Who's hooked on kids books? I can't tell if it's because of the nostalgia i live through as i read them or because i like the way they stimulate my child-like imagination. Books like the Harry Potter series, i just can't put down. Superfudge and other Judy Blume classics, i find, are amazingly entertaining quick reads. The original Winnie the Pooh stories and poems....i love them. Dr Seus collections are highly humoring. They all bring back and remind me of an innocense so pure and fresh....when little things could amuse and spawn such creativity and joy. It's like reliving the "good ol' days" when i pick up some of these books.
Some kids books are so enchanting that they make great reads no matter what. Dr Seus has its adult fans big time - just see all the t-shirts n stuff. Winnie the Pooh has a great adult/spiritual offshoot in the Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet. I got my 9 year old stepdaughter some Alan Garner books, and damn they are the bomb. He does adult fiction too (like Strandloper) but his A Bag Of Moonshine is old british folktales written for kids and is one of my favorites.
I still dig some of the kids book mostly for the nostagia and makes me feel safe or unsafe depedning on the book.
I absolutely love the Redwall series by Brian Jaques. "The Last Unicorn" by Peter S. Beagle is a bit more of a children's book (young adult, I guess) than an adult book, but it's an all-time favorite, as is "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman and "Beauty" by Robin McKinley. Sometimes it's nice to have a good, safe read without having to bend one's brain in half for the sake of entertainment.
I read almost exclusively books for children. Of course, I am a children's librarian, but I really do enjoy them. There are so many great authors out there writing for kids, especially the 8-12 age group. My daughter and I have been reading and listening to the ED Baker series about Princess Emmaralda. It is so much fun. I also really love Kate DiCamillo and Emily Rodda. Of course, so many of the classic children's books are still excellent--Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Paul Zindel, and so many more.
I love Jerry Spinelli's books....Maniac Magee was one of my favorites, and I stumbled upon Space Station Seventh Grade later on. And you can always find me in the Young Adult section of the library.
