summer reading lists

[momz]

my children are elementary aged.  Every year, the school sends home a list of suggested reading for the summer.  This is a public school.  Being a fairly new Christian, I need some guidance as to how to evaluate the books and decide which ones are consistent with a Christian world view and therefore a good choice for my very impressionable young children.  Any suggestions?

[janine]

How young is young?

Is your goal to take your kids by the hand, figuratively speaking, and walk with them through age-appropriate reading, even though there may be issues addressed in the books that you don't like?

Or is your goal sort of a reading hothouse, with your kids as protected flowers, not going out into the open air any time soon?

[momz]

How young is young?

Is your goal to take your kids by the hand, figuratively speaking, and walk with them through age-appropriate reading, even though there may be issues addressed in the books that you don't like?

Or is your goal sort of a reading hothouse, with your kids as protected flowers, not going out into the open air any time soon?

wow, well, I'm not real sure how to take your reply to me Janine.  you present two extremes here and frankly, I don't think either of these situations adequately reflect what I see as a parent's role in the education of their children.  But, I will make an attempt at clarifying my concerns.

my children are 1st and 4th grade.  they are both avid readers.  they attend public school and so their leisure reading is secular book selections.  I'm ok with that for the most part, but there are some titles out there that I feel do not reflect the values and morals of a Christ centered home.  For example, my oldest (a girl) loves the American Girl series...I'm fine with that.  But, I refuse to allow her to read the Twilight books (even though many of her peers are into this).  My reasons for this decision are many. 

I started this thread to try to generate a discussion about how to help guide my children into making wise choices regarding their reading selections.  It is impossible for me (or any parent) to pre-read everything and to completely shelter them (and sheltering them does not prepare them for adulthood anyway).

And frankly, I find your comment that suggests I'm treating my children as "protected flowers" offensive.  Simply wanting to be involved and avoid exposing my children to topics they are not prepared to deal with hardly makes them "protected flowers".

May I ask....how do you promote reading in your home?

[OldDad]

At your children's ages you still have the ability to say, "I don't think it's appropriate to read that." 

And you can't teach a worldview - which is simply how one views the world around them - but you can disciple your children so that they make good choices from the wide variety of what is available to them.

That being said, there's no easy way to do what you're wanting to do. No, you can't pre-read everything, but in this day there should be ample review and preview material available for you to determine if a book aligns with your values.  In most children's books, spot reading a few pages at the beginning, middle, and end should give you an excellent idea of what's in there.