Narnia with Family and in Class: A Guide for Parents and Teachers

At what age should you read Narnia? Which book to start with? What scenes might impress a young child? What questions can encourage reflection? This guide accompanies parents, teachers, and group leaders, book by book, with themes, reading questions, points of attention, and activities.

The Tale of the Lion

Une institutrice lit Narnia à sa classe, et un peu de neige tombe du livre

Un parent et un enfant lisent au lit, l'ombre d'un lion sur le mur — Read together

Read aloud from ages 6-7, solo reading recommended around 8-10 years old; The Last Battle is better suited for ages 10-11.
The most intense scenes: Aslan’s death, the end of The Last Battle, certain passages in The Silver Chair.
Each book lends itself to discussion: betrayal, slavery, bullying, manipulation, death.

Why read Narnia to children?

The Chronicles were written for children, but not to spare them. Lewis believed that a good children’s book should be enjoyable to reread at fifty. His novels are short, fast-paced, funny, with a narrator who speaks directly to the reader. Yet they deal with serious matters: betrayal, death, courage, forgiveness, loyalty when all seems lost. This blend makes them ideal books to share.

At what age?

6-7 years: Prince Caspian is a good start for read-aloud, provided you skip the scene at the Stone Table.
8-10 years: the ideal age to read most volumes alone. The chapters are short, and the Gallimard translation keeps the language simple.
10-11 years and up: The Last Battle, the darkest, and The Horse and His Boy, the longest, benefit from being read a little later.
Teenagers and adults: the books can be reread with a different perspective, especially regarding their religious dimension and the debates they spark.

For the films, let’s remember that when The Chronicles of Narnia was released in December 2005, the commission in charge of setting the admission age in French-speaking Switzerland had set it at 10 years old, as reported by the old website.

In what order?

For a first encounter, many parents and teachers prefer to start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the most famous and immediate book, even though current editions place The Magician’s Nephew first. Our page on the reading order compares the two options.

Reading with believing or non-believing children

Narnia is deeply marked by Lewis’s Christian faith. In a Christian family or school, the books naturally open conversations about the Bible. In a secular class or a non-believing family, they read very well as adventure stories and tales of values, with a few words of explanation about the references. In both cases, it’s best not to turn every scene into a lesson: Lewis himself wanted children to love the story first.

Sensitive points

Some passages are best read with an adult present: Aslan’s death, Digory Kirke’s mother’s illness in The Magician’s Nephew, slavery in The Horse and His Boy, school bullying at the beginning of The Silver Chair, the end of the world and the death of the heroes in The Last Battle. With older children, you can also address the criticisms of the books: the portrayal of Calormen, the role of girls in battles, Susan’s fate. Our article on criticism and controversy provides the elements for debate.

Book by book

The detailed sheets (recommended age, themes, reading questions, points for discussion, activities) are included in the page data, with a link to the summary of each book.

Ideas for the classroom

Keep a travel journal of Narnia: maps, portraits, favorite quotes.
Compare a book and its film: which scenes were added, cut, changed, and why?
Read aloud a dialogue scene, assigning roles.
Explore mythology: fauns, centaurs, dryads, Bacchus, where do they come from?
Write a sequel: what happens to Susan? What does Reepicheep do in Aslan’s country?
Organize a debate on a moral issue from the book being studied.

The questions proposed do not have a single correct answer. They are meant to get children talking, to justify their opinions with the text, and to discover that the best books are open to discussion.

ages —
- 6-7 years — read aloud *The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe*
- 8-10 years — read alone most volumes
- 10-11 years and older — *The Last Battle* and *The Horse and His Boy*
- adolescents, adults — critical rereading, religious dimension, controversies
par livre —
- Le Neveu du magicien — resume
  Le Neveu du magicien
  — 8 years with guidance, 9-10 alone — themes
  - curiosity and its dangers
  - temptation and keeping promises
  - a parent’s illness
  - creation
  — questions_de_lecture
  - Why does Digory strike Charn’s bell despite Polly?
  - What makes Uncle Andrew so cowardly and selfish?
  - Why does Digory refuse to steal the apple for his mother when Jadis urges him to?
  - How does Aslan create Narnia? What role does the song play?
  - Why can’t the talking animals understand Uncle Andrew?
  — points_a_discuter
  - Digory’s mother is dying: this may resonate with a child facing a similar situation.
  - Uncle Andrew experiments on guinea pigs, which may shock some children.
  - Charn, a world destroyed by a single word, is a powerful image of destruction.
  — activites
  - Invent and draw your own “world between worlds,” complete with its pool and rules.
  - Listen to a piece of music and draw what it “creates,” like Aslan’s song.
  - Write the scene from Jadis’s point of view.
- Le Lion, la Sorcière blanche et l'Armoire magique — resume
  Le Lion, la Sorcière blanche et l'Armoire magique
  — dès 6-7 years aloud, 8 years alone — themes
  - betrayal and forgiveness
  - courage
  - war and the children’s exile
  - sacrifice
  — questions_de_lecture
  - Why does Edmund betray his siblings? Is Turkish Delight enough to explain it?
  - Why don’t Peter and Susan believe Lucy at first? What does the professor say?
  - What does “always winter and never Christmas” mean?
  - Why does Aslan accept to die in Edmund’s place?
  - How does Edmund change after his return?
  — points_a_discuter
  - Aslan’s death on the Stone Table is the most emotionally intense scene for young children: it’s best to read it with them and remind them that it ends happily.
  - The historical context of World War II (evacuated children) is worth explaining.
  - The Father Christmas says battles are ugly when women fight: a good opportunity to discuss this.
  — activites
  - Map the children’s journey from the wardrobe to Cair Paravel.
  - Make Turkish Delight using our recipe and discuss temptation.
  - Write Edmund’s trial: accusation, defense, verdict.
- Le Cheval et son écuyer — resume
  Le Cheval et son écuyer
  — 9 years — themes
  - freedom and slavery
  - identity and origins
  - pride and humility
  - friendship between different people
  — questions_de_lecture
  - Why do Shasta and Bree decide to flee north?
  - How are Aravis and Bree proud? How do they change?
  - Who is the voice walking beside Shasta at night?
  - Why does Aslan scratch Aravis?
  - How does Shasta discover who he is?
  — points_a_discuter
  - The depiction of Calormen borrows from orientalist clichés; you can discuss this with older children (see our article on controversies).
  - Aravis flees a forced marriage to an old man.
  - Shasta is sold into slavery by the man who raised him.
  — activites
  - Map Shasta’s flight from Arsheesh’s cottage to Anvard.
  - Write a scene from Bree or Hwin’s point of view.
  - Debate: Is Bree right to be ashamed after fleeing the lion?
- Prince Caspian — resume
  Prince Caspian
  — 8-9 years — themes
  - believing without seeing
  - returning to a changed place
  - oppression and resistance
  - loyalty
  — questions_de_lecture
  - Why don’t the others believe Lucy when she sees Aslan?
  - What has become of Cair Paravel and Narnia since the Pevensies left?
  - Why are the Telmarines afraid of the woods and the sea?
  - What does Nikabrik propose, and why is it a temptation?
  - Why does Aslan seem bigger to Lucy?
  — points_a_discuter
  - War plays a big part, with Miraz’s death.
  - There is a long story told by Mr Tumnus, which may confuse younger readers: it’s worth pointing it out.
  - The Bacchus scenes may be strange for children: this is a good opportunity to discuss Greek mythology.
  — activites
  - Create a timeline of what happened in Narnia between *The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe* and *Prince Caspian*.
  - Imagine a ruin of your own neighborhood a thousand years from now.
  - Hold a debate between Old Narnians and Telmarines.
- L'Odyssée du Passeur d'Aurore — resume
  L'Odyssée du Passeur d'Aurore
  — 8-9 years — themes
  - adventure and exploration
  - inner change
  - temptation of beauty, wealth, power
  - desire for elsewhere
  — questions_de_lecture
  - How does Eustace become a dragon, and how does he stop being one?
  - What temptation does Lucy encounter in the magician’s book?
  - Why does Reepicheep want to go to the world’s end?
  - What does the Dark Island represent, where dreams become reality?
  - Why does Aslan say he is known in our world by another name?
  — points_a_discuter
  - The episodic narrative lends itself well to reading in installments.
  - Eustace’s journal is very funny: it’s a good way to work on point of view.
  - The Dark Island may frighten younger children.
  — activites
  - Keep a ship’s log for *The Voyage of the Dawn Treader*, one island per day.
  - Draw a map of the islands visited.
  - Write a page of Eustace’s journal after his transformation.
- Le Fauteuil d'argent — resume
  Le Fauteuil d'argent
  — 9-10 years — themes
  - school bullying
  - obedience and remembering instructions
  - doubt and faith
  - ordinary courage
  — questions_de_lecture
  - What happens at the Experimental Digory’s school at the beginning of the book?
  - Why does Jill forget Aslan’s signs?
  - Why is Puddlegum so pessimistic, and yet so brave?
  - How does the Lady of the Green try to convince the heroes that Narnia doesn’t exist?
  - What does Puddlegum, the burned foot, say to the Lady of the Green?
  — points_a_discuter
  - School bullying opens the book: a good starting point for discussion.
  - The giants of Harfang want to eat the heroes, and a scene shows a talking deer served at a meal.
  - The Underworld is oppressive for sensitive children.
  — activites
  - Memorise the four signs, then create a scavenger hunt.
  - Rewrite Puddlegum’s speech to the Lady of the Green in your own words.
  - Debate: Can you prove the sun exists to someone who has never seen it?
- La Dernière Bataille — resume
  La Dernière Bataille
  — 10-11 years, ideally last — themes
  - manipulation and lies
  - loyalty in defeat
  - death and hope
  - the end of a world
  — questions_de_lecture
  - How does Shift trick the Narnians with a mere lion skin?
  - Why do the dwarfs refuse to believe in anything?
  - Why is Emeth welcomed by Aslan?
  - Why isn’t Susan there?
  - What does “Further up and further in!” mean?
  — points_a_discuter
  - This is the darkest book: war, the death of the heroes (a train accident), the end of Narnia.
  - Susan’s fate and the image of Calormenes are discussed (see our article on controversies).
  - The ending is happy for believers and for readers who see it as a metaphor: it deserves to be read slowly and discussed.
  — activites
  - Analyse how Shift manipulates others, and look for examples of fake news.
  - Write a letter from Susan years later.
  - Draw the true Narnia, “more real” than the old one.

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