"Children's literature is a place where the ideas are big and the words are simple and ring true."
Welcome to my Saturday morning post. Hope you are having a great weekend and plan to sit down with a good book somewhere along the line and indulge.
This morning I am going to refer to an article that was written in MacLean's magazine by Rebecca Eckler this week regarding children's books. It was a fascinating article and I want to highlight some of the ideas for you to ponder.
According to MacLean's it seems more and more adults are finding comfort and inspiration in children's books. Some claim that "Kid lit is better than self-help books, because it's not instructional but takes you back and makes you feel innocent, like a child again." When you were a child you felt loved,safe and happy so when you interact with your favourite children's book those feelings are re-visited and you feel like you are in a much better place. (even heal faster) Some of the books that may be worth checking out are visually listed above.
"Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book" is a handbook for living. The book, drawn from the GoldenBook series that was launched in 1942, is about finding contentment in the simplest things. ("Be a hugger!" "Get some exercise!") . When times are stressful a great thing to do is find a childhood book and read it. Thankfully publishers are bringing back vintage children's books and more and more adults are turning to them, in times of hardship, sorrow and stressful times.
Some books are written to comfort you in times of death. A beautiful, and tender antidote is a children's book that in simple, visual terms deals with the pain you are going through. You may want to consider, "The Heart and the Bottle" by Oliver Jeffers. May I recommend to you one that is so powerful and emotional, "Love You Forever", by Robert Munsch. Sometimes life doesn't go as planned or you get sideswiped terribly....this book reminds you to live in the moment and take nothing for granted. Life passes by so quickly....so carpe diem!
There are lessons and hope in children's books, unlike self-help books, where adults can find holes in the words. Anther great book charged with emotion is, "The Mountain That Loved a Bird."by Alice McLerran a gentle tale of friendship, devotion and hope. Books can bring you back in time and conjure up memories that are happy and bubbly allowing you to step forward and comfort you.
Read your favourite book as a child to your own child. I guarantee he will see your passion, love and enthusiasm for that book and it will become his favourite book too. Simple truths that are recorded in children's picture books, it seems, bear repeating again and again to each upcoming generation. These truths are timeless and are begging to be passed on.
Have a super weekend and if you dare.....leave me a comment telling me what your favourite book was when you were a child, and what your own child asks you to read again and again each night at bedtime, or anytime for that matter. Let's share.
Read on and read always!
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