Polycarp of Smyrna: The Man Whose Faith Lasted

Polycarp of Smyrna: The Man Whose Faith Lasted, Sinclair Ferguson

(Banner of Truth, 2010), hb., 40 pp.

Ages  4-8

This book is part of the Heroes of the Faith Series which Sinclair Ferguson has started, and this is a great beginning. In a “word to the parents” section at the end of the book Ferguson explains the aim of this series. He notes that today our culture encourages people to have “idols” rather than “heroes.” I think Ferguson is right on this, and I appreciate how he distinguishes the two: idols are adored because of their image whereas a hero is one who is respected because he “has shown moral fibre, … has overcome difficulties, … has been tested and has stood firm.” Ferguson’s series seeks to provide families a resource for introducing young children to such heroes in the history of the church. In Ferguson’s words:

“The Heroes of the Faith books are intended to build up into a kind of church family album- pictures of those who, throughout the centuries, have been members fo the family of God.”

I think this book on Polycarp succeeds very well. In an engaging, simple way Ferguson tells the story of Polycarp, his time with the Apostle John, and his martyrdom. My wife read this one to our two youngest (4year old boy & 5 year old girl) while I was away at a conference. When I got back both children told me excitedly about the book. Over the last few days I have heard them both- especially my son- going around the house chanting, “Po-ly-carp! Po-ly-carp!” (his name is chanted in the book). Any book which results in my children being excited about a hero of the faith, chanting the name of one of the earliest church leaders after the New Testament is certainly worth having.

We commend this one to you.

Amazing Tales Not so Amazingly Told

Amazing Tales for Making Men Out of Boys, Neil Oliver

(William Morrow, 2009), hb., 364 pp.

Ages 7+

Last year I wrote a post on this book just after purchasing the volume. I quoted the back of the book (which is what induced me to buy the book) and wrote, “How can a book that says this not be good!” Sadly, I must now write to say in answer, “They found a way.” In spite of the inspiring writing on the book cover this is not a very good book and I cannot recommend it. I like the concept but the execution was poor.

The biggest problem with the book is its total lack of a moral compass. I had seen criticism of the book along the lines that it simply gloried in men dying in combat. I dismissed the critique at the time expecting that it came from people who failed to consider the value of self-sacrifice in this way. Now, I appreciate the criticism. Without a moral compass nobility and valor are hard to distinguish. Various comments in the book demonstrate carelessness for real values apart from dying bravely. For example homosexuality among Spartan young men is discussed casually without any moral judgment. Profanity is sprinkled liberally throughout. This is not what I want to read to my boys.

Related to this, the book does not sound like it is really written to boys. Quite a bit of information is assumed and even examples used relate more to adult men. It sounds like a conversation between adult men which they imagine will resonate with boys.

Lastly, though many powerful stories were selected, the manner of retelling the stories was typically ineffective. These are great stories which ought to be powerful, but they never soared. They were like great lions that only meowed. So much more was expected so that the disappointment was great.

We do need to retell the great stories which used to be commonplace and which capture the imagination of young boys inspiring them to be men. However, manhood is not sheer recklessness. It is willingness to sacrifice for the good, an arranging of life according to a compelling moral vision which shows when it is right to fight and when it is not.

Amazing Tales for Making Men Out of Boys

Amazing Tales for Making Men Out of Boys, by Neil Oliver
(William Morrow, 2009; previously published in the UK by Michael Jospeh, 2008)
Hb., 364 pp.
Ages 6+

We just found this book at Sam’s tonight, but I wanted to go ahead and mention it because I love the concept. Just note these lines from the back cover:

Stories of heroism, exploration and sacrifice that will inspire boys to be courageous, honorable and open to adventure. TALES OF BRAVE AND SELFLESS DEEDS used to be part of every boy’s education. We grew up sharing stories with our fathers, uncles and grandfathers of how great men had lived their lives, met their challenges, reached their goals and faced their deaths. Becomign a young man was about comradeship and standing by your friends whatever the circumstances. And it meant that sometimes it was more important to DIE A HERO THAN LIVE A COWARD’S LIFE.

Yeah!! How can a book that says this not be good! This is exactly what I want for my boys. In the book the author recounts D-day and Omaha Beach, the Charge of the Light Brigade, the Alamo, Shackleton’s Journey, Scott in the Antarctic, John Paul Jones, and Thermopylae and other stories.

I think that the cover could be done better, but I am excited about this book and my 7 year old asked on the way home when we would begin reading it.

P.S. The trailer for the book is well done also! Note the comment that morals are handed down through good stories. This is a key point that was well understood in days past but often forgotten today.

Brian Jacques on heroes and villains

My boys and I really enjoy the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. We have just read two books in the series as a fun aside from our history readings. There are things I would change in the books, but overall they are very good.

A couple of years ago we found a little book titled Redwall Friend & Foe which gives a brief intro to key characters in the series as well as a poster of the heroes. The booklet opens with a brief piece by Jacques in which he describes his approach to heroes and villains. I have included a lengthy quote which I think highlights two key strengths of the series.

“I like my baddies to be totally wicked and my goodies to be heroically on the side of right! From the very first villain, Cluny the Scourge, I have imbued my wicked baddies with certain characteristics. … An arch villain always lusts after power, wants to conquer everything and rule all. He, or she, has no sympathy for any living creature that stands in the way of their malicious ambitions.”

He goes on to note that his typical bad guys are “repellent, ugly and usually insane.” However, he has deviated from this pattern a few times with sly, handsome villains “to illustrate to my young readers that somebody bad is not necessarily an ugly … person; evil has some very personable faces.”

“Martin the Warrior is the role model for all my Redwall Abbey goodies- he is the ultimate hero. … Like Martin, my heroes and heroines are all young creatures, the same as the young people who read my books. The lesson is this: you must learn to be a warrior. This does not mean being a martial arts expert or a Hollywood movie star. The warrior is someone whom others look to. One who tells the truth, defends
the weak and is trustworthy and courageous. In short someone who is true to his or her friends and family.”

He says later that his warriors do not gain that status “through any magic tricks. No, my warriors gain heroic stature by their own determination”

“There is no such thing as wickedness or evil in a hero. Goodies are GOOD!”

Books written from this view will almost certainly be good! Jacques writes in a clear moral universe where the heroes are intended to be pictures of virtue and villains are clearly bad. Sadly such an approach is becoming less and less common in general. Clarity between good and evil is a central piece in moral formation. And, Jacques is clearly aware that his stories are instructing his young readers, as he shows in these quotes. I want an author who knows that his stories will instruct (because they will whether you realize it or not) and then seeks to take that responsibility seriously.

So, “Go Redwaaaalll!”