Book Club

“Reason is the natural organ of truth,
but imagination is the organ of meaning.”
— C.S. Lewis

Prepare to step into a land of talking animals, brave heroes, and ancient magic. Journey with us through the wardrobe as we explore C.S. Lewis’ classic series, The Chronicles of Narnia.

We plan to meet the first Monday of each month to discuss this 7-book series. Check this page for event updates. RSVP with Leah to receive a reminder text the morning of our book club meeting.

~ Upcoming meeting details ~

Our journey continues with book 2:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
by C.S. Lewis

Read the book, then join us at the park.
Where: Pease Park

When: Monday, March 2
from 1 o’clock – 2 pm
Hosted by: Kim and Leah

What to expect at our book club meeting:
Arrival & Icebreaker (10 mins): We’ll open by playing a game of Narnia Freeze Tag. In this variation of traditional freeze tag, players act out the conflict between the White Witch and Aslan. Goal: The Witch wins if she freezes everyone; the children win if they can stay unfrozen until a time limit is reached. The Witch: One player is the White Witch (carrying a “wand” pool noodle). When she tags someone, they are “turned to stone” and must freeze in place. Aslan: Players will be selected to play the part of Aslan. They can “unfreeze” the stone statues by tagging them, representing Aslan’s breath and restoring life.

Snacks & Social (10 mins): Have a taste of the White Witch’s Turkish Delight, and tea with Mr. Tumnus including boiled eggs, buttery toast, honey, and sardines. If you’re inspired to bring a snack from the wardrobe, please include a label with all ingredients for the safety of those with allergies.

Discussion (20 mins): It’s a Show-and-Tell! Bring something to share that will transport us to Narnia. Ideas include: a drawing of your favorite scene, something you’ve built, something delicious to eat, or read your favorite passage.


Themed Activity (20 mins): We’ll capture the ‘hope of spring’ by arranging vibrant seasonal flowers within a bed of ‘snow frost.’ Using an ice shaver to create our own “snow”, we’ll craft beautiful displays with cut-flowers that celebrate the coming season. All flowers and pots are generously provided by Keep Austin Fed.

Many thanks to Keep Austin Fed, a local nonprofit dedicated to reducing hunger and food waste by connecting surplus food with neighbors in need.

~ Details of our past book club meeting ~

Our journey begins with book 1
The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
Monday, February 2 at Pease Park from 1 – 2PM
Weather: Mostly Cloudy – Temperature 66° – Wind SSW 15 mph – Rain 0%
The Magician’s Nephew audiobook with illustrations can be found here.

Arrival & Icebreaker (10 mins): We opened by playing a game of “Ring the Bell in the Hall of Images” (same as the game Red Light – Green Light).

Snacks & Social (10 mins): Coconut date rolls were served to remind us of the toffee-tree that grew from Digory’s leftover bag of toffee. “The fruit was delicious; not exactly like toffee – softer for one thing, and juicy – but like fruit which reminded one of toffee.”

We also shared delicious apple oat scones homemade by Kim! They reminded us of the magic apple tree, the Tree of Youth, which bears apples that grant immortality and other powers. However, those who eat the apples illegally, like the character Jadis, suffer dire consequences, while the rightful use of the fruit leads to positive outcomes, such as the creation of the Tree of Protection in Narnia. The oats in these delicious scones are like what “Strawberry” the horse remembered eating in our world, and scones themselves are a beloved traditional British pastry. Here’s the recipe.

Apple Oat Scones

• 2 cups all purpose flour, plus 1/2-1 cup more for rolling
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold salted butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, plus more for sprinkling, if desired
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, (optional, but remove 1/4 cup milk if leaving out)
• 1 1/2 cups (2 medium) apples, peeled and diced small
• 3/4 cup whole milk, buttermilk, or heavy cream, (not skim milk)
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon

• Make sure all ingredients are measured before you take the butter out of the fridge to begin the first step. You need the butter to be as cold as possible. Combine flour and baking powder and sugar. Mix the tsp cinnamon in a bowl with the apples. Preheat your oven to 400° F.
• Cut the stick of butter in half lengthwise, then cut across 16 times (at least). Drop the sliced butter into the bowl of flour and cut together using a pastry cutter or fork, or your hands, if you don’t mind getting messy. (A food processor pulsed 5-6 times would also work, but make sure each pulse is short). Cut until the butter is Then make a well in the center of the bowl and add the milk and vanilla extract and the oats. Stir together with a spoon (not a mixer) until all of it is mixed together, about two minutes. Add the egg next, combine completely, and then add the apples. Stir to combine. Then drop onto a floured counter (using at minimum half a cup of flour; I used a whole cup). Roll dough out into two large balls. Flatten each one, and then using a butter knife, cut in half, then into quarters, then into eighths. If any of them are making an oddly shaped triangle, you can remold them using the crook of your hand between the thumb and pointer finger, or just roll them into a ball.
• Place on a parchment-lined or butter-greased baking sheet, sprinkle with extra brown sugar if desired, and bake for fifteen minutes. Makes about 16 small scones.

Discussion (20 mins): We had a Show-and-Tell. There were magic green and yellow rings, drawings of Aslan, the children and Uncle Andrew, a 3D-printed “Fledge” sculpture, and more. We also read our favorite passages from the book.


Themed Activity (20 mins): We made earth dumplings (or seed balls), small handmade balls of clay, soil/compost, and native wildflowers seeds, designed to be tossed into neglected or barren areas to help grow plants.

To Narnia and the North!