Reader’s Corner: The power of classic children’s literature

Anyone who knows me or reads this column knows I’m a huge fan of reading aloud to children and providing reading materials for them at every age level. 

My own kids were young before kids had such easy access to screens, but it was still tempting for them to want to watch TV instead of reading quietly, so we worked out a barter system and rewards for well-written book reports, for which they all now say they are grateful. Now I’m trying to be supportive as my son and daughter-in-law navigate even tougher tech terrain in training our grandchildren to enjoy and benefit from reading. 

There are some good new children’s books out there, but I’ve also seen a few that I’m not comfortable with, because of the values or even obvious agendas they promote. I’m thankful for Brave Books, Prager U Kids, and some other groups providing better choices, but we mustn’t overlook another important area: Classic literature for children. 

Classics are classics for a reason. Some teach timeless truths about good vs. evil; some draw a child’s attention to the wonder and beauty of the world around them; some use animals or fantasy characters to make hard lessons a little more palatable. 

If it’s been a while since you thought about classics, here are some my kids enjoyed that I’m now seeing on “greatest of all time” lists from several sources: 

• “The Secret Garden,” by Frances Hodgson Burnett – A charming enclosed garden becomes a refuge for a child learning to deal with her own troubles while becoming more sympathetic to others. 

• “Charlotte’s Web,” by E.B. White – Who can’t resist messages written by a spider, shaping the destiny of a little pig who simply wants a friend? 

• “The Chronicles of Narnia,” by C.S. Lewis – After our family read “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” together, our kids were hooked. 

• “Little Women,” by Louisa May Alcott – Our daughter read and reread the book, and is a lifelong Alcott fan, but even her brothers got interested! Part history, part family relationships, part romance and lots of learning to care about others. 

• “Anne of Green Gables,” by Lucy Maud Montgomery – Maturing preteens and teens can relate as Anne gets into scrapes and says what she thinks.  

• “Black Beauty,” by Anna Sewell – One of my own childhood favorites, in which a young horse enjoys kind owners while he is young, but learns as he grows older that not all humans are kind. 

• “Winnie the Pooh,” by A.A. Milne – How could a bear of “very little brain and too much tummy” often demonstrate the wisest and kindest behavior of all the creatures in the hundred-acre wood? 

This list could go on for much longer, but I hope it’s reminded you of some of your childhood favorites or those you enjoyed with your children. What are some of them? 

And I also hope it inspires you to dig out those books, borrow them from the library, or maybe find a nice edition at a thrift shop; turn off the screens; and revisit the classics with your kids or grandkids, or just for yourself!