This week saw the selection of a new Newberry Award winner–the gold standard in children’s literature–and a discussion in our forums about the pleasures of revisiting childhood favorites, so I thought we’d touch on some of our favorites here.
One of my favorite books as a kid was A.A. Milne’s classic The Wind in the Willows. I loved hearing about the adventures of Mole, Rat, Badger, and, of course, Toad in the Wild Wood. I still have oddly fond associations with those animals and I think Milne’s idyllic, pastoral scene and charming characterizations are the reason why. (Well, now that I’ve lived in New York City for a while, I’ll pass on the Rats. But the internet has given us all newfound love for Otters, right?)
I suppose that’s one of the marks of a great children’s book–that it sticks with you long after you become a grown-up, not only in terms of plot, but in terms of how it colors your memory and point of view.
Some of my other childhood favorites that are on DailyLit are The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and The Jungle Book.
What were your favorites–and what do you think makes a great children’s book?
