Books for Kids: A Formula that Works

Well, it’s official, I’ve graduated, bringing my long academic career to a close, at least for now.  And as it happens, thinking of endings brings me all the way back to thinking about the beginning.  And in terms of the literary side of things, I’ve been struck with nostalgia regarding my first initiation into the world of reading.

Many of today's adults were initiated into reading through series like The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries.

Though much of what is written for kids is by no means high quality (many of these books have large print and very basic and predictable writing style and plotting), it is nonetheless vital for bringing kids into the fold of the world of reading.  After all, for those who have never read anything but picture books before, such large font in comparison is significantly smaller, and the stories are much more complex and intricate than anything they might have encountered before.

I remember my own mother reading Roald Dahl books to me before I started picking books up on my own, which actually hold up quite nicely for their originality, humor, and heartfelt storylines even when adults read them.  For me, this was the spark to start looking into longer chapter books.  I think that parents can do a lot for their kids to push them towards taking on more hefty reading by showing them that such books, despite their lack of pictures, can take one on even greater adventures by virtue of their own imaginations.

Authors like Roald Dahl, Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time), and J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) are all good options for parents looking to introduce their children to reading because they are excellent storytellers that can ensnare adult fancy too.  Though L’Engle and Rowling are directed at kids that have a bit more experience reading, reciting such stories to kids can still be a great way to catch their curiosity and interest.

The Animorphs series contained the first chapter books I was really excited about.

When I finally started to pick up books on my own, I, like many others of my generation, was drawn to the Animorphs series.  A mix of alien slug invasion and kids my age given the ability to morph into any animal in their mission to stop the planetary take-over, these books captured my imagination.  I was actually asking for Animorphs titles as birthday presents (which believe me had never happened before) and thrown into fits of delight when I got them.

Of course now, when I look back on these stories, I feel a bit sheepish for my childhood belief that these tomes were phenomenal works of art.  What was once able to open up vast and endless shores for me, spreading the wings of my mind to full extension, now seems to have an inverse effect.  Trying to go back to such books cripples the expansion of my mind, only opening doors onto dim and cramped rooms that all look the same.

This is not a bad thing though.  It is just the nature of such introductory books.  They are the stepping-stones just outside the main gate, but they serve their purpose by getting kids excited and eager to walk through that doorway on their own.  After all, you’ve got to use the door; most can’t magically jump from one room to the next.

While Animorphs was the golden goose for me, past generations have been drawn to series like The Baby Sitter’s Club, Sweet Valley High, Nancy Drew Mysteries, and The Hardy Boys.  The first books we turn to are often formulaic, but in my opinion, it’s a formula that works.  What books were you first excited about?  Let me know, write below!