Four Elements of a Powerful Story
by Jamie C. Martin
June 21, 2016
I pick up our latest title and sit down in my favorite gray chair at the dining table. Noisy spirits, sibling squabbles, and daily distractions disappear as fiction transports us to another place and time. Whether we’re reading about the enchanted wardrobe of Narnia or the blizzard-threatened prairies of Minnesota, the power of story plants us directly in the middle of the action. As the characters’ struggles become our own, we root for good to win, and we grasp more deeply the story we are writing with our own lives.
But where do we start? Not all stories are created equal. This fact, combined with the sheer quantity of titles out there, can overwhelm parents searching for greatness to line their shelves. I’ve read hundreds of books to my children throughout their young lives and have spent hours looking for books for our own personal library. During that time one question has guided my efforts: How can I choose the best for my family? Once I knew what to look for, it became easier to put every book through the same filter. Here are the components I’ve found that make up an inspiring tale:
A Powerful Story Reflects Real-Life Struggles of Right and Wrong
“I’ve noticed something,” Trishna mentioned one day as we drove around town on a mommy-daughter date. “Most stories have a good character and a bad one or something good that happens and something bad that comes after.”
“That’s so true,” I answered, thrilled that she’d made this connection and was giving it serious thought. “It’s because really, in life, there’s only one story: the story of right and wrong, of good versus evil, of challenge and overcoming it.”
We chatted about how boring it would be if a book’s protagonist never had any difficulties. It wouldn’t reflect real life. We learn from struggles and imperfections. That’s why we’re not looking for characters without any flaws. We know from history and family life that everyone has weaknesses, and the books we read should reflect this fact. We can learn from the choices, right or wrong, that characters make along the way.
Keep in mind, though, that for young children the best books have a clear distinction between good and bad. As readers get older—I’d say around age eight—they can handle more nuance and subtlety, including the idea that people aren’t all good or all bad but usually a mix of both. Until then, stick with stories in which the contrast is evident.
A Powerful Story Helps Us Develop Compassion
I climbed the stairs, hoping to help a troubled boy find calm again. With a quick inner prayer for patience, I rubbed my son’s back while discussing the argument that had just occurred with his brother, what had happened and why it was wrong to treat people that way, and what might be better next time.
As I stood up to leave the room, he said, “It’s like the golden rule.” We had just read a book about it that morning (The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper). Once again I found myself thankful for a story’s influence, growing our compassion and adding meaning to our everyday moments.
The books on the lists that follow will help your family grasp on a new level that what we have in common with our worldwide neighbors far outweighs what separates us. As children make that connection, it naturally develops compassion for their brothers and sisters around the globe and around the corner—because we all have similar needs, hopes, and desires. Great stories build an empathic foundation that leads to a life of service and concern for others.
A Powerful Story Inspires and Grows Our Character
“And thank you, God, that my boys are like Captain von Trapp, having the courage to stand up for what’s right no matter what others do.”
I uttered the words in the boys’ bedroom at night after we’d finished watching The Sound of Music. Jonathan and Elijah flashed sleepy smiles my way as I finished the prayer. They’d recently begun studying World War II, so the deeper nuances of the film (beyond the incredible songs) touched and inspired them. They went to bed imagining their own inner hero.
We all have one, you know. And a powerful story (on the page or screen) quickens that hero’s heartbeat within us. Well-chosen words touch and transform our souls—making us want to be better than we are right now. Nagging lectures from Mom and Dad simply can’t compare with the lessons of a story whose time has come.
Newbery medal–winning author Katherine Paterson said that “the books we read in childhood are a rehearsal for experiences later in life.” I love this analogy. Creating a family culture of books means our kids have the chance to live a thousand lives before leaving our home. Isn’t that incredible? They can travel the world (and beyond), all the while safe within our four walls. They can feel the pain of a character’s flaws and learn from their mistakes, without having to experience the actual consequences. Far from a way to escape reality, reading actually prepares our children for real life in a unique way.
A Powerful Story Deepens Our Understanding of Language
Reading exposes children to a depth of language and vocabulary that gives them a huge academic advantage. Research cited in The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease states that the more printed materials in a child’s home, the higher that child’s skills in reading, writing, and even math. Finding pleasure in words and their intricacies also prepares our kids to become more successful writers and public speakers. But beyond purely academic benefits, a fuller command of language adds to our enjoyment of life.
As you search for the best stories to share with those you love, a quick flip-through of a book’s pages will show you what type of language the author uses. Look for style and vocabulary that is a little beyond what kids can read for themselves when you’re choosing a read-aloud, and for language they can more or less master alone when you select titles for individual reading. And while you’re on the lookout, make sure you know how to spot twaddle.
Dictionary.com defines twaddle as “a term used to describe trivial or foolish speech or writing; nonsense.” Charlotte Mason, a nineteenth-century British teacher who revolutionized educational philosophy in her time, coined the word. She believed in putting the best stories in children’s hands—the most inspiring words by the most gifted authors. These books formed the foundation of her curriculum—the building blocks of greatness, so to speak. She wrote: “Even for their earliest reading lessons, it is unnecessary to put twaddle into the hands of children. That children like feeble and tedious ... story books, does not at all prove that these are wholesome food; they like lollipops but cannot live upon them.”
Think of twaddle as dumbed-down literature for children. Examples include most books based on kids’ television shows, abridged versions of classics that simplify the language and strip the meaning, and titles that don’t leave scope for a child’s blossoming imagination. If the majority of a child’s literacy journey overflows with depth and richness, their educational life will do the same. The opposite is sadly true as well.
So should we banish all signs of twaddle from our homes forevermore? In a pure twaddle-free world, perhaps kids would never read a Dora the Explorer paperback, touch an abridged version of Pollyanna, or look at a kids’ Bible with cartoon illustrations. But my children have done all three! And it’s fine, honestly. Keep your focus on what you can do as you choose books, but don’t beat yourself up for what you can’t control. You’ve probably discovered this already, but perfectionism and parenting don’t mix. Set yourself free from impossible standards and read that Dora book with all your heart: “Swiper, no swiping!” Say it proud, mamas and papas.
Just remember the 80/20 principle. In the same way you try to feed your children healthy food the majority of the time, try to make their diet of reading material nourishing the majority of the time. Then don’t sweat the rest. When we go to the library, my children pick out the books they want and enjoy. Because we’ve raised them mostly on the best, their choices are usually, but not always, high quality. I browse the shelves myself and add plenty of soul-building titles to our rather large stack. If the kids add a few “dessert” titles to the mix, so be it! Maybe we’ll have moments when we need something light, sweet, and fluffy anyway.
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Taken from Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book At A Time by Jamie C. Martin. Learn more at Jamie's website SimpleHomeSchool.net.
"An invaluable resource for anyone and everyone who has children in their lives!" — LeVar Burton, Reading Rainbow
