Reading aloud to your children is one of the best gifts you can give them.
Writing about storytelling in a recent article reminded me of something that’s very important to me: children’s literature.
Like a lot of people who love writing, I learned to read early in life. In fact, I think I was reading above my grade level in kindergarten. Because of that, the Dick and Jane books they made us read in elementary school were EXTREMELY boring for me.
Luckily, I soon discovered a whole world of books far more interesting than those – fairy tales, fantasies, and even interesting biographies about people like John Muir. I almost always had a book in my hands.
Those stories had the power to transport me to other lands and “meet” people I never would have met otherwise. They also helped shape my outlook on life.
My son wasn’t even walking yet when I started reading to him on a regular basis every night. By the time he was in middle school, he was still asking me to read aloud to him at bedtime. I was glad he was learning to enjoy stories as much as I did!
Even though it’s true that I COULD survive if I never read another children’s book, I think I’d be miserable. Having classics like Alice in Wonderland, Charlotte’s Web, Little House in the Big Woods, and The Tale of Despereaux on my bookshelf at home brings back memories from my own childhood AND my son’s childhood.
Memories, imagination, discovery, and – always – making complicated things simple. These are the reasons I love children’s books.
I encourage you to pick up an old favorite and share it with a young person … or just enjoy reading it for yourself!
