The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss is a wonderful family classic! What a marvelous role model for homeschooling families!
Our children love to hear this book read aloud. And we love reading it!
The adventure story begins with a couple and their four sons being the last aboard a ship that wrecks.
The family prays, puts their hope in God and with creativity and ingenuity escapes to a deserted island where they begin a new life of adventure and hard work in isolation for ten years. During this time they maintain habitual morning Bible reading and prayer, as well as family worship services on Sunday. (Hmmm—I don’t remember those scenes from the Disney movie version of the book—go figure!)
Would you like to learn more about this amazing family and exciting adventure novel?
They are able to rescue many valuable things from the ship. Then the family explores and “subdues” their island home: acquiring pets, cultivating the land, hunting, building summer and winter homes, inventing machines, creating all types of things, making improvements, building bridges, facing disappointments, and overcoming obstacles. As they go about their daily lives, every opportunity is taken to teach their sons about nature, animals, morals, and other educational aspects of life. The parents share a deep and committed love with one another. The wife is treated with honor and respect by her husband and sons.
Early on in their adventure the wise father tells one of his sons, “’I want to see my sons strong, both morally and physically,” said I. ‘That means, little Franz,’ as the large blue eyes looked up inquiringly at me, ;brave to do what is good and right, and to hate evil, and strong to work, hunt, and provide for themselves and others and to fight if necessary.’” (pg. 131 The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss)
The older boys become librarians and arrange a fine collection of books, maps, charts, globes, and astronomical instruments. The variety of books is wide: travel, natural history, theology, history, science, and fiction in several languages. Not only is the putting together of the library mentioned, but it is referred to later in the book when they use it to learn more about the things they discover on the island.
Little by little, they begin to acquire treasures on their adventures. The father suggests that they arrange them in an area of the library as the beginning of their “Museum of Natural History.” He explains that the purpose is for entertainment and education.
Throughout the book, the parents instill within their children courage, curiosity, diligence, boldness, honor, duty, kindness, responsibility, honesty, selflessness, and fear of the Lord. The father sets the pace in being curious and interested in the life on the island around them. He also supplies a wealth of interesting information.
Near the end of the book, Johann Wyss reveals his heart, “And my great wish is that young people who read this record of our lives and adventures should learn from it how admirably suited is the peaceful, industrious and pious life of a cheerful, united family to the formation of strong, pure, and manly character. None takes a better place in the great national family, none is happier or more beloved than he that goes forth from such a home to fulfill new duties, and to gather fresh interests around him.” (pg. 331 The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss)
How timely is that message today!
Happy Reading!
Meredith Curtis
