Do You Love Reading Children's Books?

Do you enjoy reading books for children? Not reading children's books to children for their education, entertainment, and enjoyment. But do you - the adult-like reading them?

Several years back, my spouse and I contemplated the idea of writing books for children. We even had ourselves tested to see if we had the necessary skills and aptitude. We were looking for a means of earning income while working from home and caring for our young children and thought this might be a viable solution. The test results were persuasive, so we decided on this path to pursue our financial goals. We will never know if we would have been as successful as the author of the Harry Potter books. After a few manuscript rejections by various publishers, we turned our efforts to more practical, more immediate, income-earning opportunities.

Although no longer interested in writing books for children, I discovered something about myself that I did not know. I thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in children's books. Not reading them to my children or to children, but I like reading them for myself. Yes. It's an indulgence.


Many books for children, adolescents or young adults are about 100 to 250 pages and are a quick read. Those marvelous children's picture books with their exquisite illustrations are even shorter reads; about 25 pages, pictures included. But what a wonderful distraction they are from the daily grind of work, housework, grocery shopping, and other mundane chores. They're so adventurous and other-worldly. Reading children's books actually refreshes and energizes me.


During the course of our failed attempt at becoming children's book authors, I found numerous writers in this field that I wish I had been introduced to when I myself was a child. I had never heard of many of them and yet they were award-winning, outstanding, notable, respected authors. Laurence Yep, Katherine Paterson, Madeleine L'Engle and Jane Yolen are four such writers.

So, if you're wondering what would be a guilt-free indulgence to set yourself free from your daily routine for just a few moments, try reading a children's book. Choose books by the authors mentioned above, or if you don't know where to begin, visit Al's Book Club for Kids. Oprah also publishes a Kids' Reading List. Although these lists were created with children in mind, they are perfect for those of us who want to indulge our inner child.



References:

• Paterson, Katherine. Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1983. Print.
• L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1962. Print.
• "Jane Yolen." Fantastic Fiction. Web. 27 Apr 2011.
• "Al's Book Club for Kids.", TODAY.com: Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, TODAY Show Video, News, Recipes, Health, Pets. Web. 27 Apr 2011.
• "Kids' Reading List - Oprah.com." Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Web. 27 Apr 2011.
• "Author Katherine Paterson After Bridge to Terabithia - Oprah.com."Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.
• "FIND A BOOK: L'ENGLE, MADELEINE." Anita Silvey's Children's Book-A-Day Almanac. Web. 27 Apr 2011.

Suggested link: Children who have published books and have made an impact on the world of literature. Click this link to read Literary History: Children Authors. It's fascinating!


Original Source
( NOTE: Full article previously published a YAHOO Voices.  YCN website shut down.  Portions of republished various places around the web. )


Browse books by the authors:
Laurence Yep
Katherine Paterson
Madeleine L'Engle
Jane Yolen

[Children’s Book Recommendation] The Emperor and the Kite by Jane Yolen

Ever notice a small child look up when an adult walks into the room? Especially a very tall adult. Do you ever notice their eyes widen and how they bend their heads back almost to the point that you think they might break their little neck trying to look up in awe at this giant!

Do you wonder what they might be thinking? 

Do they think:

- How does a person get to be so big?

- Will I ever become a giant like that?

- I am so small. Will that big person hurt me?

- They're looking at the wall. Do they see me down here? I could get crushed!  Better move to some place safe like next to my mom.

Now imagine you're a small child in a home filled with giants. A giant father. Giant brothers. Giant sisters. All of them doing gigantic enormous things every day! Always busy all of the time. So busy they never even see you. You're so tiny. So tiny that your family gives you the name that means “the smallest one”. 

You think to yourself:

• Do they call me that because I'm not as big as they are and never will be?
• Or is it because they think so little of me that I might as well not exist? 

Though not her exact words, these were very likely the daily thoughts of Princess Djeow Seow, fourth youngest and smallest daughter of the Emperor of China.

Such was her world. Her brothers were allowed to help her father rule the kingdom. Her sisters brought the food to their father's table.

What was she permitted to do?  Go fly a kite! Literally.

But not everyone disregarded the tiny princess. There was a humble monk who always watched her whenever she hoisted her favorite kite into the air. Each day he would repeat the same prayer to her and each day she would always thank him in the same way. Every day. Each day. Each day. Every day. Except … one day.

Sometimes being “the smallest one” can be a very good thing.

*The Emperor and the Kite by Jane Yolen is suggested reading for 3rd and 4th graders.

Jane Yolen is one of my favorite authors of books for children and young adults.  She has been writing for decades, mainly the fantasy genre.  The sweetness and simplicity of her style is what makes her work so appealing.

Original source

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Books For Children Written By Children

Did you know that there are several authors of children’s books who were children themselves when they published their works? In 1641, Francis Hawkins wrote a book about manners and etiquette for kids entitled “Youth Behavior”. He was eight years old. This is a part of literary history which is very inspiring.

After all, if you’re encouraging kids to read, why not tell them it’s OK to get started on pursuing a writing career? These days with self-publishing and eBooks, etc. there’s no stopping anybody who wants to try to be a writer; not even a child! Don't you agree?

There are many celebrated authors of children's literature. But most of those writers are or were adults when they published their works. Below is a list of recommended links to articles that not only discuss the topic of content written for children but rather content written by children for children (along with other related or relevant information links). 

“Many children have written books that have been published. One of the first we know about is Francis Hawkins. In 1641, when he was 8 years old, he wrote a book of manners for children called Youth Behavior.”

• All About Books: Children as Authors | Fact Monster

"As Hollywood scours the literary world for the next big screen adaptation with franchise potential, studios may want to start paying attention to another pool of authors to borrow from.”

• 10 Talented Child and Teen Authors | Flavorwire

“Dorothy Straight was an adorable 4-year-old when she decided to write How the World Began as a present for her grandmother back in 1962. However, her parents loved it and smelled success, deciding to seek out a publisher for the book.”

• 10 Youngest Child Authors in History | Mom.com

“You may have heard of Christopher Paolini, who started his bestselling fantasy series, Inheritance, when he was 15. But when we went looking for the youngest authors ever, we found some astonishing younger examples.”

• 10 Youngest Authors in History - Toptenz.net

“This is a list of notable books by young authors and of books written by notable writers in their early years. These books were written, or substantially completed, before the author's twentieth birthday.”

• List of books written by children or teenagers | Wikipedia

♦  Related Links:

• How to Get Your Kid’s Writings Published | The Independent Publishing Magazine

• How to Publish a Children's Book in 6 Simple Steps | reedsyblog

• How To Write A Children's Book In 9 Easy Steps - Complete Guide [2020] | KindlePreneur

• The Business of Writing for Children: An Author's Inside Tips on Writing Children's Books and Publishing Them, or How to Write, Publish, and Promote a Book for Kids

Unstoppable Me! and Other Childrens Books by Dr. Wayne Dyer That Empower Children

Published a review and recommendation of "Unstoppable Me" via HUBPages.com and rated it on Goodreads.com.

Empower your children.  

If you like this book, you might also like the other two suggestions as well.

 

Unstoppable Me!: 10 Ways to Soar Through Life 

By Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

No Excuses!:How What You Say Can Get In Your Way

Incredible You! 10 Ways to let your greatness shine through

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Unstoppable Me!: 10 Ways to Soar Through Life by Wayne W. Dyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elementary school teacher recommended the book for my daughter. It was enjoyable. Written in a poem and easily understandable for a young child. Motivating and good for character or personality development. Published review at HUBPages.com http://cmoneyspinner1tf.hubpages.com/...

*View all my reviews on Goodreads

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