C.S. Lewis worked hard to write back to his fans. I have a collection of his letters to children–and I love them. He’s able to say so much in so few lines–warmly and insightfully.

He takes children seriously–something he was very committed to doing because he hated it when grownups would patronize him when he was little. Here’s an example of how much he cared:

Dear Joan,

Thanks for letter and pictures. I say, you are lucky to have armour: I would have loved it when I was a boy but it never came my way. The kind you have would be even better for Vikings etc. than for Arthurian knights. As for doing more Narnian books than 7, isn’t it better to stop when people are still asking for more than to go on till they are tired?

Love from, yours

C.S. Lewis.

Letters to Children, 43.

In this little gem, Lewis genuinely thanks a child for sending him a drawing of their armor–and states that he wished he had some when he was little. Next, he follows this with an insight about the kind of armor pictured–showing that he’s into this all the way down to the style of the details–which must have been very validating for little Joan to read. Then Lewis shifts to answer the question: Why doesn’t he write more Narnian books? (Perhaps a question you yourself have wondered about.) Lewis answers the question gently and insightfully by asking back: “isn’t it better to stop when people are still asking for more than to go on till they are tired?” To which the mature response is Yes. Yes of course–better to stop.

We’d all love more Narnia, but the fact that Lewis knew when to stop has contributed to his books’ staying power. Not only did he give this child a respectful answer to the question–he gave an insightful lesson about life.