What’s Your Favourite Children’s Book?
Today is World Book Day and it’s got me thinking about all the children’s books I loved as a kid such as the Ant and Bee books (anyone remember them?) and the books that helped changed my thinking such as When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr and Elegant Patty by Mary Treadgold. Both of which woke me up to the idea that not all children lived a life where they got what they wanted.
So it’s lovely to hear so many famous people talk about what their favourite children’s books are and why they’re supporting World Book Day. Aside from The Gruffalo getting a big thumbs up from numerous famous people, Sarah Brown has recently talked about why she loves You Choose by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt.
Says Sarah “I love children’s books and enjoyed reading them even before I had my own children. This is the book that I have seen most often in the brilliant Sure Start Centres I have visited over the years and in the precious book bags presented by Book Trust for pre-schoolers to take home. We know that the world of reading opens up when books are in the home and this book is a great example of how a little person can walk into a world of story time adventure and open up the richness of their own imagination.”
I couldn’t agree more with her as my children love the book and the fantastic illustrations, but more than that they love the very simple idea of imagining that they can choose to go anywhere, with anyone and do anything as we read it together.
Talking to my friends older children who are 12+ the experience of reading seems to hold the same excitement. With books they love including: Stormbreaker: The Alex Rider series) by Anthony Horowitz, The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins and The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. All very dramatic, on-the-edge of your seat reads that I also know many adults also love.
So when your child comes home with his/her £1 book token for World Book Day why not tell them what your favourite book was as a child and maybe find out what they are reading and try reading it too? Books for children may be a different genre but often they are a lot more exciting then the adult market. Plus they can help give you a good insight into your child’s imagination.
So what was your favourite children’s book? Let me know.