It does not mean that because children’s books
have children as the targeted audience, the themes and flavor of the genre are
second-rate to adult standards. Sure,
plot is often uncomplicated for adult tastes, which is a la “Angels &
Demons”, but there is always beauty in simple but thought-provoking plots. Some of the greatest and most insightful
stories are found in children’s books.
In my years of being a bookworm, this fact has been proven true to me. I even read children’s books up until now.
Note: It does not necessarily
mean that the books on this list I was all able to read in childhood. No. As
I’ve said, I read children’s books even up to now, and some of these books I was
only able to read in my post-childhood years.
Just as I did not include in the list any books that were mostly meant
for the grown-up audience (e.g. classics, mysteries, thrillers, sci-fi, etc.)
just because I have read them during my childhood. So, with that out of the way, the list…
10.) “THE LITTLE PRINCE” by ANTOINE
DE SAINT-EXUPERY
Before I read “The Little Prince”, I first read de Saint-Exupery’s “Flight to Arras”, an old book that my father owned before he gave it to me. It was a biographical account of his stint as a pilot in the World War which has lots of philosophical discussions by the author, using his experiences as background and analogy references. I find de Saint-Exupery’s writing style brilliant, and I was delighted that he applied it on a children’s book.
The plot is about a boy that
lives in a moon (with his flower), and his adventures that led him to other
moons, until he got the Earth. On Earth,
he met the narrator – a pilot (probably Antoine meant it to be himself), in
which they shared plenty of philosophical discussions. Climax came when the boy decided to go back
to his moon (and his flower).
I had first encountered “The
Little Prince” in my senior year in high school, as my English teacher was a
great fan of it that she spent a quarter (or more) of the school year
discussing it and the rich philosophical undertones in the story. And when I say “rich philosophical
undertones”, I mean RICH. Lots of moral,
lots of quotable quotes, lots of heavy and touching emotional moments, lots of
wisdom, and lots of meaningful life reflections.
So, I owe that English teacher of
mine for sharing this classic. And when
I say classic, I mean CLASSIC.
9.) “GOOSEBUMPS” by R.L. STINE
I read dozens of “Goosebumps” books when I was kid, borrowing from friends or purchasing some. “Goosebumps” is a series of “horror” books for kids. But they are not really “horror”, more on “weird fantasy” – all about ghosts, werewolves, aliens, monsters, possessed puppets, cryptids, etc. – though the twists and heavy suspense in “The Headless Ghost” freaked me big.
Stine’s “Goosebumps” series made
me appreciate the genius of a plot twist in a story, which was the trademark of the series. Sometimes, Stine puts not only one twist, but
layers of twists in a story. This book
series would prepare me for my love of the “The Twilight Zone” TV series.
My favorite titles were “The
Girl Who Cried Monster”, “Why I’m Afraid of Bees”, “the “Monster Blood” series
and, yes, that book that freaked me out, “The Headless Ghost.”
Really, just talking of
“Goosebumps” makes me remember how I really loved this book series.
8.) “THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS” by KENNETH GRAHAME
The entire concept of
anthropomorphic animals as characters is the main charm here. I don’t know if anyone thought of
this idea prior Grahame (aside from fairy tales), but this book was my first
encounter of such concept. And I easily
loved the idea of animals talking and acting like humans.
The book is divided into several
episodes, but the most popular part was those of Mr. Toad’s adventures (or
misadventures). I especially love how he
and his friends took back Toad Hall from the weasels. The main themes of the book is clearly how one
will always suffer the consequences of one’s foolishness and good friends would
do their best to help or save someone from his follies.
Though animals were the
characters here, the behavior and emotions projected or illustrated are clearly
human. Because of this, we can easily
connect with the characters, but not be offended by any criticism because of
the characters being animals. The book
showed plenty of human characteristics in it, both good and bad, like
foolishness, arrogance, camaraderie, mischief, courage, and ingenuity.
7.) “HARDY BOYS” by FRANKLIN W.
DIXON & “NANCY DREW” by CAROLYN KEENE
Really, these two titles go hand in hand. It is almost presumed that if someone has read “Hardy Boys”, he or she has also read “Nancy Drew”, or vice versa. There are already many – not only of books – kinds of series of both titles, from the blue or yellow hardbound classics (the first series), to the pocketbook series set in a more modern timeline, to the more serious Casefiles and Files book series. A series of mystery adventures where the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew work together also exists. This makes sense because the two titles have the same source: the Stratemeyer Syndicate. The names “Franklin W. Dixon” and “Carolyn Keene” are just pseudonyms of the Syndicate’s founder, Edward Stratemeyer, and other writers of the syndicate.
Yes, now, I find Hardy Boys and
Nancy Drew books uncomplicated and, sometimes, silly. Lots of clichés, absurd coincidences in the
events, and sometimes redundant plots with each other. The format is usually about lots of sleuthing early on while
establishing the guest characters for that sequence, lots of legwork with
actually very little logical analyzing, the realizations they derive from the
clues are often obvious, strange phenomena that seemed to be irrelevant to the
case that was encountered earlier is found out to be an integral piece of the
puzzle, the characters get captured by the bad guy/s when they are close to or
had solved the mystery, the characters manipulate the bad guy/s to yap about
his or her or their plans to buy time and/or to learn
more, and just as the characters are about to be killed the cavalry arrives to
rescue them and/or they figure out a way to escape or overpower their
captors. Mystery solved. Plot and loose ends gets closure. The end.
Kind of makes me wonder why I loved these books.
But I did love the books. Really.
They were not that bad. In fact,
when I was reading them as a child, I had fun and was drawn to the stories. And not all volumes are clones of each
other. There are also unique adventures as well. The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries
were a big impact on my early years as a bookworm. They would cater to wanting to read more
mysteries and adventuring or any genre that has the same effect. I
tried “The Bobbsey Twins” and “The Three Investigators”, until I “leveled up” to
the “for grown-ups” mystery stories, like Agatha Christie books, other mystery
pocketbooks, to Sherlock Holmes, etc... all I read before I hit my teenage years.
6.) “WINNIE-THE-POOH” BOOKS by
A.A. MILNE
The world is fortunate because
the bedtime stories Milne imagined and brought to life for his son (Christopher
Robin) were able to be published to be enjoyed by the rest of us. If you find the Disney’s version of Winnie
the Pooh and his friends cute, well, the book’s version is more special. Pooh and his friends' childlike naivety is
very charming... cute... and funny... source of several thought-worthy and comical lines. There are only two
“Pooh” volumes, which is a pity.
Probably because Milne actually did not like it much, since he wants to
be known as an excellent serious playwright rather than an author of a popular book
for children.
In the “Winnie-the-Pooh” volume,
my favorite dialogue is:
“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said
Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"
"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"
"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen
exciting today?" said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
"It's the same thing," he said.
In the “House at Pooh Corners” volume, it would be:
"Rabbit's
clever," said Pooh thoughtfully.
"Yes," said
Piglet, "Rabbit's clever."
"And he has
Brain."
"Yes," said
Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."
There was a long silence.
"I suppose,"
said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything."
Genius.
5.) “THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN” by MARK
TWAIN
Critics say that this is the magnum opus of “America’s Greatest Humorist”, Mark Twain (my favorite though is “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”). In a popular anecdote, it is said that one man approached him and said roughly, “I would give a hundred dollars to not have read Huckleberry Finn.” Mark Twain asked, “Why?” The man softened and replied, “So I will have the pleasure of reading it for the first time.” If that is not the best compliment one can give to a piece of literature, then what is?
Sure, at the first time I read it, in which I was
about seven, I found it hard to read and understand the context and
themes. Though, I understood the story
in general way, I can’t see what’s special in it or comprehend the
details. “Huckleberry Finn” is
definitely richer and deeper than “Tom Sawyer.”
As I re-read it when I was a little older, and being able to get more
familiarity with the Southern Americanism and culture of that time, I saw how
beautiful and witty the book really is.
“Huckleberry Finn” was a major
reason why I rank Mark Twain as one of the greatest writers ever.
4.) “BUNNICULA” BOOKS by JAMES
HOWE
The Bunnicula books are all excellent reads, but the best is still the first: “Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery.” The series chronicles the adventures of the Monroe pets consisting of Harold the dog, Chester the cat, and Bunnicula the rabbit. They would be joined by a Dachshund puppy named Howie later on the series. The running subject matter of the series is of Bunnicula being a vampire bunny, shown by his appearance (a stereotype of a Count Dracula-appearance) and of the appearance of vegetables getting ghostly white after the juices were drained from them, and Chester's attempt to prove that the rabbit is a vampire and "neutralize" him.
There are plenty of fun quips
from Harold’s (being naïve and slow) narration (since he’s the “author” of the
book) and from the dialogues and quotes of the characters. The format of the episodes is mysteries with “horror-feel”
(found in and proposed by the titles) in it but entirely comedic. The adventures/mysteries are robust and entertaining
roller coaster rides with lots of amusing absurdity fashioned by the characters
throughout the series.
3.) “LITTLE WOMEN” BOOKS by
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT
“Little Women”, “Good Wives”, “Little
Men”, and “Jo’s Boys.” Those were the
books in the series about the March sisters and their friends and family. “Little Women” and “Good Wives” are the
stories that detailed the March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – transition from
being girls to women, while “Little Men” and “Jo’s Boys” chronicled the story
of Jo’s school. It took me nearly six or
seven years before I could collect and read all of them. “Jo’s Boys” being the
last book I found and got… and that was when I was already a college freshman.
Yes, it’s a “girl's book" (well,
at least, for the first two books). But
there is a reason it is ranked this high in the list. It is because I really liked it, even though
it’s a girl’s book. It has plenty of
morals and the “heartwarming” factor is high.
The storytelling is fluid and absorbingly comprehensible. And, yes, there is romance in it – something I
tried to avoid in literature – but the romance here is reasonable and
appropriate, the emotions not exaggerated but sensibly essential to the context. Alcott managed to project the romance, and
its offshoot themes like heartbreak, without being thickly and ridiculously melodramatic.
The “Little Women” books are
touching and wholesome, and full of lessons and themes that a child should
learn, like overcoming childishness and character flaws, being content and thankful
of what is available, and the importance of loyalty and friendship.
2.) “ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN
WONDERLAND” by LEWIS CAROLL
This book has tremendous impact
in my reading because it is the book that catapulted me to entirely love literature. Before this, I was already
an avid reader but limited to books with illustrations like comics and
encyclopedias. Alice in Wonderland made
me start reading about novels which are usually non-illustrated.
I fell in love with both the Alice character and
the place of Wonderland. Wonderland is
full of wackiness and fantasy, and Alice’s response to each the extraordinary
events or characters that unfold is quite charming. Reading this book was my first encounter with
the “journey to the unknown”-feel in fiction which I quickly like.
The “Curiouser and curioser” would
also become one of my most favorite quotes of all time. A perfect line when things start getting interesting
or changing in the story. Which is also
applicable in life, as the line seems to give the hype of the excitement for
what’s the next thing life will showcase.
1.) “THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA” by C.S. LEWIS
Lewis is a master of words,
discussions, and storytelling. And an
artist in inserting Christian undertones in fiction. Which he perfected in his Narnia books. The books themselves are all excellent piece
of fantasy storytelling. Full of action
and color. Has excellent character depth
and creative situations. Lots of raw
fantasy charm that would make the story easily loveable to a reader. Add the ingenuity of being able to
metaphorically discuss Christian principles in it, and the seven book series is
more than a classic. In a sense, Narnia
is a deeper philosophical work than “The Little Prince.” More than philosophical, Narnia is spiritual. Discussing Christian concept by means of
children’s fantasy allegory…. the concept is pure genius. And Lewis pulled it off brilliantly. Genius.
Narnia is a work of genius.
Genius. I got nothing more to
say.
1 comment:
No list for children can be complete without including the 'Anne of Green Gables' series by Lucy Maud Montgomery! Otherwise, great list.
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