Contrary to the industry categorization of literature to define various types of fictions, including children’s books, nobody is writing for children only. As an avid reader of children’s books, I would prefer if the categorization of those books were, for example, fable, fairy tale, illustrated, non-illustrated, etc. Some of my books are categorized as children’s. If you ask me, I will tell you that those books are for anyone who is not limited by genre. They are for any reader interested in fairy tales, nature, illustrations by children and adults, and moral lessons.
Contrary to the industry categorization of literature to define various types of fictions, including children’s books, nobody is writing for children only. As an avid reader of children’s books, I would prefer if the categorization of those books were, for example, fable, fairy tale, illustrated, non-illustrated, etc. Some of my books are categorized as children’s. If you ask me, I will tell you that those books are for anyone who is not limited by genre. They are for any reader interested in fairy tales, nature, illustrations by children and adults, and moral lessons.
“I don’t write for children. I write — and somebody says, ‘That’s for children!’” — Maurice Sendak
What Will Others Think of You?
It’s true, the audience better suited might primarily be children or the story might be better told in a children’s format. That said, it doesn’t mean adults shouldn’t read those books. I don’t ever remember the need to hide a children’s book I was reading. For some adults, though, it is embarrassing and shameful to be found reading them. What would others think?
Whatever others think of you, here is why you should still read them:
- To Relive and Relearn Yourself
Books are like food; they will take you back in time. Whether through the overall story, character or lesson, you will relive or relearn a part of yourself. Reading children’s stories will remind you of things you like and their priority in your current life. In our world of hectic schedules, the stories in the children’s format are worth reading and listening to. There is a number of profound quotes that can help an adult be a better person. These short-sentenced lessons do not require much reading time.
As a child, I didn’t have stories read to me. Instead we heard them. Tanzanian folklore is more into oral than written storytelling. I began reading children’s books ferociously as an adult. Each time, it is like knowing myself all over again through the lens of a short sentence crafter for a child. Those stories remind or teach me what I had forgotten or not learned. For example, Winnie-the-Pooh gives me brief and lasting lessons on life when I have no time to read a complete self-development book.
“I am almost inclined to set it up as a canon that a children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story. The good ones last.” — C.S. Lewis
- It Makes You A Better Writer
Story telling in a children’s format is simple. In this simplicity there are complex and valuable lessons for takeaway, including sentence structuring, word usage and sentence clarity. When writing for adults, the urge to show off knowledge is strong. In a children’s format, one is more focused on simplifying meaning in brevity. Once this precision is mastered, you will be able to write and do comprehensive editing for other works, including longer writing, to achieve concise copy.
“[Children’s books] are deceptively simple. I admit that. But for me, all my life I try to simplify things. As a child in school, things were very hard for me to understand often, and I developed a knack, I think. I developed a process to simplify things so I would understand them.” — Eric Carle
What I enjoy most about writing children’s stories is the achievement. Very likely it will take me longer to write a book in a different genre unless it is a collection of microfiction or poetry. Stories written in a children’s format reward me a product within a reasonable time frame suited for my creative pace and life demands. I am inspired to write more when the project is not dragging.
Sometimes in our fiction writing and categorizations, we isolate children as if they were aliens. As a reader, you will be reminded that children, like adults, are humans too. You will remember what you liked as a child, such as licking an ice cream, is what you still like to do today. This realization will make you more aware of what you are writing down. A written scenario of eating an ice cream will be more vivid if you incorporate how you ate an ice cream as a child without the dining etiquette practiced as an adult.
“A person’s a person. No matter how small.” — Dr Seuss
- To Liberate Your Inner Child
As adults, reading children’s stories is a liberation of our inner child. We don’t have to wait until a bestseller defies genre categorization, such as J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.
Often, our reality as adults obscures the joy and lessons found in stories for children. As adults, we are constantly giving lessons and quotations about our inner child but forget to nurture it on ourselves. We forget that whether a child or an adult, we all need some kind of magic in our lives. There are occasions after a given advice I am tempted to ask, “Do you read children’s books?”
Reading a children’s book will make you believe in miracles performed by yourself. It is a farfetched notion for an adult but it gives a possibility of hope when facing life challenges.
Final Thoughts
Next time someone asks you why you are reading a children’s book, tell them it helps you to conquer your world.
You don’t need to read thick books to believe that anything is possible. Yes, the world you are living in might be short on magic and miracles. That’s why you are off to the magical world in the children’s books. After the last sentence, you will be ready to slay the dragons in your real world. Your inner child, where your creative powers and sense of self are, will forgive you for the wrongdoings you could have mastered if you visit the children’s books section in your local book store or library.
By reading a children’s book, you are discovering and bettering yourself, awakening or nurturing your creativity, and honoring your inner child and the powers within.