Just a reminder that the books we call "children's books" are really books written for an audience that includes children, but excludes absolutely no-one at all. They are BOOKS FOR EVERYONE - and you can never, ever be too old to read them, and to love them! - ThreadSky

whatsfsaid.bsky.social • 80 days ago

Just a reminder that the books we call "children's books" are really books written for an audience that includes children, but excludes absolutely no-one at all. They are BOOKS FOR EVERYONE - and you can never, ever be too old to read them, and to love them!

Comments

terrybucknell.bsky.social•79 days ago

I loved The Hill of the Red Fox by Alan Campbell McLean as a kid. Used the run-up to a family holiday in Skye as an excuse to get a new copy and read it to my son 30+ years later. Still a cracking read. I must hunt it out on his bookshelves now that he’s away at uni!

kerry-cahill.bsky.social•77 days ago

I read children’s books. I love them!

abbyaug.bsky.social•79 days ago

Someone on Threads was saying they had been told that their 5 year old was too old for Peter Rabbit and Winnie the Pooh!!

emilynyc.bsky.social•79 days ago

Peter Rabbit is a pleasure to read out loud. It’s beautifully written. (I haven’t picked up Milne in decades but this is a reminder to seek it out).

jarrac.bsky.social•79 days ago

Hear, hear.

novarules007.bsky.social•73 days ago

especially those picture books with the great art!

whatsfsaid.bsky.social•73 days ago

Absolutely - some of the art in children's books is just extraordinary. For me, artists like Maurice Sendark, Jan Pieńkowski, Faith Ringgold & Shaun Tan are among the all-time greats.

nancy7983.bsky.social•80 days ago

Many “children’s” have very simple yet very precise messages. There are a number of children’s books about death and grief that are outstanding and would benefit people of all ages.

stinapag.bsky.social•77 days ago

I just finished The Girl Who Drank the Moon, by Kelly Barnhill, and it was staggering at how well it handled grief and sorrow. I picked it up having no idea how outstanding of a book it was. It wasn't until after I'd started that I realized it had very justifiably won a Newbery medal.

natalieharrower.bsky.social•77 days ago

I just gave this book to my eight-year-old niece, so considering this and what @whatsfsaid.bsky.social just said, I think I’ll be asking her if I can borrow it! (We have agreed to read parts together ❤️)

writermom62.bsky.social•77 days ago

That book is on my TBR pile for sure!!

collywobble.bsky.social•79 days ago

This retired kindergarten teacher will always add to her collection 📚

thepetitioner.bsky.social•77 days ago

Where the wild Things Are
So simple yet so profound

racqueljuarez.bsky.social•80 days ago

I just bought and read a children’s book in Spanish so I can practice my Spanish

occulife.bsky.social•80 days ago

100%

leehav.bsky.social•80 days ago

Yes absolutely Beatrix Potter and other classics wonderful

drvandermast.bsky.social•80 days ago

In the same way that everyone can eat the vegan option on the menu.

whatsfsaid.bsky.social•77 days ago

Exactly! That's beautifully put - thank you!

funkaspuck.bsky.social•77 days ago

“A is for Apple” this thing is clearly capitalist propaganda!

princessozma.bsky.social•79 days ago

Just read L Frank Baum first Oz book and the second.
General Jinjur and Princess Ozma Fascinating! Going back for 3&4

karenwallee.bsky.social•80 days ago

Very well said.

dreamyaj.bsky.social•80 days ago

I love children’s books and young adult books. I don’t read much anymore but I have great memories.

scytail.bsky.social•77 days ago

Same with movies! I was recently talking to someone about a "kid's movie" I'd watched recently and was complaining how awkward and weird some of the scenes were. Their comment was "well it's a kid's movie."
No! Being a movie for kids is not an excuse for poor writing! Do better!

bookcraic.bsky.social•79 days ago

Really wish more adults could see this - some of the most powerful, impactful books I’ve read have been ‘children’s’ books.

historylecturer.bsky.social•80 days ago

So right. I much enjoyed rediscovering my favourite children's books when reading them with children, grandchildren, junior pupils. Now I sometimes just read them for my own pleasure, if they're good enough.

georgeweeks2014.bsky.social•77 days ago

Children's books are great because they are set in the real (adult) world but its absurdities are appreciated from a different point of view.

'Just William' (published from 1920s to 70s) & centred on an 11-year old boy is utterly hilarious because of the wonderfully drawn (mostly adult) characters.

georgeweeks2014.bsky.social•77 days ago

E.g. "The open window showed that Mrs Bott, whose dislike of fresh air was notorious, was not in the room."

Or (wrt "vague & impecunious artist" Archie Mannister).

"William enjoyed helping Archie when he was in difficulties.

Archie was generally in difficulties.

Archie was in difficulties now."

georgeweeks2014.bsky.social•77 days ago

There are hundreds more characters like this in the books. They're from another era but the basic characteristics of people do not change. Vanity, pomposity, stubbornness, romance, self-improvement, fads....all of these are captured brilliantly in a world from an 11 year old would-be pirate captain.

historylecturer.bsky.social•77 days ago

I'm glad to say my grandsons love William.

georgeweeks2014.bsky.social•77 days ago

Jolly good! They clearly appreciate fine storytelling and humour...and know to look out for anyone who can "...thcream and thcream and thcream till I'm sick."

karenmccombie.bsky.social•79 days ago

Absolutely, SF! I think fantasy already sees some crossover book lurve, but there are SO many contemporary & historical #kidlit #UKkidlit novels around that readers of ALL ages would adore, if there wasn't such an arbitrary demarcation line between children's/adults' books...

benjamincoles1.bsky.social•80 days ago

Couldn’t agree more. The beauty of picture books is how they transcend all ages. My favourite part of a bookshop will always be the kids section.

whatsfsaid.bsky.social•77 days ago

That's beautifully put - and I totally agree, of course. Thank you Ben!

lns-missj.bsky.social•80 days ago

I just read Coram Boy for the first time. Kept reading way past my bedtime to finish it. No Pulitzer Prize Winner gets me like that 😄

whatsfsaid.bsky.social•77 days ago

I love Jamila Gavin! I think she's one of our very best writers. The Wheel Of Surya is also a must-read, if you haven't already read it - it was on BookTrust's list of the 100 Best Children's Books Of the Past 100 Years!

lns-missj.bsky.social•77 days ago

Thanks for the tip, I'll definitely check it out!

joshuaseigal.bsky.social•80 days ago

Yes. eg this poem was initially sort of written for ‘adults’ but has actually found its way into a couple of children’s anthologies

whatsfsaid.bsky.social•77 days ago

That's great, Joshua! And great to see you here on Bluesky!

alixkroeger.bsky.social•80 days ago

I loved the Varjak Paw books - too good to be reserved just for children

whatsfsaid.bsky.social•77 days ago

What a wonderful thing for a writer to hear - thank you so much, Alix! How did you come across Varjak Paw?

alixkroeger.bsky.social•77 days ago

To be honest, I don't remember - possibly a secondhand copy of the first book? Happenstance. I read it and loved it, so sought out the sequel

whatsfsaid.bsky.social•77 days ago

Ah, thank you so much! I think the sequel is a better book than the first one - though it remains the hardest book I’ve ever had to write!

http://www.sfsaid.com/2020/07/writing-outlaw-varjak-paw.html

andneitherdoi.bsky.social•77 days ago

Every book is a children’s book if the kid can read

janeenhayat.bsky.social•76 days ago

Huck Finn - still amazing, and my daughter loved it.

edittrap.bsky.social•76 days ago

"Critics who treat adult as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these are the marks of childhood and adolescence."...

whatsfsaid.bsky.social•75 days ago

I think that's absolutely right. Confident adults don't feel the need to prove how adult they are by belittling or dismissing things of childhood, such as children's books! That is a very adolescent thing to do. It's very sad how many adults feel they need to do it, though.

edittrap.bsky.social•75 days ago

CS Lewis new what he was talking about.

sarahwebbwriter.bsky.social•79 days ago

So true!

awfullyvague.bsky.social•77 days ago

"The Phantom Tollbooth" is a kid's book that gets even better when you read it as an adult.

(And if you haven't read it, you should)

a-rando-perso.bsky.social•77 days ago

Also reading children’s books gives us great insight into the cultural influences of our next generation, allowing us to better connect.

inkboundarchives.bsky.social•80 days ago

I’m so glad someone said it.

ryanlohner.bsky.social•79 days ago

Dr. Seuss said children are the toughest audience you can have.

drkarlauthor.bsky.social•80 days ago

alienwife99.bsky.social•80 days ago

As we both said the other day, it’s a golden age. Honestly some of my favourite books of the last few years have been children’s or YA books. They’re not good children’s books, they’re good books.

eacamp.bsky.social•79 days ago

Just read “Room on the Broom” to a 4 month old, and laughed out loud.

sallytears.bsky.social•80 days ago

I agree, I know when I published my children's book my niece who is in education said one of the stories made her cry. A message is a message at any age.

nataliewatford.bsky.social•80 days ago

The question of targeted audience always opens up great discussion in my class when looking at new books. My class now say something like.. 'aimed at 9+ and Mrs Watford.' They know where to find me in a book shop

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