FROM SARAH:

I've said before that I think the Chronicles of Narnia are among the very very best books for children (if not the actual best). This series is worth owning. We have several copies of every book in the series on our own shelves!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia has captivated readers of all ages for over sixty years, enchanting them with fantastical talking creatures, epic battles between good and evil, and magical doorways into new lands.

This box set includes mass market editions of all seven titles in The Chronicles of Narnia, in chronological order: The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle—with the original black-and-white interior illustrations by Pauline Baynes and cover art by Cliff Nielsen.

FROM SARAH:

Perhaps the greatest middle grade novel ever written. Is that too bold a statement? 😆 It doesn't matter how many times you read it, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe simply never disappoints. It's a perfect example of a whole-family read-aloud. I strongly recommend starting the Narnia series with this book and then reading the rest of the series in publication order. Also wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The four Pevensie children are sent to live in a large house in the country, a house with many rooms, which are filled with many things. But one of the rooms is absolutely empty, except for a single piece of furniture: a large wardrobe.

FROM THE RAR TEAM:

A beautifully told picture book biography that introduces us to C. S. “Jack” Lewis as a child. We see glimpses of some of his dearest memories and most really difficult moments throughout life. A wonderful addition to your home library for any Narnia fan!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A lyrical nonfiction picture book about the inspired life of C. S. Lewis, the beloved author of the Chronicles of Narnia—from Free as a Bird author-illustrator Lina Maslo. Perfect for fans of The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown and Some Writer!: The Story of E.B. White.

FROM SARAH:

This new middle grade novel, set in WWII London and featuring three orphaned siblings is EASILY one of the best novels I’ve read in a long while.⁣ There is the English countryside. And tea. And a mischievous boy named Edmund (yes! Edmund!), siblings who work together to get themselves through a rough patch, and a librarian you will fall in love with. ⁣There are bookish references galore. ⁣
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Read it aloud to all ages (probably 7+ will enjoy it most). Or just read it yourself! It’s an utter delight. ⁣Want the RAR Family Book Club Guide to go with it? Join RAR Premium to get it.

The audiobook is especially well done. One of the best books I've ever shared with my kids. (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It is 1940 and William, 12, Edmund, 11, and Anna, 9, aren't terribly upset by the death of the not-so-grandmotherly grandmother who has taken care of them since their parents died. But the children do need a guardian, and in the dark days of World War II London, those are in short supply, especially if they hope to stay together. Could the mass wartime evacuation of children from London to the countryside be the answer?

FROM SARAH:

An absolutely stunning graphic novel about the friendship between J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. I thought I knew a lot about their friendship going in to this one, but I learned so much! This is John Hendrix at his best, which is saying a lot, because I'm a big fan! Highly recommended. I think teens and adults will enjoy it best, regardless of where they shelve it at your library or bookstore. ;)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Through narrative and comic panels, Hendrix chronicles Lewis and Tolkien’s near-idyllic childhoods, then moves on to both men’s horrific tour of the trenches of World War I to their first meeting at Oxford in 1929, and then the foreshadowing, action, and aftermath of World War II.

He reveals the shared story of their friendship, in all its ups and downs, that gave them confidence to venture beyond academic concerns (fantasy wasn’t considered suitable for adult reading, but the domain of children), shaped major story/theme ideas, and shifted their ideas about the potential of mythology and faith.

FROM SARAH: It's no secret that I LOVE a good picture book biography, and this is one of my very favorites! Gorgeously illustrated and beautifully told, Katie Wray Schon has created a wonderful tribute to Pauline Baynes, who created illustrations of Middle Earth and Narnia that will forever be etched in our hearts.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Just in time for the 75th anniversary of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe comes Painting Wonder, an enchanting picture book biography about the artist whose illustrations brought the worlds of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien to life.

Young Pauline Baynes lives in India, a land of towering mountains, sparkling lakes, and bright flowers. She even has a pet monkey that joins her for tea.

Then her life takes a turn, and Pauline is sent to dreary England. Books bring light and color to her world, so she sets out to paint the stories she loves. Years later, two iconic authors see her paintings and know she’s the illustrator for their stories―of fire-breathing dragons, towering giants, a golden lion, and four brave children.

Follow Pauline into some of the most beloved and prominent landscapes in all of children’s literature: the magical lands of J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.

FROM SARAH:

The best part of this story is the love between two brothers who walk through life’s joys and tragedies together. The beautiful watercolor illustrations are an invitation to even the youngest readers to explore the life of C.S. Lewis, but it does contain themes of loss and grief, so you might give it a pre-read!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Before C.S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, he was a young boy named Jack who spent his days dreaming up stories of other worlds filled with knights, castles, and talking animals. His brother, Warnie, spent his days imagining worlds filled with trains, boats, and technology. One rainy day, they found a wardrobe in a little room next to the attic, and they wondered, What if the wardrobe had no end?

Years later, Jack began to think about what could be beyond that wardrobe, and about a girl named Lucy and her siblings. This picture book biography introduces the beloved creator of The Chronicles of Narnia to a new generation of children who see hidden magic in the world around them.

FROM SARAH: 

Young readers can peek through the wardrobe in this beautiful picture-book edition of one of our most beloved stories. It has a healthy amount of text on each page, so it might be enjoyed in sections if you have wiggly listeners.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A picture book retelling of C. S. Lewis's classic story The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, abridged for the youngest fans! Introduce them to the magic of Narnia with this picture book featuring illustrations by Tudor Humphries.

FROM SARAH:

Ever wonder what it would have been like to be friends with C. S. Lewis? This beautiful middle grade novel is the tale of two friends who come from entirely different backgrounds and experiences, but connect deeply through imagination and storytelling. The slow, thoughtful plot is perfect for kids eight and up, but sensitive readers should know it does contain the death of a parent.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A fictionalized exploration of the childhood of C.S. Lewis.

Davy, a working-class boy living in East Belfast in 1908, is sent to work at the wealthy Lewis household. When he meets Jacks – the name by which CS Lewis was known to friends and family – Davy is captivated by his friend’s world of books and stories. Together the boys plunge into imagining and adventuring, and Davy discovers his own artistic talent. But when Davy is offered a job at the shipyard, and Jacks’s mother falls gravely ill, their wondrous days of make-believe seem numbered. Will they lose their extraordinary shared world forever?