What children’s books do you remember? These books are some of our first memories of life, and a great way to prepare for the challenges ahead. I’ve always admired Dr. Seuss. I still enjoy reading his work, and sharing them with kids. In fact, I’m writing children’s books now myself, as you can see elsewhere on this website. It wasn’t really planned that way, as I’m interested in all writing; it just happened.
Which is the gist of an article I found recently — “Story Time: the five children’s books every adult should read” by Katherine Rundell. Ms. Rundell is the author of Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise. Her logic is: “When you read a children’s book, you are given the space to read again as a child: to find your way back, back to the time when new discoveries came daily and when the world was colossal, before your imagination was trimmed and neatened, as if it were an optional extra.”
Her selections for the best children’s books for adults are —
The Paddington Bear books by Michael Bond
The Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson
Peter Pan by JM Barrie
I am disappointed she apparently doesn’t share my enthusiasm for Dr. Seuss. But she does provide reasoning for all her selections, which can be accessed at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jul/26/story-time-five-children-s-books-everyone-should-read-katherine-rundell?. Just remember, it’s never too late to enjoy children’s literature.