Children's literature enriches the lives of adult readers

Some years ago my daughter gave me the book What the Dormouse said: Lessons for grownups from Children's Books. The marvelous Judith Viorst, a famous children's book author, wrote the forward for the book, and in it she says: 

"In my editing days...the children's book department was the patronized kid sister of the far more important, and self important, adult book department, where, it was deemed, the serious action took place. I didn't - and don't - accept this point of view. 

   For I've always believed that, at their best, the language and art of books for children are as good as it gets. At their best, the subjects treated in these books include almost all our central human concerns. At their best children's books offer insights we'll want to remember and ponder and savor and learn and revel in."

I completely agree with this. I believe children's literature is a gift for readers of all ages,  which is why I am writing these posts. Now, more than ever, we need children's literature in our lives so that we remember how to see the world through eyes full of wonder, how to think about at least "six impossible things before breakfast," and how to reclaim some of the virtues of our younger selves.

   I can remember how excited my child self was when I was able to progress from picture books and simple little chapter books to hefty novels. It was a rite of passage for me, and I was so proud on the day when I left the library with a stack of books that had not come from the children's section. At this point in our lives we are all so eager to do the next 'big thing' that comes with growing up; "onward and upward" is our rallying cry. We set aside the 'babyish' things that we loved, eager to embrace the things that are for people who are bigger and older.

   Unfortunately, this can mean that we set aside books that, though they were written for children, have an ageless quality. I know of many people who still love to read the Winnie the Pooh books, particularly in hard times. The sweet humor and gentle wisdom that lies within the Pooh stories can be very healing for a hurt, weary, or anxious adult heart. Often adults are reluctant to admit that Pooh still has the power to delight them because they feel that an adult should only be reading books that are written for adults. 

   Let us set this idea aside, my friends. Childhood favorites such as The Wind in the Willows, The Secret Garden, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Sarah Plain and Tall, Wishtree, Redwall, Harry Potter, and James and the Giant Peach offer us adults a reprieve from our busy and often stressful lives. Some convey a truth, or several truths, that we need to be reminded of. Others make us laugh and lift us up with their extraordinary language.

   The books that I will be telling you about in this blog are books for children AND adults. In some cases adults will enjoy a book I mention as they read it to a child, and talk about the subject matter with that child. Adults will learn something new or will be reminded of something important that they have forgotten.

   In other cases adults will enjoy reading the books I talk about on their own, for themselves. In these books adults will go on adventures with marvelous characters, they will learn about remarkable people, they will revel in language that is rich and emotive. 

   

Fiction Wednesday - A review of Mercy Watson: Something Wonky this way come

I know that I have talked about the fact that I have a deep fondness for pigs before. I make no apologies for this strange proclivity. One cannot have a pet pig (which I did) and not fall in love with the entire species, perhaps with the exception of those bad tempered animals that like to bite. Being fond of pigs as I am, it should come as no surprise that I love the Mercy Watson books. Like so many of her relatives, Mercy Watson is a single-minded creature who will NOT be put off when she makes up her mind to do something. As you will see when (not if) you read this book.

Mercy Watson: Something Wonky this way comes

Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

Fiction

For ages 6 to 8

Candlewick Press, 2009, 978-0-7636-3644-9

   One afternoon, Mr. Watson is sitting on the porch reading the paper when he sees that there is a movie showing at the Bijou Drive-In called When Pigs Fly. Not only does the movie sound interesting, but the Bijou prides itself on serving “real butter” on their bottomless “all-you-can-eat” buckets of popcorn. Now, the Watson’s have a pet pig called Mercy, and when she hears her people talk about butter and all-you-can-eat, she becomes very excited. Butter is one of Mercy’s favorite things in the world.

   On their way to the Bijou Drive-In, Mr. and Mrs. Watson meet some of their friends, and by the time they get to the outdoor movie theatre, Baby and Eugenia Lincoln, and Stella and Frank are in the pink convertible sitting in the back seat next to Mercy.

   The movie is popular that evening, or maybe it is the bottomless popcorn bucket with real butter that is popular. Whichever it is, there are plenty of other cars parked in front of the big screen. Police Office Tomilello is there with his wife, and Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet is there with her date. Both couples are looking forward to watching the movie, little realizing that their evening is not going to go as planned.

   The reason for this is quite simple. As soon as the pink convertible is parked, Mercy Watson notices that there is a delectable aroma in the air. Mr. Watson and Frank go to get some popcorn, but Mercy decides that she needs to find out where that delicious smelling buttery smell is coming from, and she needs to do so now.

   Readers who have encountered Mercy Watson in her other books are going to love this deliciously funny story. Once again Mercy creates chaos as she steadfastly pursues food. Though she is, without a doubt, a very troublesome animal, Mercy is ridiculously loveable, and one cannot help laughing as one reads about her misadventures.

   What makes this book - and the other titles in this series - so special is that they have something to offer children and adult readers. “Wonky” characters and clever tongue-in-cheek humor makes this a series that will keep on giving for years to come. 

Banned Books Week - A review of Bridge to Terabithia, a challenged book

The first time I read Bridge to Terabithia, I was hooked after reading just a couple of pages. I am not ashamed to admit that I cried when Leslie dies, and I grieved with Jess as he tries to come to terms with losing his friend. I found the story to be powerful, and I imagined that it would help people of all ages come to terms with their own grief after losing someone they loved. I think it would be a terrible shame if readers could not borrow this title from their school or local library because it was challenged and banned.

Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson

Fiction

Ages 8 to 12

HarperCollins, 2007, 0-06-122728-5

   Jess is determined that this year, his fifth grade year, he is going to be the fastest runner in his school. He has been practicing his running every morning all summer and he is sure that now he is ready, really ready. Alas for Jess, for on the first day of a school a new kid in his class wins the daily race. Worse still this new kid is his new neighbor and she is a girl who is called Leslie. Jess is both furious and mortified, and he wants nothing to do with Leslie and her strange ways.

   Over time however Jess comes to accept Leslie’s friendship and then to embrace it. She is such a fascinating and wonderful person, full of ideas and stories and always willing to share her wonderful imagination with him, Jesse Aarons. The two children build an imaginary world in the woods near their houses which they name Terabithia. Leslie is the queen of this world, and Jess is the king and they have to swing over a creek on a rope to get to it. For Jess, Terabithia and Leslie are the best parts of his life and he cannot imagine his world without them.

   Then, suddenly, Leslie is taken from him when the creek rope snaps and Leslie is killed in the fall. In the emptiness that follows her death, Jess cannot help feeling as if both he and Terabithia are going to wither without Leslie’s presence.

   With great sensitivity and understanding Katherine Patterson explores a lonely boy’s first true friendship and his overwhelming feelings of grief when his friend tragically dies. Patterson is neither maudlin nor overly sentimental. Instead she looks at the ways in which a friendship can form. She also shows her young readers that grief is not some easy to package emotion that can be set aside once the prescribed time is up. Instead grieving is a complicated, messy and confusing process that has no rules or guidelines. One just has to muddle through as best one can.

   Perhaps the best past of this book is that Patterson has made Jess realistically imperfect and easy to identify with as he struggles through life.

  This book won the 1978 Newbery Medal.

   

Children's Books can be useful for adults too

I recently heard from someone at Accredited Online Colleges.Org about an article that they posted on their website that they thought I would be interested in, which I was. The article is about ten children's books that they think every business student should read. I certainly think that there is a lot that adults can learn from children's literature and I am delighted to find out that college students are being encouraged to explore the world of children's literature. Here is the article.

10 Children’s Books Every Business Student Should Read

As if business school isn’t busy enough for you, here is a recommendation for ten books you should definitely add to your reading list. The good news is that they are relatively short, and therefore easy to read. The better news is that if you look beyond the fact that these books are marketed as children’s books, they each contain important lessons that any business student would do well to remember as she makes her way through the fast-paced, power-driven world of business. Tales of perseverance, creativity, resourcefulness, and even a few cautionary tales are included in this list of children’s books every business student should read.

1. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. The Lorax tells the tale of the greedy and short-sighted Once-ler who chops down all his resources in an effort to grow his business. Not only does he despoil the environment, but he also puts himself out of business. This book by the beloved Dr. Seuss is a must-read for any business student as it stresses the importance of balance and vision in growing a business as well as a reminder that natural resources must be dealt with respectfully.
2. The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper. This classic children’s book tells of a train hauling toys and other goodies to a village at the other side of a mountain, but it has broken down. The train tries to get help from larger engines, who just pass him by. Finally, a smaller engine takes up the cause, but discovers he may have taken on more than he can handle. Through determination and perseverance, the little engine makes it up the mountain and delivers the train to the village. Any business student can see the simple, yet powerful message imparted in this book–determination and the power of positive thinking can overcome any obstacle.
3. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina. In Caps for Sale, a cap salesman travels through town showcasing his wares stacked upon his head. After a long day with no sales, and therefore, no food, he sits down to rest against a tree. When he awakens, he discovers his caps are gone and have been taken by a tree full of monkeys, each wearing one of his caps. The salesman must figure out how to get his product back and does so almost by accident. This book demonstrates some of the realities of business (that times can be slow and may affect your ability to earn a livelihood), but also shows creative marketing and that a smart business person must rely on ingenuity to protect his resources.
4. Charlotte’s Web by EB White. Most consider this classic tale to be about Wilbur, the pig rescued by a young girl from her father’s ax. A closer look shows that the true protagonist and heroine of the story is the title character, Charlotte. Charlotte is a spider who saves Wilber’s life a second time when she comes up with the idea of spelling out Wilber’s magnificent qualities in her web. Each time she advertises something special about Wilber, his fame grows. Any business student studying marketing will quickly recognize a successful advertising campaign. Charlotte kept her resourceful solution creative by changing the words she used each time. This book provides a glimpse into clever marketing and the benefits of loyalty to the customer.
5. Beyond the Traditional Lemonade Stand by Randi Lynn Millward. This book provides detailed information on how children can get any small business up and running. With insight into accounting and finance as well as creative ways to make money, this book will give business students an opportunity to think about entrepreneurship in a different way. Whether you ran a lemonade stand as a kid or not, read this book to revisit the idea of young entrepreneurship.
6. The Story of the Three Little Pigs. Just about everyone has heard the story of the three little pigs and their attempts at building a wolf-proof house. However, the extended version of this popular fairy tale describes the third little pig as a shrewd thinker always one step ahead of the competition. After the failure of the first two pigs, the third pig builds his brick house, to the chagrin of the wolf. The wolf then sets out to trick the pig out of his house in an effort to eat him. The pig, however, always stays one step ahead of the wolf, which ensures his survival. Just like the pig and the wolf, a smart business person needs to know how to stay ahead of the competition in order to keep her business alive.
7. Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall. Ox-Cart Man tells the story of a family in 18th century New England who grow and make what they can throughout the year, then the father takes their goods into town to trade for those items they cannot provide for themselves. The book illustrates the success and growth of the family business, as well as the idea that a business must work as a part of the community. Business students would do well to remember the ideas present in this book, including the circle of life and growth of a business and the interdependence of complementary industries.
8. Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss. Students should read this story about Horton, an elephant who stands up for a world of people he discovers in a speck of dust on a clover, as a reminder that all people deserve respect. Horton tries his best to tell others in the jungle about this race of tiny people, but the others in the jungle are not willing to accept his wild story. Horton’s loyalty to the people in the speck of dust and his perseverance to have their existence recognized are qualities any business person should remember. In a field that defines success by the amount of money accumulated, the people can easily be forgotten. This book is a good reminder of the people behind the money and their intrinsic value. Standing up for the little people and not being afraid to appear different to the masses are important lessons for all to remember.
9. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. The Giving Tree sparks heated debate among many as it demonstrates both the desire to give all that one has to a loved one and the human tendency to take what is available. The tree in the title watches a young boy grow up, and he moves from swinging on her branches and climbing her trunk to selling her apples, taking all her branches, and cutting down her trunk. While it appears that the tree is willingly giving of herself to help the boy in his life, the boy takes without returning anything to the tree. Eventually, the tree has only a trunk upon which the boy (now an old man) can sit and rest. Like the message in The Lorax, The Giving Tree also serves a reminder that taking resources without giving something in return will eventually result in the demise of the source. On a more human level, it also demonstrates that relationships are best nurtured with a cooperative strategy than a selfish one–both lessons important for those going into business.
10. The Day-Glo Brothers by Chris Barton. This non-fiction picture book tells the story of brothers, Bob and Joe Switzer. As children, Bob wanted to become a doctor and Joe loved putting on magic acts for people. Working together, the brothers stumbled upon a way to create fluorescent paint that glowed in the dark. This simple, yet engaging tale shows how creativity, ingenuity, and chasing one’s dreams can pave the way to big accomplishments. Any business student that dreams of entrepreneurship will enjoy the inspiration in this true story.

You can view the article online and comment on it here on the Accredited Online Colleges.Org website here. 

Favorite Children's Book Characters

I was just reading about Hilary Knight, the wonderful illustrator who helped Kay Thompson bring her infamous Eloise to life. Mr. Knight is so talented and his illustrations of the precocious little girl who lives in the Plaza Hotel in New York City are unforgetable. I have always loved Eloise and reading about one of her creators was very interesting. The book, Show and Tell: Exloring the fine art of children's book illustration, is beautifully written and it is really helping me to see children's book illustration in a new way. I highly recommend it.

Not long after reading the chapter about Hilary Knight I came across a blog entry which interested me. The Blog is called The Children's Literature Book Club and the author has created a Children's Literature Alphabet. She has chosen her favorite children's book characters to create an alphabet. Among others Arthur, Eloise, Babar, Babymouse, and Madeline are in the listing. Take a look at the site and share your favorite children's book characters with others.