Top 5 CHILDREN's Books for Adults
One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to Children’s Books is that adults cannot draw-out important life lessons from them and that they lack substance and insight.
I’m here to dispute that notion, I have compiled a list of 5 Timeless Children’s Books which will leave you astonished at the life vivifying insights they convey. Not only for children but for adults looking for answers into the human condition.
In my opinion this is one of the most important books ever written, that’s why it’s first on my list.
George Orwell was able to take a simple story that little kids can understand and imbed powerful social and political commentary.
On the surface it teaches kids about bullying and standing up against wrong behaviour, even if it comes from authority. It also teaches the importance of developing confidence and self-reliance.
It’s a timeless book that looks at aligning the moral compass missing around the world due to tyranny and political manipulation.
I read this book as a child and found it entertaining, because Farm Animals could speak and I enjoyed it tremendously. Especially the silly sheep repeating the phrase, ““Four legs good, two legs bad,”
I read it again in High School, and it shaped my attitude towards racism and people who think that they are above others based on their privilege and social status.
I read it again in University, and it clearly described the political turmoil in South Africa due to corruption and incompetence of the ruling party. It looks closely at the dynamics of power and the social problems caused by the lack of education.
I have read it multiple times again recently, because I use it as study material to teach English. I am now able to see new insights through the eyes of my students around the world. It has also opened up a whole new world for them, and a deep understanding of Human Nature.
I remember reading Aesop’s Fables as a child, but I found the stories confusing and strange. I recently stumbled on one of the stories called, “The Fox and the Grapes” which instantly resonated with me and took me down a rabbit hole of reading all of the stories voraciously.
The Fox and the Grapes
One afternoon, a fox was walking through the forest and spotted a bunch of grapes hanging from a lofty branch. "Just the thing to quench my thirst," said the fox.
Taking a few steps back, the fox jumped and just missed the hanging grapes. Again, the fox took a few paces back and tried to reach them, but still failed.
Finally, giving up, the fox turned up his nose and said, "They're probably sour anyway." Then he walked away.
This is where the popular phrase “Sour Grapes” comes from.
MORAL: IT'S EASY TO DESPISE WHAT YOU CANNOT HAVE.
A note about the story
The ‘Fox and the Grapes’ is often cited as an example for cognitive dissonance: the discomfort people experience when their beliefs/actions are at odds with other beliefs/actions.
In the story, the fox sees some grapes on a vine and wants to eat them. He tries to jump up, but cannot reach them because they are too high.
When he realizes he will not be able to eat any grapes, the fox becomes disdainful; he tells himself that those grapes were sour and not worthy of desire anyway.
The Story of Matilda means a lot to me because it was the first time I discovered someone who made being smart and articulate look cool.
I’m a 90’s kid, and it definitely wasn’t considered cool to play chess, read books and play tennis.
But Matilda was able to navigate around a hostile world, that looked down on her talents and felt intimidated by her uniqueness.
It’s a coming of age story about “Following Your Bliss” There will always be invisible hands to help you along the road if you follow your deep inclinations in life.
You will struggle, but it will lead you to a beautiful place of authenticity.
4.The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
This is a coming-of-age children’s literature that emphasizes the importance of positive thinking and hope. Friendship, love for nature, and curiosity are the main themes.
This is the first book I read and experienced a deep sadness which I had never felt before as a child. I had no real understanding of death, loss and loneliness. This book was able to paint a clear picture which was a little confusing as a child, but resonates deeply with me right now due to my age and experience.
One of my greatest achievements was reading the whole book in Mandarin during the Pandemic. It took over 5 months to finish because of the difficulty. But the book seems more visceral in Mandarin, I think it’s because Chinese characters are pictorial, So the imagery has a stronger effect than English.
5.George's Marvellous Medicine - Roald Dahl
George Kranky, an eight-year-old boy who concocts his own miracle elixir to replace his tyrannical grandmother's regular prescription medicine.
This book sparked controversy around the world, as many kids tried to replicate the medicine George made, myself included.
I vividly remember after reading the chapter about the ingredients rushing to our backyard to look for ingredients to make my own marvellous medicine. Such as sand, leaves, insects and cleaning chemicals.
Our Nanny was horrified to find all the ingredients placed on the kitchen counter and was able to intervene by threatening to tell my mother about what I was about to do.
I never got the opportunity to make my own marvellous medicine but I’ll never forget the excitement while reading this book.
