I love bunk beds because somehow they afforded my kids, especially the boys, opportunities for re-enacting the books they loved! They can be castles and ships and all sorts of things, especially when you hang blankets off them etc.
For a while we had two sets of bunks in a room, and they were of different heights, so pushed together they made a sort of multi-level set of "rooms" for endless play.
Yes, who needs toys!! (That room was such a mess though, haha)
"We’ll explore the deeper epistemological significance of children’s “play acting,” and also why toys aren’t even necessary..."
This is something I have been pondering for a while. I'm glad you are going to provide us with your wise insight on it. It is also why I believe it is important that the stories children are given to play-act with are good and moral. As girls, my sisters and I used to play-act all the time. Unfortunately, we were not always provided with moral entertainment, which didn't always lead to good play. Children need characters to admire in their minds. If they are not given the correct kind, they will still work with what they have, and that's what we did, to our detriment.
One other note. I remember when I was much younger, one day taking up one of those freeform games where we made up the story as we went with my sister. We had an antagonist. When my mother heard us playing, she told me to stop and not to play that way (meaning, with bad characters). I'm quite sure that my purpose in having a bad character in the first place was to bring justice in the end. I mean no ill to my mother, but reading your articles on romanticism, I get the feeling that this idea of guarding your child from all evil (even the kind that they should be exposed to), is a result of that. I congratulate you for providing your boys with model characters and the necessary antagonists. At the same time, I apologize for this unduly long comment.
No unduly long at all! I enjoyed every bit of it. I also was deprived of a morally imaginative childhood. I loved to built forts and play outside but I didn't have good literature and works of imagination that could guide and support my desire to play. That's interesting that you recall needing to "play out" the bad character - it's a way of children coming to terms with the nature of evil in the only way that they know how. I think that allowing children to play that out, in appropriate ways, is as you say, instructive for their education. I may have to write a post on that! Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
I have one son and one daughter. When they play anything featuring battle, she usually sets up an elaborate field hospital. In the Green Ember books by SD Smith, the sister fights when she has to but is usually a doctor.
When my youngest son plays with the neighbor girl at her house, they play "house" and "birthday party" and other sweet domestic games. When she comes to our house, they play firetrucks and battle. It's funny to watch what they play on each other's turf!
We love the Margaret Hodges/Trina Schart Hyman books--they are so beautiful. I can't wait for our children to be old enough for them. Have you seen the King Arthur picture books by Hudson Talbott? I think most of them are out of print but we have found two of them used (King Arthur and the Round Table, and King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone) and they are beautiful and well told.
Also, if your boys are into castles, they might enjoy the book "The Story of a Castle" which is a wordless place-over-time book illustrated by John S. Goodall. As you turn the pages, you see the development of the castle from the original Norman structure to the 1970's--it's so fun to look at! Another that I think might be out of print but you can find it used.
I didn't recognize the name Hudson Talbott until I googled him and realized that we had read his book Lancelot - and yes, fantastic! I didn't realize he had others, so I just ordered the ones you mention! Also ordered The Story of a Castle (I want all of Goodall's books, now that I see them). Thank you! I LOVE recommendations here in the comments. Don't be surprised when books you mention end up in a future review. You might be interested in this post on A Street Through Time: https://efinley.substack.com/p/two-imaginative-books-about-a-single
I'm glad you were able to find the Talbott books online and the John S. Goodall book! We found a few of his books when we were living in England for 2 years and they are so beautiful and fun! I would love to look for some more when our kids are a little older and will appreciate them.
I did see that post about A Street Through Time and enjoyed it--I meant to leave you a comment about the Story of a Castle book then but never managed to get to it! I loved reading those kind of books as a child.
I really enjoy your book reviews--finding good children's books used is one of my unofficial hobbies so I always have a mental running list of the things to look for. :D
Might you acquiesce and read and maybe comment upon a short story I wrote for my daughter Gigi during my separation during COVID?
It is in pdf form, and can be emailed. Alternatively, I will send you a hard copy if that works better. I would love to get your critique, good or bad.
Princess Puppacup and the Green Goblet.
It's based on many bedtime tales that I told to Gi and her two older brothers.
Emily, would you ever consider making recommendations on film? I have gained the skill of finding good books for children, and appreciate your writing. Try as I might, I can't seem to find good films for adults.
There’s a Substack out there called “100 movies every Catholic should see”. I think they have some solid recommendations. I can try to incorporate a few of the films I would recommend into some posts here but I’m no movie buff, sadly!
I recommend taking a look at John Senior’s “1000 good books” list. It’s readily available online and broken down by age. Peruse it and see what strikes your fancy! Many good suggestions.
Hi, I was reading your post about the tragedy of best books and wanted to comment, but it’s behind a paywall. The American Library Association was taken over by J€ws some time ago. E Michael Jones has written about this in the past. Here’s an excerpt of an article he wrote on Drag Queen Story hour, also a J€wish operation.
I love Elsa Beskow. A Swedish treasure. Her illustrations are magical! Greetings from Stockholm!
Are you in Sweden now? Find some original Beskow books :)
I love bunk beds because somehow they afforded my kids, especially the boys, opportunities for re-enacting the books they loved! They can be castles and ships and all sorts of things, especially when you hang blankets off them etc.
For a while we had two sets of bunks in a room, and they were of different heights, so pushed together they made a sort of multi-level set of "rooms" for endless play.
Yes, who needs toys!! (That room was such a mess though, haha)
Great post!
That sounds just like one of our rooms! Two of those Ikea loft beds and endless possibilities for boys!
"We’ll explore the deeper epistemological significance of children’s “play acting,” and also why toys aren’t even necessary..."
This is something I have been pondering for a while. I'm glad you are going to provide us with your wise insight on it. It is also why I believe it is important that the stories children are given to play-act with are good and moral. As girls, my sisters and I used to play-act all the time. Unfortunately, we were not always provided with moral entertainment, which didn't always lead to good play. Children need characters to admire in their minds. If they are not given the correct kind, they will still work with what they have, and that's what we did, to our detriment.
One other note. I remember when I was much younger, one day taking up one of those freeform games where we made up the story as we went with my sister. We had an antagonist. When my mother heard us playing, she told me to stop and not to play that way (meaning, with bad characters). I'm quite sure that my purpose in having a bad character in the first place was to bring justice in the end. I mean no ill to my mother, but reading your articles on romanticism, I get the feeling that this idea of guarding your child from all evil (even the kind that they should be exposed to), is a result of that. I congratulate you for providing your boys with model characters and the necessary antagonists. At the same time, I apologize for this unduly long comment.
No unduly long at all! I enjoyed every bit of it. I also was deprived of a morally imaginative childhood. I loved to built forts and play outside but I didn't have good literature and works of imagination that could guide and support my desire to play. That's interesting that you recall needing to "play out" the bad character - it's a way of children coming to terms with the nature of evil in the only way that they know how. I think that allowing children to play that out, in appropriate ways, is as you say, instructive for their education. I may have to write a post on that! Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
I hope you do get around to writing that article! It would be wonderful to get your wise insight on that aspect of children's play.
I have one son and one daughter. When they play anything featuring battle, she usually sets up an elaborate field hospital. In the Green Ember books by SD Smith, the sister fights when she has to but is usually a doctor.
When my youngest son plays with the neighbor girl at her house, they play "house" and "birthday party" and other sweet domestic games. When she comes to our house, they play firetrucks and battle. It's funny to watch what they play on each other's turf!
We love the Margaret Hodges/Trina Schart Hyman books--they are so beautiful. I can't wait for our children to be old enough for them. Have you seen the King Arthur picture books by Hudson Talbott? I think most of them are out of print but we have found two of them used (King Arthur and the Round Table, and King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone) and they are beautiful and well told.
Also, if your boys are into castles, they might enjoy the book "The Story of a Castle" which is a wordless place-over-time book illustrated by John S. Goodall. As you turn the pages, you see the development of the castle from the original Norman structure to the 1970's--it's so fun to look at! Another that I think might be out of print but you can find it used.
Keep the recommendations coming :D
I didn't recognize the name Hudson Talbott until I googled him and realized that we had read his book Lancelot - and yes, fantastic! I didn't realize he had others, so I just ordered the ones you mention! Also ordered The Story of a Castle (I want all of Goodall's books, now that I see them). Thank you! I LOVE recommendations here in the comments. Don't be surprised when books you mention end up in a future review. You might be interested in this post on A Street Through Time: https://efinley.substack.com/p/two-imaginative-books-about-a-single
I'm glad you were able to find the Talbott books online and the John S. Goodall book! We found a few of his books when we were living in England for 2 years and they are so beautiful and fun! I would love to look for some more when our kids are a little older and will appreciate them.
I did see that post about A Street Through Time and enjoyed it--I meant to leave you a comment about the Story of a Castle book then but never managed to get to it! I loved reading those kind of books as a child.
I really enjoy your book reviews--finding good children's books used is one of my unofficial hobbies so I always have a mental running list of the things to look for. :D
Emily, OK. You got me with this.
Might you acquiesce and read and maybe comment upon a short story I wrote for my daughter Gigi during my separation during COVID?
It is in pdf form, and can be emailed. Alternatively, I will send you a hard copy if that works better. I would love to get your critique, good or bad.
Princess Puppacup and the Green Goblet.
It's based on many bedtime tales that I told to Gi and her two older brothers.
Wonderful! Send it as a PDF in a DM. I can't promise *when* I will get to it, however, as we are preparing for a cross-country move right now!
Emily, would you ever consider making recommendations on film? I have gained the skill of finding good books for children, and appreciate your writing. Try as I might, I can't seem to find good films for adults.
There’s a Substack out there called “100 movies every Catholic should see”. I think they have some solid recommendations. I can try to incorporate a few of the films I would recommend into some posts here but I’m no movie buff, sadly!
Hello! I like your writing. I have two daughters. What books would you recommend. Thanks a lot!
I recommend taking a look at John Senior’s “1000 good books” list. It’s readily available online and broken down by age. Peruse it and see what strikes your fancy! Many good suggestions.
I was glad to read such an article, but I am sad that the shipping for any of those books is much more expansive than the book itself.
I’m seeing under $10 including shipping for the Hodges books. Not too bad!
Hi, I was reading your post about the tragedy of best books and wanted to comment, but it’s behind a paywall. The American Library Association was taken over by J€ws some time ago. E Michael Jones has written about this in the past. Here’s an excerpt of an article he wrote on Drag Queen Story hour, also a J€wish operation.
https://culturewars.com/news/my-library-problem-and-ours
Thanks for the link, very interesting.
Thank you!