The Chronicles of Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia is another book, that like Harry Potter, has probably been watched more than read. There are 7 books in the series and out of the 7 three have been made into recent movies.
The series is about a world called Narnia, and the adventures that children from our time have while magically transported to this land. Central to this world is a lion called Aslan. Aslan is the god of that world. He is a god who walks among his people, helping them in times of crisis from beginning to end.
The first book written in the series was "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe".  There are four children, two boys and two girls, who are staying in a house in the country where they are sent to be kept safe during the bombing of London by the Nazis. Bored one rainy day, the four children begin a game of hide and seek. The youngest, Lucy, hides in an old wardrobe, where she finds to her shock that it leads to another world.
All together there were 7 books written about the Narnia series. They were first published in the years between 1949 to 1954. 
The books were written by C. S. Lewis. Lewis was an atheist until the age of 33. His change came about gradually and was influenced strongly by his friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien, the writer of the Hobbit series. Once he converted, he began to write strongly christian books. When he died, he left the rights to all his writings to his stepson, who has worked very hard to keep any adaptions done by Lewis true to the books. It was the stepson who released the movie rights, and who oversaw the adaption to maintain Lewis' integrity.
I loved these books as a child. I remember first coming across them in my freshman year of high school. My English teacher, Sister Nancy Bourk, loved the writings of both Tolkien and Lewis.  So far as Lewis goes, I agree, but The Hobbit series?  Well if I ever decide to do a series on books I despised, the Hobbit will be right up there. <My apologies to all the Hobbit fans, especially to my son Tim!>
Although I read the books at age 14, they are easily read from age 8 up. Since the books are thinner than the average children's chapter book, a youngster who isn't used to reading might think it is a quick read. But there is a lot of information packed in those pages. It might take them a bit longer to read the books then they think, but the great thing is, they won't mind.
Pick up one of the Chronicles today, and be prepared to be transported to a place where elves, fauns and talking animals take you on some amazing adventures!