Children's Literature: Reflection on Childhood Reading Experiences

This essay provides a personal reflection on the author's experiences with children's literature. It begins by discussing the early influence of reading, including the enjoyment of fantasy and adventure stories, and the encouragement received from parents to read. The essay highlights the impact of literature on language development, spelling, and imagination, and the role of teachers in fostering a love for reading. It further explores the shift from childhood favorites to the exploration of non-fiction and philosophical works in adulthood, while still appreciating classic literature. The author also expresses a desire to develop critical reading skills to better understand and interpret the great questions of life. The essay concludes with references to relevant literature and authors.

Running head- CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: A REFLECTION
Children’s Literature: A reflection
Student’s name:
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Author’s note:

1CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: A REFLECTION
Children’s literature encompasses a broad literary area including stories, fables,
parables, lullabies and so much more. It is specifically targeted at young readers, often with a
moral message (Nikolajeva, 2015). However, as a child, literature was more of an escape
route to me. It took me to the world of fantasy, adventure and all kinds of wish fulfilment.
My fondest memory of childhood is essentially entangled with superheroes and princesses.
Not to forget classic characters like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Count of Monte
Christo or Tom Sawyer.
My parents encouraged me to read from a very young age. Instead of reading bedtime
stories to me, my mother insisted that I read the books to her. Certainly, it has improved my
language comprehension. And I have learnt to say words like please, thank you, ma’am etc.
from a very young age, thanks to Oscar Wilde and Roald Dahl. Another important influence
literature had on me was that I could spell almost without mistake since junior high.
Literature has given my imagination wings, has inspired me to write as well as
enchanted me to the world of art. I was a shy kid. Admittedly, I should have participated in
sports and physical exercises more, but my lack of physical strength and my introversion
directed me to reading instead.
My teachers at school were also great influences on my reading habit. In fact, it was
during middle school, when I was motivated to start reading non-fictions. I was introduced to
the world of biographies by our history teacher as a part of our book review sessions.
Eventually, Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou and Anne Frank replaced my superheroes
and princesses during my high school years.

2CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: A REFLECTION
However, as an adult reader that I am today, Philosophy entices me more than
anything. I am keen to understand human psychology, their pain and sufferings and their
relation with the world. However, I am still a lover of classics, as they paint pictures of
human life with timeless finesse. I have read Les Miserable a thousand times now, but it still
invokes the deepest emotion I have within. However, the one quality I would like to nurture
as a reader is to improve my ability of critical reading. Instead of being moved by whatever I
read, I would like to interpret them in the light of my own rationality. This will help me
answer the great question of life, in the words of Lewis Carroll “Who in the world am I? Ah,
that’s the great puzzle” (Carroll, 2015).

3CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: A REFLECTION
Reference
Carroll, L. (2015). Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: 150th Anniversary Edition. Princeton
University Press.
Nikolajeva, M. (2015). Children's literature comes of age: toward a new aesthetic. Routledge.