Member Reviews
I enjoy children's biographies. Reading them aloud to my kids is a joy as they meet new characters, are inspired in their own faith and along the way I also get to see their stories in a simplified point of view. This is a quick overview of Lewis's life, thread along the theme of his search for joy. Nice easy read. Recommend for a family read aloud!
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
A clear, concise biography on C.S. Lewis written for children, and yet, it can be enjoyed by adults as well. I really enjoy this biography series. Thanks #NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review!
Interesting short kids book about the life of CS Lewis. My kids are probably too young for it and haven't gotten into Narnia yet so they were not very interested. I think my kids were a little too young for the target audience so I can't comment on that. Good information though and engaging pictures!
C.S. Lewis: The Writer Who Found Joy by Dan DeWitt is a great way to introduce kids to C.S. Lewis and his world. It is beautifully written and illustrated. I love that the writer did not shy away from Lewis’ struggle with Faith. I also love the hunt for the lions that is in the book. I highly recommend C.S. Lewis: The Writer Who Found Joy! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.
"C.S. Lewis" by Dan DeWitt is an inspiring children's book that tells the incredible story of how C.S. Lewis, a famous author, philosopher, and Christian, found faith in Jesus and overcame numerous challenges. This book presents Lewis's life journey in a way that is easy for young readers to understand, highlighting his struggles, doubts, and triumphs. Through captivating storytelling and vibrant illustrations, the book conveys the message that even in the face of adversity, one can discover faith, purpose, and the strength to persevere.
As I read this book, I was struck by how C.S. Lewis's life was filled with ups and downs. He faced personal losses and doubts that made him question his beliefs. However, the book emphasizes how Lewis's encounters with friends and his exploration of books and ideas gradually led him to discover the truth of Christianity. The story underscores that faith isn't always a simple and straightforward path, but a journey that involves wrestling with doubts and seeking answers. Despite the challenges he encountered, Lewis's story shows that determination, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to embrace faith can lead to a profound transformation.
"C.S. Lewis" is a wonderful book for young readers who are curious about true stories of perseverance and faith. Children and parents alike will be inspired by Lewis's life, his resilience in the face of difficulties, and his eventual discovery of the joy and hope that faith in Jesus can bring. The book's simple language and engaging illustrations make it accessible to a wide range of readers, from those who are just starting to explore the world of literature to those who are interested in learning about important historical figures. Additionally, the hidden lions throughout the pages add an element of fun and discovery, making the reading experience even more enjoyable for children.
This is a great biography of C.S. Lewis written as an early reader picture book. I love the theme of finding joy throughout the text and the challenge to find all the images of lions in the pictures. I felt like this book included enough detail to satisfy the adult who purchases the book and reads it to children while not putting in so much that the kids don’t need. The illustrations and the storyline are engaging and there is a strong message about God. I received an advanced copy from Net Galley and B&H Publishing in exchange for my honest review. This book came out in July of 2023 – I will be buying copies for Christmas gifts this year.
As the second book in the Here I Am! biography series for kids, this biography highlights C. S. Lewis as a fascinating and faithful Christian in history. This book does a great job describing primary milestones in the life of C. S. Lewis, such as:
The loss of his mother, which led him to a disbelief in God
His quizzical nature and love of learning that led him to Oxford
Once on staff, his friend JRR Tolkien speaking to him about God
His then, motivation to seek joy
God beginning to soften his heart
His subsequent joy found in God
His talks on the radio during WWII which were compiled to make up his book, Mere Christianity
His inspiration to write more books in order to share his faith
The illustrations used within this book are colorful and have so much depth that they draw you into each scene. I find them realistic and bold enough to catch the eye of a young reader.
This book suitable for 4-8 years of age with ages beyond that reading it themselves. Considering the number of pages and dialog, it might be a little bit long for a preschooler, depending upon their reading level.
I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.
I love CS Lewis, and I love how the material in the book was presented to kids. The illustrations are very well done.
I enjoyed the simplification of CS Lewis' life for children. There was a fun game throughout to spot each of the lions hidden in the pages.
This is the sweetest book!!! I loved the drawings and storytelling, and have no doubt others will too. A great introduction for younger readers to one of my favorite authors and his works--not just Narnia, but the Space Trilogy, Mere Christianity, and more, too.
Entirely charming.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Okay this is a picture book that will be going into our home library. I absolutely loved the gorgeous illustrations in this children’s book about C S Lewis, “the writer who found joy.” Woven into the warm and cozy illustrations is a challenge to find 30+ lions throughout the book.
I’m no Lewis expert so I can’t speak to the historical accuracy but I enjoyed this children’s level read about his life. The overarching theme of the book is Lewis’s search for joy, and how true joy eventually found him. There are fun facts about Lewis on many of the pages which was a fun addition to the picture book.
There are only two criticisms I have about this book…
One is that this book is about finding true Joy, which seems like the perfect opportunity to include the gospel beyond that “God had done a mighty work in Jack’s heart” and that “he somehow knew that Jesus was God’s son, sent to forgive the sins of the world.” I hope this could lead to great family discussions but it feels like a missed opportunity to me.
The other is a mention of eating candy at the end of October. For me, as someone who would never celebrate Halloween, I don’t appreciate such a casual reference that seems to assume that the reader is going out trick or treating every year.
Those criticisms aside, I did love this book and will be adding it to our collection!
Today, for part of our history studies, we read the picture book biography C. S. Lewis: The Writer Who Found Joy. A few weeks ago, we watched the movie The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, so the children were very interested to learn about the author of the book.
As a young boy in Ireland, Clive Staples Lewis, who decided he wanted to go by the name of Jack because he didn’t like his name, knew he was missing something. His mother had died, and though he enjoyed much about his life, he felt like something was missing. He searched and searched for joy through his time learning with a private tutor, during his college years, and during the Great War. Finally, he came to the conclusion that God was real—and then he came to belief in Jesus—and finally, he had found joy. Now he wanted to share it with the rest of the world.
The children’s favorite part of C. S. Lewis: The Writer Who Found Joy was the challenge at the beginning of the book to find a number of lions on the pages. They studied the beautiful pictures, searching for lions. They also loved finding things they recognized from the movie that came from Lewis’s life. I found this book a great introduction to this famous man, and a testimony of what God can do in a person’s life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
Wow, such a fun book! So lovely. The illustrations are just darling. The story of C.S. Lewis's life is told is such a rolling fun sort of way, with just a dash of whimsy. Me reading it as an adult, I even found out facts about C.S. Lewis that I didn't know before. I'd actually like to dive deeper into a biography about him.
For little ones, this is a great introduction to Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia. Definitely recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, but was not required to leave a positive review.
This was a good biography about C.S. Lewis which chronicled his journey to Christianity and joy. I enjoyed the references to his books and characters throughout. The journey he took into and out of Christianity and then back was very relatable and can help kids who may be struggling.
I love this collection of picture books about Christian figures! It does a great job of sharing their often times difficult lives with care and age appropriateness, and C.S. Lewis is no different. I even learned new things about him! My children loved the illustrations and the book opened up a whole host of conversations for us about joy, doubting and finding God, and using our creative gifts for the Lord. I highly recommend this book!
Beautiful depiction of CS Lewis. I love that this children’s book doesn’t shy away from the hardship that he went through but also gives such hope in him seeking joy and finding it in the Lord.
Also beautiful illustrations. Just my style!
C.S. Lewis by Dan DeWitt is a fun way to introduce a child to the idea of reading biography, C.S. Lewis and his story, and how we should never stop searching for God and joy. My daughter loved looking for lions on all of the pages, and she was so engaged in the story!
Loved this book! A great introduction to children about C.S. Lewis and how he found true joy in God. A reminder that only true joy comes through our relationship with Christ.
This is a nicely illustrated and colorful picture book biography about CS Lewis for young children. Very appropriate for those who have read and love his works. His life and books have inspired many, so this is a good addition to any library for little ones.
Well this was adorable! The second I saw this upcoming release about CS Lewis, I knew I had to get it for my kids. The story is great but the real star are the captivating illustrations by Marcin Piwowarski. I rarely purchase physical books but I will definitely be adding this to our family library and recommending it to friends!