The Christopher Chronicles: A Book Review
From the archive. This post was first published on the original Green Eggs and Moms blog and is kept here as it was.
I hear you.
Parenting can be stressful…really stressful.
But it’s not all despair and frustration. There are moments that make you want to leap into the air with a great big smile pasted on your face.
So, yeah, parenting is filled with tons of wondrous times as well. Here to drive that point home is a book called The Christopher Chronicles (2nd edition).
Now, before you think this is another Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings type, it’s not. And you know it’s not because if it were, I wouldn’t have written about it on this blog.
Are you still with me? Good. Here at Green Eggs & Moms, we love all things that keep moms sane. What’s that? You want to know whether this book does just that?
The Book
Don’t let the title fool you. The Christopher Chronicles, as mentioned earlier, isn’t a non-fiction about a hero or heroine’s battle against evil. Instead, it’s a short collection of unintentionally comical comments and questions from the then 5-year old Christopher, the author’s son. This makes the book a very light read.
The Review
Every parent knows that children have their moments. Moments wherein their amusing, hilarious–and oft clever–remarks are evidence of their innocence. An innocence that tries to make sense of the world.
Having said that, this collection from Kenya Johnson is one of the most entertaining reads I’ve had in a while. How can it not be when you know very well that kids say the darndest things! And let me tell you, Christopher is definitely no exception as he is a fairly bright young man.
The cartoonish graphics, which I assume are caricatures of Christopher, contribute and complement the playful wit of the book, the way a tart apple and salty cheese pairing delight the taste buds. More importantly, reading this humbled me as a parent because it reminded me of how a children confidently view the world: with fascination and simplicity.
So, now, we come to the conclusion of this review in which this query shall be answered: Should you buy the book?
Oh, most definitely. What better way to relax from parenting’s challenges but by getting a dose of laughter from reading a passage (or two) from this book. And yes, this will keep you sane!
My only frustration is that the (physical) book isn’t available to be shipped here in the Philippines, nor is it offered in electronic format. I guess those of us outside the U.S. will just have to wait.
If you’re curious about how I read it, the wonderful author, Kenya Johnson, allowed me to temporarily peruse an online version.
You may get a copy of the physical book on Amazon here. If you want to reach the author for whatever reason, here is her website.