Children’s Literature is Crucial, now more than ever.

Currently, there are 781 million people worldwide who cannot read or write. In Britain 1 in 5 people are illiterate and 25% of children finishing primary school cannot read (Jeremey Hunt, 16 June 2019). Encouraging and supporting children’s reading is more than just about supporting their academic performance. It also increases their emotional intelligence and fortifies their ability to cope with radical lifestyle changes. With the epidemic of poor mental health in young children being described as an escalating crisis, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) facing almost double the pressure in past years, it is crucial we change our perspectives on children’s literature.

Children’s Literature has immense value in academic and mental stimulation, in fact, they often correlate. Literature enriches our understanding of how complex life and our surroundings can be. We are lifted into other perspectives, shown how different other people are to us and in effect learn how to welcome that. We feel less isolated.

Literature also builds empathy like no other vice.

The didactic and moral components found in children's literature have now expanded into new realms of discourse, particularly within the realm of Young Adult (YA) literature, where themes of eco-socialism and portrayals of redistribution are gaining traction. Esteemed YA authors like Sabaa Tahir, Rainbow Rowell, and Dan Wells masterfully reinforce these concepts in ways that are truly extraordinary and intellectually stimulating. By allowing readers to form their own opinions rather than dictating them, literature fosters the development of critical thinking. Unlike the relentless onslaught of information on social media, reading naturally stimulates political comprehension. Through literature, readers are provided with an opportunity to explore diverse cultures and places in a manner that doesn't merely present information but also encourages them to question it.

We can aim for a little idealism now and again.

In children's literature, the young protagonists often embody bravery and wonder, proving that they are not powerless. Whether they are the chosen ones, symbols of rebellion, or individuals with unique qualities, they inspire the belief that a single person can bring about meaningful change in the world. Through literature, children glimpse possibilities of how the world could and should be. Esteemed authors such as Jaqueline Wilson, Meg Cabot, Phillip Pullman, and David Walliams serve as creative role models who inspire and shape the identities of young readers. By delving into the minds of fictional characters, we gain insight into our own selves. Literature imparts valuable lessons on the significance of diversity and equips us with the tools to confront adversity through intellect, creativity, and, most importantly, the belief that anything is possible.

I'll finish off with some stats.

Reading children’s literature is a form of escapism that enables children to return to reality with a better informed and creative state of mind. Researchers at the University of Sussex found that after six minutes of reading, individuals' stress was reduced by up to 68%. Another survey by the Book Trust said, 'People who read books regularly are on average more satisfied with life, happier, and more likely to feel the things they do in life are worthwhile. At the risk of being super preachy: Encourage your children to read, feed their habits, fill their bookcases and lead by example. Books are as remarkable and entrancing as ever.