Children’s books are among the most powerful type of literature. It is powerful in the sense that it touches the hearts and lives of not just kids but also adults. The elements of every children’s novel complement each other forming a picture-perfect whole. They are not only providing kids with entertainment but also lessons that they can apply to the real world as they grow older.
The themes showcased by children’s literature create a different impact to its readers. The books just have a different way of delivering their messages to kids and adults. Thus, the book and reader forms a bond like no other making the latter always crave to turn the pages of the former. With that being said, listed below are among the most common yet important values that children’s literature teaches to its readers. Check it all out!
Love
There are different kinds of love and that is among the things that children’s books teach to kids. Showing your affection to your family, friends, and everyone in the world is never wrong. Some of the great books that promote love are Ralphie the Roach by Ray Sobrino Jr., The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, Silly Frilly Grandma Tillie by Laurie Jacobs, and more.
Children’s literature has another way of introducing love to their readers. They slowly teach them how delightful to love and to be loved is; but, as the child starts to grow and began being curious, children’s books will start to show them stories that shows loving can be a hard thing to do. A great example of this is the fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen titled The Little Mermaid. The bottom line is that these books for kids are great teachers and advisers of the value of love, making readers learn each complexity of the value one step at a time rather than overwhelming them.
Respect
The word “respect” weighs heavier than it seems. It is just a term that has a very serious and important meaning. With books that teach kids the value of respect, they can definitely grow into better people when the right time comes — well, as long as they instill it deeper in their minds and hearts. You probably have heard about the saying, “respect begets respect” but the interpretation of it depends on the person because every person has different perceptions.
It is great to have something that will teach kids why and how important respect is, because it is really a need when they get older. They will soon come to realize that they have to give value and respect to each and everyone in the planet, not just to the elderly but also to every living and non-living things that reside in the world. Examples of the amazingly written books that feature the value of respect are Whoever You Are by Mem Fox, What if Everybody Did That? By Ellen Javer, Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller, and Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect by Jayneen Sanders.
Equality
This value can be easily understood but hard to apply. It is because every person has different mindsets, view points, and environments. In today’s time, it is among the values and societal issues that people are fighting about. There are a lot of campaigns that are happening not just in one country but in all parts of the world. Equality does not only pertain to gender equality but in different aspects of everyone’s lives, such as race, social status, health, and a lot more.
It is already a great fact knowing that children are learning about the value of equality at such a young age. Children’s books about this value will help every kid that feels indifferent or those children that are having a hard time understanding what equality is all about. Among the best books that promotes this particular values are Part of the Rainbow, An ABC of Equality, A is for All the Things You Are, and more.
Courage
With courage, everything is possible. It cannot be denied that people have different levels of bravery as they have different amounts of confidence in themselves. Living in a world where everything is all about taking risks and venturing the unknown can be a little too frightening to handle. That is why literature is there not to scare readers but to teach them to discover all the wonders in the world using their own capabilities, without fear and doubts.
What makes children’s books best for kids is their ability to help children understand that it is okay to take risks, try something new, and go on some adventures. Little by little, kids will slowly realize that they the world is full of beauty that they often under appreciate and that they have that extreme amount of courage in themselves that are only waiting to be let out.
The Happy Hammock 