I also recommend Michael Ward’s Planet Narnia (with a caveat: it discusses literature and symbolism and Lewis’s writing methods fairly heavily, and could steal away a bit of the “magic” from the series for those who aren’t interested in these topics).

Ward also prefers “Wardrobe” being read first, as he argues that it conveys a sense of Christ as King, whereas “Nephew” conveys a sense of Christ as Lifegiver. Both true (Rev 17:14, Col 1:16), but one perhaps more relevant to a reader.

Having recently read them to my children, Magician’s Nephew even references the “earlier” books - and the references don’t make sense unless the book was intended by Lewis to be read later.

For a “second time through” reading, though, I’d read the series in chronological order (including the interrupted Wardrobe per Matt above).

I always think you should read them in published order, although I don’t mind moving Horse and His Boy after Wardrobe if you want. But Wardrobe belongs first, in my opinion.

I also am a fan of reading them in the order they were released. But I have a question that is slightly off topic. I’m glad you are reading it to your sons. Do you plan on reading them all the books? And if so, how do you plan on explaining the inclusivism in The Last Battle? I know it confused me in 7th grade, well before I knew big fancy words like inclusivism. I was blessed with good Christian parents who took me to church and made sure I knew Jesus is the only way. It did wind up breaking some of the “magic” of the books for me then and now.

Much of the magic in watching or reading a prequel comes from feeling you’re getting the “inside joke” because you already know the ending. I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say that our lives are like that: When I reflect today on certain moments in my past (”the prequel”) in light of my present, I see how God was working even then, and I am on the inside of a joke that is the greatest joke of all because it is true and beautiful and good, a joke wherein the punchline is the very providence of God.

I always read the series in the order they were released.

Having enjoyed Narnia for going on 20 years of my 26 year old life, I must say that Wardrobe DEFINITELY comes first, and Magician’s Nephew comes 6th. I have the hardback collection set by HarperCollins, and I am looking at them now laughing because my set goes 2, 4, 5, 6, 3, 1, and 7 according to their order - I will gladly keep mine in the published order and will proudly tell any newcomer to Narnia to do the same. This order simply maintains the wonder and suprise element found in the books. More importantly, one of my best friends, your favorite student Raymond Johnson, would agree! Raise up your boys in the right order, and when old, they won’t read Narnia any other way.

And as long as we’re getting into this discussion, is there anyone else who puts aside The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe just a few pages before the end to read The Horse and His Boy? If you can’t tell, I love the chronological arrangement where I can manage it (i.e., in book series like The Chronicles of Narnia).

If memory serves correctly, after all had been published, Lewis said he preferred the Narnian Chronological order.

I myself like the published order best. It’s how my box set came.