The Warren & the World Vol 5, Issue 33

The Warren & the World is Story Warren’s weekly newsletter, providing a round-up of our favorite things from around the web as well as a review of what was on our site over the past week. We’re glad you’re here!

Around the Web

Do I Want My Children to Be Careful or Take Risks?

Rachel Donahue explores the tension of protecting our kids and pushing them to learn how to serve a God who is not safe.

“Be careful!” I yelled toward my two oldest boys as they traipsed out the back and slammed the door behind them. They were off to play with their cousins around the family greenhouse that adjoins our property.
Even as the instinctive words left my mouth, I caught myself. Is this really what I want for my boys? To be careful?

24 Book Series 3rd Graders Love to Read

Melissa Taylor has another great list of series books for middle elementary kids at Imagination Soup.

What are the best book series for 3rd graders? Here are 25 chapter book series that not only are just right for third graders but that they’ll LOVE to read.

Why I Didn’t Want to Share with My Mother-in-law: The Deeper Stories Behind Our Whining

Sam Van Eman guest posts at Ann Voskamp’s blog on the challenge of generosity and the roots of our struggles.

heard my mother-in-law’s voice downstairs.
As I entered the kitchen, I saw a dozen freshly baked pumpkin chocolate chip scones cooling on the table.
The room smelled like every room should in the fall. And those scones were all ours.
But my wife’s mom had stopped by, and Julie was quick to say that she had been baking and, “Here, you should take a couple for you and Dad.”
I love my mother-in-law, but my gut tightened at the offer, so I passed through the room.

Teaching Kids to Pray Beyond Bedtime

Rachel Wojnarowski explores ways to help teach your kids to pray without ceasing.

Praying at bedtime is a wonderful way to build a prayer routine that lasts for a lifetime. The quiet and still moments just before drifting off to sleep are a wonderful time of day for a child to remember the love of the heavenly Father and their earthly parents. But teaching children to pray beyond nighttime requires a little more intention.
How can we teach our children that praying isn’t only for bedtime?

Around the Warren

Life Lessons from Unlikely Friends

Tyler Leland recounts lessons he learned with his young son this summer as they read Charlotte’s Web.

This summer, I decided it was time to try reading a chapter book aloud to my oldest child. He is four-years-old…and he’s a boy. I knew that it would be a struggle to get through a few pages each night, but I thought it would be worth the effort in the end. We picked up a classic, Charlotte’s Web, and plunged in together.
There were days we would read one page and call it quits. There were the same questions asked over and over again (ie— “Who is Fern Arable?” EVERY SINGLE NIGHT). There were moments of restlessness that boy parents completely understand. But after a few weeks, we finished the book. I can truly say that I am glad we did.

A Letter from Brian Jacques

Josh Bishop shares the letter he received in return when he wrote Brian Jacques, author of the Redwall series.

I spent my allowance on a steerage ticket to Mossflower Country when I was in elementary school.
The mass market paperback was tucked into the shelves of a booth selling books at an Arbor Day celebration in downtown Zeeland, Michigan. Beneath the title, Mossflower, in gothic script were the images of a mouse with a broken sword hanging from his neck, a badger, and a pirate ship at sea flying a massive Jolly Roger and bearing the name Bloodwake across her stern. “Long ago before Redwall Abbey was built, there was no freedom for Woodlanders… ” What boy could resist? Not me.

Something to Do with Your Kids

The folks over at What Do We Do All Day have a fun math card puzzle for your family to try. See how many ways your kids can solve the 5-pointed star puzzle.

And Something to Watch

I’ve been hanging out in Deuteronomy lately and have been reminded of the beauty of God’s law for Israel and the ways it pointed to our need for Christ. This Bible Project video explores the biblical theme of the Law and reminds us of how we need a savior.