Father Christmas (Sean-Thomas Leak-far left) gives Peter (Jasper Howell - center) a shield that will prove very useful in the upcoming battle as, from left, Fle (Isabelle King), Mr. Beaver (Will Oliver), Mrs. Beaver (Courtney McCullar) and Lucy (Vero...

FORT BENNING, Ga., (July 7, 2016) -- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is near the top of many lists of the most popular English books. It's on Time magazine's well-respected list of the All-Time Best 100 English Language Novels and the Top 10 Bestselling Books of all time.

Most of the rest of the books on these lists are adult books. Although The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a child's book, it's on all these Top 10 lists because a lot of adults have read - and reread - it.

The first production of the Springer's 2016-17 season is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, part of the Springer Children's Theatre Series. It runs July 8-24 in the McClure Theatre, the Springer's second theater right behind the State Theatre of Georgia with its entrance on 1st Avenue.

This production is a wonderful way to share the unforgettable land of Narnia with your whole family.

The adventures of the four children and the gentle but powerful lion Aslan are fun for every age. Seeing an exciting and well-loved story told live in a theatre is also a great way to inspire young readers.

Public performances of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are at 7 p.m. July 8 and July 9 and July 15-16 and 22-23 and at 2 p.m. Sunday and July 17 and 24.

For tickets or more information, visit springeroperahouse.org or call 706-327-3688.

Set during World War II, four children wander through a wardrobe and into magical world where they become royalty and after harrowing battle between good and evil rule the land of Narnia until they're adults. But when they travel back to the real world only seconds have passed.

C.S. Lewis was a British novelist and poet who taught at Oxford and Cambridge universities. He was friends with fellow Oxford faculty member J.R.R. Tolkien and they read and critiqued each other's work.

Lewis and his family took children into their home, as many living outside of London did, to help them escape the Blitz during World War II. Undoubtedly, this served as an inspiration for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.