Swiss Family Robinson

I am currently listening to the audiobook of Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss.  I am loving it.  A year or so ago we watched the old Disney movie and really enjoyed that as well.  If you've never read/seen it or if it's been a while, the gist of the story is that a family (mom, dad and four boys) is traveling to an island when their ship is caught in a storm.  The crew abandons them and they eventually end up on a deserted island.  Once on the island they devise all manor of inventions that help them live.

Two things I really love about this story are first, in the book they highlight much more that the family are Christians.  They were traveling to become missionaries when the story began.  Constantly the author refers to God's providence and the family's thanking God for his care of them.  Second, I love the masculine nature of the book.  What could be better than four boys finding an island, building a tree house to live in and taming animals.  This is every boy's dream.  The book was written in the late 19th century and so the gender roles are very traditional.  The mother is no Victorian era prude though.  She is the one that came up with the idea of building the tree house.  She carries a fire arm and knows how to use it.  She is the picture of a strong and capable woman.  If you have boys at your house (I think girls would like it too.) read them this book.  Or at least, rent the movie and watch it with them.