Literature is an essential part of every child’s formation. It is a vital educational tool with endless lessons to teach. Through literature, we come to know people, places and ideas without ever leaving the comfort of our sofas or beds. Getting a child to read, however, is not always the simplest task. That said, it is still extremely important. Through literature, children get to know the world.
Take a look at this list of eight books every child, including yours, must read before adulthood:
1. Dr. Seuss Green Eggs & Ham This piece of children’s literature is considered a classic for a reason. Children love it, laughing at its silly rhymes and following its repetition. Parents also enjoy it for its cultural familiarity. Green Eggs & Ham is also an early introduction to the world of poetry, its rhyme and rhythm entrancing.
2. Mother Goose Fairytales These oldest fables and tales are as entertaining today as they were centuries ago. The stories they tell never fail to keep us engaged, and the lessons they teach are no less important today than they were in decades past. These nostalgia-invoking stories are sure to please both parents and kids.
3. Robert Munsch Love You Forever Love You Forever tells the story of the evolving relationship between a mother and her son over the span of a lifetime. The short story pulls at the heart strings of both parents and children and provides important lessons about the passage of time and the changing of roles.
4. J.K. Rowling Harry Potter Before heading to the theatre to take your child to see the latest Harry Potter movie, why not pick up the book first? These adventure stories appeal to kids of all ages and all areas of interest, and your child is sure to get hooked. Plus, these books are a prime way to get your child interested in reading in the first place.
5. William Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet In the history of English language literature, Shakespeare is quite probably the most important figure. His works have saturated the world of storytelling for years, popping up in television and film as well. The story of Romeo & Juliet is a familiar one that your child will be able to follow while being introduced to this central English language author.
6. J.D. Salinger The Catcher in the Rye This is a book no teen should go to college without reading first. The voice it presents is something with which adolescents will be sure to identify. And though the book does present rather serious topics – suicide and sex, for example – it does so in a way that is non-confrontational and instead thought-provoking.
7. Homer The Iliad and The Odyssey These two ancient epic poems, though dense, are at the base of world literature. This is why it is vital for all children to be familiar with them. Both poems provide insight into the world of literature that has followed.
8. Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights Wuthering Heights is one of the first novelistic successes attained by a female author. Its story is as enthralling and heart-wrenching today as when it was first released.
