Why focus on popular classics?
The BBC's list of must-read books for children didn't surprise most people. It would include classics like "To Kill A Mockingbird". Literary aficionados pointed out that the list included recent works. J. K. Rowling was a familiar name, and the Harry Potter series would end up on the top of the list. "The B. F. G.", Roald Dahl's beloved novella, came up in second place. This book wasn't old enough. (It was published in 1982.) Julia Donaldson's "The Gruffalo" (1999) was in eighth.
The BBC list would be one of many checklists that could give readers a clue on what titles must be read in Children's literature. Unless you're an English major, then it wouldn't be wise to focus on the classics. It could be daunting to a young mind unless the Marvel films would be used as references. Some might wonder about the other titles that the BBC panel passed up (in favor of the ten titles in their list). Let's have a random look:
Millions of Cats (1928) by Wanda Gág. Picture this: A lonely woman yearned for a cat. Her husband searched high and low for the prettiest kitty to bring home. He stumbled into a valley inhabited by thousands of cats and kittens. They engaged in a vicious (cat)fight after the couple told them that they could only care for one. The last one standing was the most unattractive kitten that the couple has ever seen. What would be the moral of this story? If you don't want trouble, then don't look for a furry cat. But this was a picture book. Gág's black-and-white illustrations would fascinate kids, but it could haunt some older readers. The symmetrical images have a hypnotic effect. Guess what would happen next.
Go Dog, Go (1961) by P. D. Eastman. This tale of highly mobile dogs won't impart the message that pet dogs must not be confined to one corner of the room. Eastman, a native of Amherst, Massachusetts, would emphasize the importance of paying attention to little details. This could make or break a relationship. Young and old readers would comprehend it right away.
Amelia Bedelia (1963) by Peggy Parish. Who can understand this highly literary housekeeper? A reader who is a kid at heart.
The Garden of Abdul Gasazi (1979) by Chris Van Allsburg. This picture book would intrigue readers. A young boy found himself in an enchanted garden. He was transformed into an animal (or so they thought). It could be a metaphor for how the lad broke the rules. (And he was punished.) On the other hand, the eerie images could suggest the boy's sense of enchantment. It may not be original, as most readers would recall Frances Hodgson Burnett's "The Secret Garden". But pictures could tell a thousand words. And they would play tricks on one's mind.
The Day the Crayons Quit (2013) by Drew Daywalt. As the title would imply, crayons have feelings too. They turned sappy when school children shifted their attention to pens. If readers could relate to it, then it would mean one thing. They knew the memorable lines of "Toy Story" by heart. They would favor Sheriff Woody over Buzz Lightyear.
Do you have other titles in mind? Tell us.
