How can anyone classify any spectrum of literature as inferior to the other? Literature is a very creative work of art that allows a person to freely explore other realms of their mind and soul that they may not otherwise be able to capture and dive into. Thus, there are many different genres of literature that are targeted to many different age groups. Children’s literature, more often than not, is viewed as the more simple and effortless form of them all; for, it certainly lacks the complexity and verbal sophistication that most types of literature tends to contain. Children’s books may contain one-sentence pages, or they may even be filled with more illustrations than words. Nevertheless, despite their “lack” of substance and a mature, erudite vocabulary, these books are necessary and just as pertinent as other literature that is valued by society.
Children’s literature is the building block to young adult and adult literature. Similar to everything in life, you have to start somewhere, and this type of literature is the author’s way of exposing young children to the art of reading and literature in general. Plainly put, children’s literature is the foundation to what is to come later. Analogous to a house needing a sound and sturdy foundation in order for it to be built properly, a child needs the same; the child is the structure, literature is the foundation for higher learning, and the author’s talent that is displayed through children’s books is simply one of the tools that is essential to help the child’s growth and development into a intelligent individual.
After all, the entire realm of literature is like a mural that has been collectively worked on by many authors. Still, far from complete, its many genres and targeted audiences are just some of the hues on its palette, making it a masterpiece for all ages to enjoy. So who is to say that children’s literature is minute and inferior to other literature? It should be embraced, appreciated and enjoyed like all other art forms.
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Dear Nikitirs,
ReplyDeleteThere's some passion in the tone of your entry here. I wondered about this line: "it [children's literature] certainly lacks the complexity and verbal sophistication that most types of literature tends to contain." I think I might disagree. The viewpoint is different, perhaps, but a book like HUGO CABRET seems quite sophisticated to me, both in terms of its subject matter and its "technique" for portraying the story. I think we could make the same argument about lots of other picture books and YA books.
Each year the kinds of books that are published for young audiences become more surprising in their treatment of "sophisticated" material/topics.
I'll look forward to reading more of your blog entries.
Best,
T. Emert
To Nikitirs,
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with your analogy of needing a firm and sturdy foundation for a house as do child readers need children's literature to obtain that valuable foundation. Children and Young Adult literature are the building block proteins for everyone’s base in reading. The knowledge gained from these collective murals of words and art are what we begin and grow into, like a pair of shoes that adjust as we emerge. As a reader of children's Literature and Young Adult, I still find amazing morals and information gathered from the techniques used in the artwork and the usage and craft of language and words begin unraveled.
Nevertheless, society is full of those who are ethnocentric and in this case 'book-ethnocentric'. We as readers and writers must and are obligated to find and promote ways to deplete this kind of ignorance.
Thank you for your blog! It was a great informative read!
KimC.