Why You Should Read Children’s Books
Even Though You Are So Old and Wise.
I read some reviews of the book but decided not to buy it. Instead I found an excerpt of it in a BBC article by her. She wrote,
Children’s novels, to me, spoke, and still speak, of hope. They say: look, this is what bravery looks like. This is what generosity looks like. They tell me, through the medium of wizards and lions and talking spiders, that this world we live in is a world of people who tell jokes and work and endure.
Children’s books say: the world is huge. They say: hope counts for something. They say: bravery will matter, wit will matter, empathy will matter, love will matter. These things may or may not be true. I do not know. I hope they are. I think it is urgently necessary to hear them and to speak them.
—Katherine Rundell, Why adults should read children’s books
I agree with her sentiment, but the books she’s talking about don’t appeal to me. Not because I’m “so old and wise”, but because I have more childish tastes. I enjoyed reading The Poky Little Puppy, and I’ve bought a lot of children’s books this past year, translated into Spanish. One was a Dr. Seuss, but most of the others were by Richard Scarry (for 2-5-year-olds) and P. D. Eastman (for 1-5-year-olds). They make me smile.
I spend some time most days reading about what’s going on in the world, and I try to balance it with things that lift my spirits. Most of them I find poking around the internet instead of in books, which is fine too. The main thing is not to get lost in negativity and gloom. I came across Rundell’s book poking around, and it was worth my time to explore a bit farther. As I said, her title tickles me.
March 26, 2024
Check out adult books by Nancy Moser. They always lift me up. As do those by Maeve Binchy.
I don’t read fiction because of my eyestrain, but I do listen to audible books.
I love the fables and fairy tales. Like Aesop’s and some German fairy tales, ones about animals as well.
🙂
That is a cute title!
Being ‘old and wise’ isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
😀
my life from age 5 was all about fairy tales and books, and still is, but not the reading of the books I read then. now i am wondering if Rapunzel and Cinderella of my child hood would make good reading now. my fairy tale book was ragged by the time I was 10 years old. I get my happy face on by poking around finding things i have never heard or seen. usually i find one uplifting article in my news feed each morning. today it was
dogs head stuck in tire, in NJ… google it, you will love it…
Yes, the internet is a great place to go exploring! I figure it’s our job to keep our spirits up. 🙂
That is a good title. I read a Dr. Seuss book the other day. I bought it for Presleys Easter basket and I read it before I put it in the basket. I have to say I enjoyed it. Reading childrens books is rather nostalgic. It takes me back to those days when I would sit with a book. My favorite was my Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes.
I still remember some of those rhymes. I guess kids don’t read them any more?
I like how you are spending time reading children’s book. I remember our son liked Richard Scarry.
I love Richard Scarry and bought his books for Kaitlin. 🙂