Upon finishing The Magician's Nephew, my 6-year-old daughter asked if Mr. Lewis was still alive. When I told her no, she replied with great disappointment, "I'm sad to hear that because I hoped that I could shake the hand of the man who wrote this book."

Hi! My name is Jenny and I'm 11 years old. I'm a real fan of the Narnia books and I just wish there were more! You write so well that I feel like Aslan is a friend of mine. I liked the books so much that I read the entire series in about two and a half weeks. I especially like how happy the stories end and how much I like the people and places I read about. Thanks for reading my letter!

When I was 12, my father read the Narnia series to us, one chapter a night. That is among my most treasured memories. I later read the Chronicles to my husband and then to my kids. The most interesting thing is that my siblings and I wrote to C. S. Lewis in the early sixties to tell him our favorite parts and he wrote back! My mom still has the original letter.

While preparing to direct a play of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I was dealing with my mother's failing health. The day after her funeral, I was browsing a bookstore for spiritual guidance. I noticed a small book lying improperly across a shelf and picked it up to find it was Lewis's writings on grief. It was a powerful coincidence that helped me through a dark time.

After a rough passage up the Australian coast, my crew and I anchored in a quiet inlet. Someone said "Skipper, read us a story," so I picked up The Magician's Nephew. When I finished the book hours later, the silence of the night fell over the boat. I was glad Jack only wrote seven Narnia books; if he had kept the series going, I might still be out there with my crew insisting on a new book each night.

As a child, I used to explore the deep closets of an old house in Maine, wishing they would lead to Narnia. All my life I have felt a response to beauty that I never understood until I read Lewis. He described how God puts a longing in us that can only be fulfilled in Him. Now when I feel that haunting memory of a beautiful place I can't quite recall, I know I am longing for Heaven.

When I was seven, I spent a week reading the Chronicles at my grandmother's house. After finishing The Silver Chair, I hoped Aslan would call me too. Every time I opened my closet, I prayed for golden sunlight. When I read The Last Battle, I cried thinking I could never go to Narnia. As an adult, I understand the deeper meaning and realize that one day I will indeed go there.

When I was little, I was so enamored with Narnia that I decided to visit. I stepped into my mother's deep rosewood wardrobe, closed my eyes, and wished harder than I ever had. Just as my hands touched nothing and I thought it was happening, my older brother shoved me into the back and locked the door. He shattered the moment, but he couldn't stop my love for the books. I still check the backs of closets today.

I was 26 when I discovered Mere Christianity. It made me think and ultimately made me a Christian. Lewis had a way of simplifying the complicated. I listen to his recordings regularly, which helps the man come alive for me. I love him for what he has given me and look forward to meeting him one day.

I teach fourth grade and read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to my students every year. To make it special, I have my father visit as "The Professor" and we bring in props like a tea kettle and "Turkish Delight." It is priceless to see their eyes light up and their imaginations whirring. It changes the atmosphere of my classroom every single time.

Growing up without a television, my imagination was fueled by books. I found Narnia as a ten-year-old boy and it filled my world with wonder. Even as an adult, something stirs in me when I think of those stories. Lewis continues to write through those he inspired. In our heart of hearts, we all strive to find that wardrobe and feel the security of Aslan's mane.