Reviews

Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise by Katherine Rundell

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cathwren's review against another edition

4.0

Eloquently written long-form essay. I wish I could just slip these pages to people who turn their noses to literature written for younger audiences.

Props to the man working in Foyles who recommended it to T and me when we were browsing the Children's Fiction section. This was a great read.

Would recommend, would read again.

tiernagan's review against another edition

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informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

drsldn's review

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5.0

Thank you, Katherine. Your book made my year. Erudite and beautifully written. I want to give a copy to so many people who only want to read books that are "true", and disparage the wealth of truth in books shelved in the Childrens' section. Thank you for quoting Aristotle and Angela Carter and Ishiguro. And for explaining the value of libraries and why every school in England should have one - by law. Thank you for reminding us that in good childrens' books there is, above all, hope.

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise is a short but passionate essay which persuasively puts the case for adults including some children’s literature in their reading lives. In this case the author was preaching to the converted, although I don’t read nearly as much as I used to. “Children’s novels…spoke and still speak of hope. They say: look, this is what bravery looks like. This is what generosity looks like….They say: hope counts for something. They say: bravery will matter, wit will matter, empathy will matter, love will matter.” I say we could all do with some children’s books in our lives.