I reluctantly picked up the first book. Was I really going to spend my kids’ nap time reading children’s novels? However, Wing Feather was recommended to me by so many fans that I ended up joining the throng of Christian adults and children who enjoy the series.
Author Andrew Peterson captivated my imagination from the start, building a world I recognized while pushing the boundaries of the familiar. Airvia has a bookstore with an otaku owner. Igby’s three brothers enjoy exploring the jam-packed shelves. Very normal! However, just across the street is the city jail run by a lizard monster called Fang. Not so common.
The Wingfeather books were then made into an animated series. The second season premiered earlier this month, with new episodes released weekly. As a child, I remember Christian animations such as Bible Stories, Psalms, and Veggie Tales as simple recreations of Bible stories or moral lessons. These shows did a great job of teaching me what God expected. But they didn’t fascinate me with the idea of following Jesus.
animated wing featherBy contrast, he is easy-going, sincere, and resourceful without resorting to gimmicks. Develop lovable characters without creating familiar Christian caricatures.
What makes a good Christian children’s show? Here are four things. wingfeather saga I hope the same goes for the Christian programs I watch with my kids.
This show takes kids on an adventure.
One of the easiest ways to get your child bored is to talk to them. Shows that don’t offer more than monologues that tell kids what to think and do are unlikely to appeal to kids.
This principle of active participation applies throughout our discipleship efforts. When children are invited into the life of the church (prayer, reading, service), they find that Sunday worship becomes more than just attendance. When children are invited into the daily rhythm of confessing, apologizing, and asking for forgiveness (and when it is not only sought but expressed by wrong-headed adults), they become reconciled to their sins. You will start to think about things differently.
By inviting our children into the life of faith, that is, by taking them along with us rather than simply telling them what to do or think, we direct their behavior. You have a much better chance of winning the hearts of children than if you did.
season 2 of wingfeather saga does a great job (even better than season 1) of inviting kids along for the ride as the characters explore, face challenges, and learn lessons. Kids can use their imagination as the adventure unfolds. They will watch wide-eyed as the Igby children encounter a giant sea monster that seems to have been summoned from the depths by the song of the youngest. They will tremble if chased up a tree by a toothy cow that lives in the darkness of the forest. They enter a world of creative play while learning eternal truths about the world, themselves, and God.
This show clearly distinguishes between good and evil.
wingfeather saga There are good characters who live honorably and bad characters who value their own interests. Evil is expressed physically. Oppressive fangs drip poison. They delight in taking the lives and livelihoods of innocent Gripwood residents, reminding us of those who “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10).
At the same time, those who seek to live for the greater kingdom are well-tired, well-traveled, with clear eyes and weathered hands, like Igby’s grandfather, who never forgets all that Fang took from his family. have. These characters remember and learn about the freedom that is possible, and as they work in the garden every day, they inch their way to freedom.
By clarifying good and evil, young viewers can more easily conceptualize two kingdoms at war. wing feather, and to connect the lives of the characters they want to emulate with their own everyday experiences. The Igby children rebel against injustice and fight loyally to protect each other and maintain their family’s good name. This is a valuable virtue for young and old alike.
“Good” doesn’t necessarily mean “strict” or “popular.” wingfeather saga This helps children understand that some of the bravest characters aren’t the most physically capable, like little sister Lili, who gets limp and limps. Pete the Soxman was estranged from society due to his unpleasant personality. However, his valiant efforts to protect and help the Igby children reveal that he was simply misunderstood.
This show recognizes the complexity of the human heart.
We want our children to understand the world’s moral order, but we also want them to appreciate the complexity of the human heart. We all struggle with our longing for approval, comfort, and peace, even at the expense of our own dignity and the well-being of others. But all of us can also be saved, regardless of our failures.
in wing feather In Season 2, the townspeople struggle with their own selfish tendencies. They are faced with a difficult choice between doing the right thing or doing what feels good in the moment. They learn that leaders are sometimes afraid, and that showing courage in one moment does not guarantee courage in the next moment.
By resisting oversimplification, we help children understand the temptations (and sometimes failures) they themselves may face. Do they speak up when someone is being treated unfairly, even if it means they might be the target? Will they risk their own comfort to protect their loved ones? Are they willing to engage with the lowly and outcast, welcoming those others exclude? No matter how much we miss the opportunities God has given us, God’s grace is abundant.
This show will answer other questions and introduce new questions.
One of the greatest strengths of wingfeather saga It’s the ability to build important foundations about God and human nature while introducing other questions for children to explore.
Season 2 may give young viewers confidence in their ability to discern evil. But it may also make them anxious about the darkness hiding within our hearts. This show may show that living with integrity often pays off in the end. But is honesty “worth it” when the payoff seems obvious or inevitable?
One important way for children to grow in their faith is to ask some of these more complex questions. Just as we don’t want to talk to our children about who God is, we don’t want to answer all of their questions at once. Of course, as parents, caregivers, teachers, and other important adults in our lives, we want to feel confident and secure. But we also want to empower and equip them to ask questions for themselves without offering immediate solutions.
Many Christians are understandably hesitant about television as a discipleship tool, and I understand that. With two small children in my care, I intentionally limit my screen time and often choose books over TV.
But something powerful happens when adults and children sit together and enjoy a show. And that’s my encouragement to those who are thinking of lining up for Wingfeather or any other Christian show. Please have a discussion after watching. Ask your child for scenes and details that resonated with them, and share their favorite parts too. Formations can be done anywhere, even on the couch.
Amy Gannett is an author and Bible teacher who is passionate about empowering Christians to study the Bible through Bible Study Schoolhouse. She is also the founder of Tiny Theologians, a discipleship training tool for kids.
