The end of summer season is here. Now you’d have to keep your inflatables, sunglasses, and sunscreen because fall is about to come. But if you are worried that all the fun will go away with summer, worry not! There are still a lot of things that you can do at home that will wipe away your summer sadness. You can still go to places you never thought existed and savor the magical moments in their by reading. Yes, you read it right! Reading is a fun activity that can bridge reality and imagination, and can be done in any season.
There are so many books to read and so many genres to choose from. There’s this genre called children’s literature. It is primarily intended for children but adults can also have fun and learn from this genre. Some of the great authors in this genre are Gabriella Eva Nagy, Janet Councilman, Lynda Daniele, William Dalmas, and Caroleann Rice. That said, here are some of the best children’s books that you can read during this last few days of summer.
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
In 1961, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. published the book by Roald Dahl titled Jack and the Giant Peach. It is a children’s book that is also under the fantasy genre. The novel contains illustrations that were created by different talents, such as Nancy Ekholm Burkert, Michael Simeon, Emma Chichester Clark, Quentin Blake, Lane Smith, and Jordan Crane.
The novel centers on the story of a little English orphan boy named Jack. He suddenly entered a magical peach that is in the size of a giant. Because of the giant fruit, Jack went to a wild and unbelievable adventure together with the 7 magically-modified bugs that he met along the way. Fun fact, the author’s original idea about the giant fruit was a cherry but he changed it to a peach, because the latter was more beautiful, more massive, and squishier.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Originally written in French with the title Le Petit Prince, this book was published by Reynal & Hitchcock in the US and Gallimard in France. The story and illustrations were done by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Since the author’s disappearance, this beautiful story was preserved and translated into different languages. Some of its English edition translators are Katherine Woods, T.V.F. Cuffe, Michael Morpurgo, Irene Testot-Ferry, Alan Wakeman, Janet Hill, David Wilkinson, and Gregory Norminton.
It follows the story of a pilot who hates grown-ups but ended up to be one and a Little Prince who lives alone in a planet. They met in a desert, after the pilot crashed his plane in the area. They started sharing tales about one another, but mostly the Little Prince shares his. The pilot learned a lot about the life of the Little Prince. And in that moment, he knew that the Little Prince tamed him and that they formed a bond that no one can break.
Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Macmillan published the book by Lewis Carroll titled Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland. It is under tbe fantasy genre that has been entertaining readers since 1865. It was followed by Through the Looking Glass in 1871. What made this story more popular is Disney’s film adaptation of it, as well as the other adaptations that followed in the 20th century.
The story revolved around a little lady named Alice and her adventures in a world that is opposite of the ordinary. One afternoon, Alice fell into a rabbit hole after she chased a rabbit that is wearing a suit. The hole led her into a subterranean world that is unbelievably magical. It contains creatures that are extraordinary, there were a Cheshire cat, Red queen, White queen, Mad Hatter, March Hare, White Rabbit, and more.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
In 1911, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett was published by Frederick A. Stokes in the US and William Heinemann in the UK. This children’s novel contains illustrations that were illustrated by M.L. Kirk, for the US edition, and Charles Robinson, for the UK edition.
It focuses on the story of a 10-year-old sickly girl named Mary Lennox. She was born in British India in a wealthy family. But the thing is she is ignored and unloved by her parents, because of the fact that she is unwanted. Who took care of her were not her wealthy parents but their servants. Because of their wealth and the way she was raised, Mary Lennox grew up to be spoiled, aggressive, and narcissistic. But the after the cholera pandemic, the tables seemed to turn. She was left alone in a house penniless because her parents died and their servants were either dead or gone. That’s when Mary started to strive for herself.
The Happy Hammock 