When it
comes to reading great children’s literature, I’m making up for lost time. I
was not a voracious reader as a child, and my parents, though interested in our
education, left it up to the schools my siblings and I attended. They read to
us at home when we were younger, but it did not endure as we became more active
outside. We enjoyed the happy luxury of being young at a time when children
could safely roam the countryside with friends for hours.
I am now a
parent, homeschooling my own daughter and enjoying the equally happy luxury of
introducing her - and myself - to many works of great children’s literature. Led
by other parents who have trodden the path before me, I have the pleasure and
responsibility of curating my child’s literary world. And it is an immense and
delightful world.
Children’s
literature may be written-off at first glance as not serious literature. It
resides in the more colorful and potentially sticky section of libraries, which
adults have outgrown. But, it only takes a moment of reflection to realize
there is more to it than its entertainment value or ability to lull a toddler
to sleep.
What
makes it literature?
The word
literature can refer to anything from leaflets and printed matter to all the works
written for others to read. Among his definitions, Webster includes, “Writings
in prose or verse, especially:
writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of
permanent or universal interest.” I think we can all agree on this. Mainly, I’m thinking about novels here.
Likewise,
when I think of literature for children, I think primarily of longer fiction
and exclude those shorter books that are meant for reading through in one
sitting. However, there are always exceptions,
as we shall see.
What
makes it great?
Literature,
to be great, whether written for juvenile readers or for adults, must be well
constructed. The writing must be good, not just technically, but crafted with a
clarity of expression that elicits image, action and emotion in mind of the
reader. It must be enjoyable to read and continue to please upon repeated
readings.
A truly
great work of literary art will draw the reader into the world of the story,
rather than leaving him as an observer. The story involves a complexity that
makes this world and its inhabitants believable and multi-dimensional. This
world must reveal organic unity, so that it not only makes logical sense, but involve
multiple layers, nuance and even surprise.
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| Jørgen Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Girl Reading, c.1900 |
It will
invite the reader to grapple with universal human problems, ideas, feelings,
and experiences. Ultimately, great literature (and great art of any kind) puts
the reader in contact with the good, the true, and the beautiful, even if it
has to be teased out through contemplation.
What
makes it children’s?
This may
seem obvious because we generally know when a work is for children, as opposed
to adults. But when you try to put a finger on it, you’ll find there’s more to
it than just bright pictures or happy tales about kids. Just as I did, all the
book-loving parents I consulted, had to make a second attempt at this
distinction. Much discussion helped us focus on those things that truly matter
in distinguishing a work as children’s,
versus general, literature.
It is often
the case that a book written for children will have children as the protagonists.
But, they may also be animals, as in “Charlotte’s Web,” “Black Beauty,” or “Wind
in the Willows.” Characters might also include mythical creatures, as is the
case in The Chronicles of Narnia. What is crucial is that human adults are not the primary actors and the story
world is not the real-life world of
adult concerns.
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| John Tenniel illustration (Public domain) |
I might
mention, as a contrast, a book whose protagonist is a child, but is decidedly not a work of children’s literature:
Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist.” The point of view is that of the boy, Oliver,
but the world is one of adult issues.
Another
thing that distinguishes children’s literature from adults’ is that, while it
must contain enough complexity to be interesting, it will be scaled down to the
developmental level of the target audience without being trite. The themes
should never be about matters inappropriate for children. The vocabulary may be
more accessible to younger readers. This is somewhat relative, however, as may
be noticed when older children’s classics are considered alongside even adult
books of today!
While a
great work will usually bring about growth in the young reader, those that
become favorites are not pedantic nor didactic.
The author gets down to the eye level with the child reader. What child
would wish to open a book just to find another adult telling them what he must
do and think? Children want to have adventures, contemplate great thoughts, and
yes, be entertained – just as adults do. These are all possible in a truly good
children’s book.
Can
children’s literature be great?
The
greatness of some children’s books is apparent at the time of publication, but
it is only confirmed over time. As the reader grows older, the book still
speaks to her. It stands up to many readings (a mercy when parents are called
on to read it again and again to children), remaining fresh and enjoyable each
time. The title will remain beloved over many generations. A book that
contemplates perennial human issues will always speak to us.
Some works
of children’s fiction that have remained universally beloved over time include
Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” The “Little House” books by Laura Ingalls
Wilder. “The Jungle Book” and “Captains
Courageous” by Kipling, Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” “The
Hobbit,” and Hans Christian Anderson’s stories.
The list could go on and on. And
on.
Though I
originally limited my definition of children’s literature to novels, several
books and authors demanded exception. A.
A. Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh” is truly a poetic, philosophical work that touches
even adults with wonder. Robert McCloskey
combined his illustrations and stories in picture books (“Blueberries for Sal,”
“One Morning in Maine,” and others) that tenderly capture very real moments of
childhood, and seal them in the hearts of the children and adults who have read
them.
Another
anomaly among great children’s books is the series of Freddy the Pig books by
Walter R. Brooks. The characters include talking animals as well as people. The
writing is masterful. The plots are dizzyingly complex. The missing element is
that there is a complete lack of grappling with big ideas. Yet, I can’t bring myself to drop them from
the list. What they lack in philosophy, they make up for in comic genius.
Brooks is the P.G. Wodehouse of children’s literature.
Time
will tell.
Not every
book that makes a splash at the time of publication will endure. I consulted the list of all Newbery Medal
winners (from the first in 1922) and noted that I was not familiar with the
majority. They may have spoken to the
voting committee of their time, but failed to remain in the hearts of readers
over the long haul.
A better
indication of the best children’s books is parents who grew up with them looking
forward to reading them to their children, not only to share them with the
child, but to enjoy them again themselves. Great books never really get old,
and, in fact, can be enjoyed by adults even without sharing them with children.
The
parents I canvassed on this question, described those books they would consider
great, or classics, using phrases such as, “perennially interesting,” “made a
big impact,” “stood the test of time,” and “get more from it with each
reading.” It is much the same with adult classics, but all the more remarkable
that they can be both formative for a child and also meaningful to an adult.
Popularity
isn’t always reliable.
There are
some books that endure and are enjoyed readily by children for several
generations, but are not particularly great. These often come in long series of
non-sequential books, like the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, The Boxcar Children
mysteries or the Famous Five series. The writing is simply not the stuff of
greatness. They are not bad, but they are merely formulaic entertainment. A fun
read. They don’t hold up because of their greatness, but because children with
voracious reading appetites must be fed books continually!
Other good
books sometimes fall into neglect as well. They may go out of fashion for a
time and become hard to find. I am astonished by the number of wonderful books
I have discovered through friends that I had never heard of! The Swallows and
Amazons series is an example. First published in England in 1930, it has
remained a favorite in the U.K., but did not have as big an impact in the U.S.
until recently.
The
Future of great children’s literature.
There is
no reason to worry that the output of truly great children’s literature will
come to an end. There are many promising
new authors whose books meet the qualifications and are gaining a following
among children and their parents. Kate
de Camillo, as an example, has been writing books since 2000. Her stories, “The
Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” and “The Tale of Despereaux” are just two
of her moving novels.
Another
new author within the same timeframe is Grace Lin. Her series, “Where the Mountain Meets the
Moon” is a masterful feat of story-telling. Woven through with Chinese
Folklore, and elegantly written, her books seem to be from a former era. Her
illustrations are worthy of framing. I
suspect they will have a lasting impact as well.
I’ll close
with the words of a wise, book-loving friend who contributed to the discussion
distilled here “Great books become a part of who the child is and of the
scaffolding which helps the child understand his or her world, to grapple with
human nature, and divine nature, and the big, important questions that children
are just beginning to be aware of.
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| Walter Firle "Story Time" 1912 |
I wrote the original article for The Epoch Times: https://www.theepochtimes.com/what-makes-great-childrens-literature-great_2880967.html
