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"Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child."
~ Anonymous
I read a lot of books aimed at younger readers. Sometimes it's a desire for a simpler story. Sometimes it's wanting to revisit an author or work that I enjoyed as a kid. Sometimes it's tired eyes longing for a bigger font. Sometimes it's the fact that there's a great deal of depth to be uncovered in works written for younger audiences. I like this quote because I know that I occasionally read books written for youngsters as a way to connect with younger people and to feel like a kid again. But I also like the duality that points out how great stories can bring out maturity in children as well. As a child, were there any books that helped you grow up? As an adult, do you read books aimed at younger readers?
August 11, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Great quote! I don't read a lot of YA or younger books these days with a few notable exceptions (Harry Potter, Percy Jackson/Kane Chronicles, and Twilight) but I do still have a ton of the books from my childhood that were most important to me and helped me to grow. Charlotte's Web certainly helped to encourage my vegetarianism and might be the most obvious example of a book helping me to grow up. Other books I'd put in that category are the Little House books, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwiler and The Westing Game to various extents.
August 11, 2010 at 5:52 PM
That is a great quote! I hadn't heard that before, but it is SO true. That's why it is the children's books that have an extra layer for adults that become such global phenomenons (i.e. Harry Potter). I read a lot of YA now, but I do delve into kids books sometimes - like The Giver. And Percy Jackson (which, I admit, was just flat-out fun). =)
August 12, 2010 at 12:13 AM
You know I do!
August 13, 2010 at 1:08 AM
I had a copy of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" as a kid which was read many times. Whenever things were particularly tough, my mother or grandmother would tell me to remember his story. As for people reading books aimed at younger readers as adults, I feel that too many good books would be missed out on if skipped just for the sake of being YA books. :)