The Topsy-Turvy Kingdom

One of my favorite books for children - this book is an outstanding story for children about what happens when absolute truth is replaced by relativism...every person becomes their own standard of right and wrong and the entire kingdom gets turned upside down! When the good king goes off to war and leaves his son in charge, the people revolt against law and order throwing off all external restraint and demonstrating that they have no internal restraint or self-control. As chaos ensnares the kingdom, order is only established with the return of the king who reminds his subjects of the laws of the land and how these rules are in place for the good of all. I was reminded not only of the Old Testament kings who turned away from the Lord and the people did as they pleased, but also of our great nation today and how we continue to throw off the constraints of morality resulting in a lawless and chaotic society. Until our nation repents and returns to the authority of God's Word, we will live in this topsy-turvy kingdom as well! Great book for younger elementary-aged students - outstanding story and incredible illustrations.

I found this book to be a terrific conversation starter with my five year old son. The story is simple... A king, whom everyone loves, goes on sabaticle and leaves his son in charge. The people, no longer able to see the king, start to doubt if there really ever was a king. Then they start to question what is "good" and what is "bad." Much silliness follows, but a clear parallel to sin is drawn. When the son tells the people they are behaving badly, they become a mob and attack him. Dad (the king) comes home just in time to save his son, and the people realized that they had been wrong.A sweet story for kids, Topsy Turvy Kingdom is a great introduction to religious allegory and also works well if you're looking for a resource that will help teach your kids that everyone comes under authority. I hope your family enjoys its thought provoking discussions as much as ours did! God speed!