So that he could talk with me about his favorite parts, like he does with Beth, Reese suggested I read the book.
I took his suggestion and enjoyed the book immensely. It’s a great story of the relationship between a father and son who get entangled in some mischievous adventures. I won’t say anymore beyond this except you’d probably enjoy reading the book.
What I really thought interesting was how the book ends. Not how the story ends, how the book itself ends. Right after the story ends and right before the author page there is a page with a message from the author. Here is what Roald wrote:
A MESSAGE
to children who have read this bookWhen you grow up
and have children of your own,
do please remember something important.A stodgy parent is no fun at all!
What a child wants
– and DESERVES –
is a parent who isSPARKY!
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Interesting that you would write about a favorite book. I have a blog sitting in memory that I had intended on posting today and it’s all about books we read last year or are currently reading. So when I do post it, there is no plagiarism going on … not that I’m above stealing your good stuff!
I am convinced that although we begin the parenting journey thinking we have so much to offer and teach our little ones, we suddenly realize it is because of them we are better, wiser, more Godly.
Keep up the good work!
Sparky.
well since I am contemplating having children in the near future I now know one more quality to pray for. Since I know my current limitations I dare say this would come as easily as say long suffering.
Ah, Roald Dahl…love him. James is getting very close to that age where I can read him some of the books I bought years ago to read to my kid. “The Hobbit”, “The Princess Bride”, “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Can’t wait.
One of my favorite lines from ANY book is from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” I was so excited to see the trailer for it and hear the exact line, word for word, at the very end: “Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.” I like it so much I used it in a sermon once. I even said where it came from even though I KNEW I’d hear it from the Christian Potter Haters afterward.
I’ve used that Dahl quote several times in Bible classes on Joy.
I ran across that book in an English bookstore in Ivory Coasts. I had 5 hours to wait for a plane and got hooked on the champion of the world.
The best time I’ve ever had in an airport.