Keep Your Inner Child Alive: Children’s Books We All Loved
In 1962, Philippe Ariés published a revolutionary work titled Centuries of Childhood. As part of his research, Ariés drew on a variety of sources, including paintings from the 1700s, which depicted children not as kids but as miniature adults. He asserted, among other things, that Medieval society had no concept of what childhood meant and that a child becomes an adult only when he or she no longer depends on another individual (mother, nanny, relative) for sustenance. Though historians have since disproved his claim about Medieval society, Ariés’ fundamental argument still rings true. This is that childhood is not an actual condition. Rather, it is something that every culture invents for itself. Children’s literature is the only genre that is determined solely by its audience. The children’s texts that we find on bookshelves today say a lot about how our culture approaches both the nature of childhood and the instruction of children. A simple alphabet book can be educational and entertaining at the same time. Letters can be represented by colorful drawings in the shapes of animals, critters, or flowers. Children learn their numbers and multiplication tables by chanting rhymes or playing games that make learning an active process of not only memorization but also fun. What is perhaps most endearing about children’s literature is its ability to reach out to readers of any age. Seniors can enjoy Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are just as much as a four-year-old can relish the book’s pictures and imaginative drawings. Here are five works which will take you down memory lane, back to a time that was more innocent, simple, and beautiful. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren Described as having “the strength of ten policemen,” Pippi Longstocking is no ordinary girl. Her father is a Cannibal King. She lives in a house called the Villa Villekulla with a monkey named Mr. Nilsson and a horse named Old Man. Lacking a formal education, Pippi spends her days spinning tall tales and dragging her friends Tommy and Annika Settergren on all of her adventures. Though she is, in may respects, a wild child, Pippi does have a keen sense of justice and has the talent to elude many of the crafty and manipulative adults that have come her way in the past. Pippi has become an iconic character known the whole world over for her courage and self-confidence. After all, who else can pull off a ragged patchwork dress, mismatched stockings, and fiery red braids at the same time? Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers Though she is perfect in every way, Mary Poppins possesses a number of traits which might otherwise be considered quite negative for a children’s nanny. She is intensely stern and vain, frequently snapping at Jane and Michael whenever they do something wrong. Despite all this, children love her, and the family can’t get enough of her. Her magical touch has won over not only the entire Banks household, but also readers both young and old around the world. In the first book, Mary Poppins whisks Jane and Michael to the home of Mr. Wigg, where the four have a marvelous floating tea party on the ceiling. The children also buy gingerbread from Mrs. Corry, go Christmas shopping with a star named Maia, and celebrate a birthday party at the zoo with a congregation of animals. Just like a pleasant dream, once the Banks family has come together again, Mary Poppins disappears on her trademark umbrella, floating away on the West Wind. The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne Adventures abound in this unabridged and fully illustrated edition of Pooh’s adventures with Christopher Robin and the rest of the gang. Though Pooh is described as a “Bear of Very Little Brain”, he is actually quite the philosophical and wise friend, sharing frequently with Christopher and Piglet his thoughts on life and the pursuit of happiness. In this collection of stories, Pooh meets a Heffalump, cheers up Eeyore, works with his friends to unbounce the energetic Tigger, gets stuck in Rabbit’s doorway, and much more. Readers of all ages will love watching these timeless tales unfold before their eyes alongside Ernest H. Shepard’s colorful illustrations. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Milo, the protagonist of Juster’s classic work, has nothing to do, no one to see, and nowhere to go. He is bored beyond boredom, though his lazy days end when a curious tollbooth suddenly appears in his bedroom. Setting off in his toy car, Milo has an adventure of a lifetime, battling monsters, making friends with a watchdog named Tock, and surmounting the Mountains of Ignorance to rescue the twin princesses Rhyme and Reason. Every page of this book is riddled with wordplay, making this work a smart and certainly amusing selection for children and adults alike. Who can forget characters like Officer Short Shrift or the Humbug, inventions that are as memorable as they are engaging to readers of any background? The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis The horrors of WWII are looming on the horizon, and four children (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie) are separated from their loved ones in London to live with Professor Digory Kirke and his housekeeper, Mrs. Macready in the English countryside. The story is one that has been revisited so many times, yet continues to endure even to this day. A solitary wardrobe leads to a magical snow-covered dimension filled with mythical creatures, from a faun named Mr. Tumnus to talking beavers. It is up to the children to transform Narnia into the world it used to be, a journey replete with heartbreak, daring adventures, and tests of courage. Katherine J. Chen is a sophomore at Princeton University, majoring in English with a certificate in Creative Writing. She is currently taking a course devoted entirely to children’s literature, and is excited at the prospect of reading Harry Potter and The Phantom Tollbooth for homework!
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