Everyone has that one favorite childhood book... Maybe a Dr. Seuss, like "Cat in the Hat", or maybe something simpler, like "Goodnight, Moon". Every book for children has some sort of message we are supposed to learn, but those lessons aren't just applicable as children. Rather, sometimes we can learn even more from them now that we've started to grow up.
In going to college and leaving home, I experienced a nostalgia for childhood that most late teens experience. In looking over all the old books I read as a child, I begin to pull out some of those really applicable lessons. So, here are eight children's books that you should definitely re-read!
1. The Missing Piece
Written by Shel Silverstein, this story talks about the importance of acceptance and being yourself, and how you don't need a "perfect fit" to be happy, you just need to accept that your perfect fit is yourself!
2. The Red Balloon
A cute book based on the French movie by Albert Lamorisse, this story tells of friendship, devotion, and how the power of dreams can conquer the world's worst!
3. Julius the Baby of the World
The sequel to "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse", this hilarious story by Kevin Hankes talks about the power of love, but also the painful aspects of jealousy and new experiences.
4. Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories
A Dr. Seuss classic, Yertle the Turtle has the iconic line "I know up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here on the bottom we too should have rights!" The power of one little turtle to make a change for the better is still so powerful, and also very funny!
5. Velveteen Rabbit
The lovely story by Margery Williams illustrates the incredible power of love. A little boy loves his rabbit to shabbiness, but by the child's pure love, is able to make that little velveteen rabbit real.
6. Where the Wild Things Are
The classic story by Maurice Sendak about Max, a little boy who dreams up magnificent stories and lives through incredible adventures, yet realizes that his true home is exactly where he left it. More importantly, he learns that home will always be there for him, keeping his dinner hot!
7. Winnie the Pooh
Good old Winnie the Pooh! The whole set of original stories by A. A. Milne conveys amazing lessons about positivity, friendship, and, of course, the value of a good meal in making the world just a little bit better!
8. Matilda
Sometimes we all need just a little bit of magic to get through the worst of times. "Matilda" by Roald Dahl, conveys that little bit of magic, and shows us the true power of creativity.
So there they are, eight children's books you should most definitely re-read at some point! There are of course many more, like Harry Potter, other Dr. Seuss, every other book by Roald Dahl, and countless others!
Reading can take us magical places, and sometimes we loose that as we get older. So, curl up with some good children's books this weekend! Read you heart out! Fly back to childhood, to nighttime bed stories, to the magical characters we once imagined so vividly!
