Synopsis
What Treasures Are Hidden in the Enchanted Woods?
More than just bedtime traditions, more than simple children’s literature, the most enduring stories are echoes of the greatest of all stories, the Gospel. God of the Fairy Tale is a collection of spiritual reflections on the truths found in classic fairy tales, truths that point us to the ultimate Truth about God, redemption, and ourselves.
Delving into twenty classic folk and fairy tales, God of the Fairy Tale leads us into the mystical landscape of elves, goblins, and talking animals to reveal the jewels of truth that hide inside these most simple of stories. Through the fables of Snow White, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and many others, we discover a perspective not unlike that of the Bible–a world of people trying to be something more, questing to do good in a realm fraught with evil, where a turn of the tables leaves the strong defeated and the weak victorious.
Each tale is presented along with a meditation on the spiritual and theological themes present. God of the Fairy Tale will warm your heart with a world of characters, creatures, and circumstances that spin an entertaining yarn and affirm the most essential Christian worldviews.
Publishers Weekly
In a very engaging manner, Ware, staff writer for Focus on the Family and author of several children's books, looks at fairy tales from a Christian perspective ("with Christ-colored glasses"). He illustrates how these wonderful old stories contain rich illustrations of many major themes of Christian theology. In "Cinderella," he shows us the classic reversal of positions: "the last shall be first and the first last." From "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," we learn the power of the spoken word. Each chapter begins with a short retelling of part of the story, then moves into a discussion of the theme found therein. His interpretations are most convincing when they cover themes repeated in a multitude of tales. In his discussion of "Hansel and Gretel," for example, he notes that most fairy talestake the presence and power of evil very seriously. In an illuminating look at "The Little Match Girl," Ware paints a picture of Jesus' challenging teaching regarding poverty. Readers will probably not agree with all of his assertions-e.g., seeing Mary Poppins as an illustration of God's inscrutability. However, Christian readers who enjoy the world of fantasy and imagination will find this book both a wonderful introduction to many stories they may not have read yet and an engaging lesson in finding God in some unlikely places. (Oct.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.