Miraculous Readings: Using Fantasy Novels about Reading to Reflect on Reading the Bible

摘要

This article reflects on the vivid images of reading presented in several popular fantasy novels, including The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Great Good Thing, and The Neverending Story. It suggests that these images can be used to help children, youth, and adults reflect on the nature of reading and the potential power of reading sacred texts. The article draws connections to the work of a wide range of literary scholars, biblical scholars, and religious educators including Wolfgang Iser, Phyllis Trible, and Anne Streaty Wimberly.