Saturday 1 June 2013

Armchair BEA Day 5 Discussion: Children to YA Books



“You have to write the book that wants to be written.
And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” 

― Madeleine L'Engle

Today's genre is a big one, Children's Literature. From picture books to middle grade to young adult novels this is a category that encompasses books that young and old alike flock to on a daily basis. In our home it's not uncommon to read anywhere from three or four picture books a day to as many as twenty. And that's not counting the middle grade and YA books picked up and devoured in a week. 

One of the great things about children's literature is the wide range of emotions, topics and themes it covers... it can take us to places far away through wardrobes, on pirate ships and into times of post-apocalyptic chaos. There is no limit to what can be accomplished within the pages of a well-written piece of children's literature. 

What are your favourites? Why do you love children's literature? 
Did you write a post about it? Share it with us!

You don't have to be a kid to appreciate children's and teen literature, do you?
We're talking about that today.
Post your thoughts about kidlit and YA, and link them up here!



“No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.” 



What reading delight we miss when we don't return to our book loves from childhood.  Perhaps one of the great gifts of parenthood or as uncle, aunt or grandparent - reading these stories once again to our own family's children.

Children's writing allows us the freedom to venture into worlds without skepticism.  With the joy of anticipation.  With eyes of wonder.

What are some of my favourites?





Beautiful beginnings.
This one for children by Lisa T Bergren 
God Gave Us You is not to be missed.
A polar bear answers each child's 
foundational question, "Where did I come from?"

"God Gave Us You provides a valuable opportunity to build children's self-esteem every day and assure each one that he or she truly is a welcomed, precious, and treasured 
gift from God" - Goodreads



The Borrowers by Mary Norton
                                                                        
This is the classic story--read and loved by children all over the world--of Pod, Homily, and their daughter, Arrietty, who live under the kitchen floor in a quiet, half-empty house and get their livelihood by borrowing from the “human beans.”   -  “Delectable fantasy.”--Booklist

This is the first series I remember reading. Avidly hunting the library's shelves for the next book in the series; hoping it would be in and available to 'borrow' on every trip mom and I would take to the library.
I re-read the series when I found a boxed set at a charity shop just a few years ago.  I loved every minute of the luxury of reading it again and seeing it now through adult eyes.


Series were definitely a favourite.  Probably a good marketing ploy!
Kept me wanting the 'next one'; the next adventure with the heroine or hero that had become part of my life.  Nancy Drew?  Anyone else into following The Hardy Boys?


I am now seeing where my love for mysteries originated!  My next series was of the same genre.
Bernard Palmer's prolific writing of Danny Orlis mysteries...                





I didn't discover Narnia until an adult, 
but that hasn't deterred me from its enjoyment!
Thus my CS Lewis quote above...







One enjoyment that I've loved throughout the years is having a book read to me.  Loved as a child for sure!  and now with abundant availability of audiobooks it's a great option to continue that pleasure.  Having them on hand in the car as well as in house keeps you 'reading' and really shortens any highway driving time!  The kids always love trips to the cottage because they'll have a story 'live' via the audiobooks.  
Here's  a New Release just this week I think you'll enjoy -                                                    





One classic book that can't be forgotten in a children's book discussion is Canadian author, LM Montgomery's, Anne of Green Gables.  And of course all the others one will be lead to in reading this first book!
This ebook collection of almost every LMM book and audio is incredibly priced variously at .99 or 1.99 and worth more than paid!  Find it at amazon.
You'll be glad you did.



A fantastic ya series that had book blog discussions happening weekly -
The RIver of Time series by Lisa T Bergren.  Waterfall, Cascade,
Torrent - contemp to medieval time travel. 





A brief overview of some of my influences and blast from the past.
Thanks for the fun,
Armchair BEA hosts.  Every title I pulled up at Goodreads was a fresh reminder of my childhood blessings and happiness.

Find more blogs posting for today RIGHT HERE .







 


 


3 comments:

  1. Narnia and Nancy Drew were two of my favorites as a child. Narnia never gets old for me.

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  2. My sons loved The Chronicles of Narnia and the others that followed. Those were our bedtime stories to our children, when they were in elementary school.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Narnia books are timeless. I love them so much!

    ReplyDelete

Your thoughts...? Thanks for sharing ~