Why Adults Need Children’s Books
I am a 90’s child, now grudgingly admitting that I’m an adult. The term ‘adulting’ that my generation uses to describe doing adult things has lost its sheen of being ‘those fantastic things that adults get to do’ to be a tarnished version of ‘oh the mundane, taxing responsibilities that I now shoulder’. I miss the energy of my youthful days. I miss the gumption and the positivity. Mostly, I miss the magic. You may call it naivete but I call that infectious optimism and can-do spirit magic.
I have recently come to be cognizant of the fact that every time I try to reignite my passion for reading, I go to not the works of Kafka and Neitzsche and Tolstoy, but invariably go back to the Harry Potter books. This is not to subtly say that I read Neitzsche and Kafka (they’re impressively collecting cobwebs and dust) but to overtly state that times are dire — there’s war and strife, rising prices, melting polar caps, growing income inequality, increasing violence, and specific to me, liquefying brains and dissolving resolve. So, no offence, Kafka and Neitzsche and the lot, I’d like some magic and silliness and happiness. Now, Harry Potter is dark, but it’s packaged in bite-sized, child-friendly form; so I’ll take it. I’ll deal with the dead parents, the ‘greater good’, war, sacrifice, jingoism, and bigotry with a side of swish and flick, flying broomsticks, and spells like Accio, please!
There is a familiar comfort in the Enid Blyton books, the Harry Potter books, the fables, and the fairytales of my childhood (yes, even with all the critique of why they’re problematic — stereotypes, happy endings, damsels in distress, consent, etc.). So many lessons that needed a refresher and many more that I learn anew (I’m an adult. If I can fight against the harshness of reality, stereotypes and the rest in real life, problematic parts of children’s books are certainly not going to win the battle and reinforce that). This is my long-winded way of saying that adults need children’s books because dear adults, like me, you too would have definitely forgotten a lot of things you need to be reminded about. (Even the problematic ones because hopefully, they’ll make you realise why they’re problematic!) Since you’re too old for your mums to spank your bottoms and reteach you right from wrong, I suggest you hit children’s books to unlearn and relearn a few things on your own. Children’s books will cool your heads a little bit for you to rethink some of your decisions and forget the hate.
If not anything else, children’s books certainly are meditative and calming. The colourful and vibrant illustrations, the talking animals and things, the mystique and charm of magical realism, the folksy fairytale mood of ‘Once upon a time’ and most certainly, the simple language provide a welcome break from ‘adulting’. If you’re not a reader because you don’t think your brain can handle reading a book and having thoughts, pick up a children’s book! They’re written ingeniously to make you think thoughts without you having to think about thinking thoughts.
It is okay to miss the carefree life of childhood and its innocence. It is even more okay to relive them through cartoons and Disney or Pixar movies. It is absolutely recommended you relish them while cosily reading a children’s book, with or sans children. If you’re looking to get back into reading but those big, heavy, intelligent 500-page books tire or intimidate you, pick up an innocuous, gentle, unassuming 32-page children’s book!
