at the moment I'm re-reading the His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman. I think Northern Lights is among the best books I've read.
I quite like the Harry Potter books, but I don't think they're particularly well written. the stories are fun though.
I also really enjoy the Wild Magic Books by Tamora Peirce.
often when I want to read a new book, one of the first places I'll check is the section for older children. often the writing is as good, if not better than adults fiction. more imaginative and fantastic.
there was also an excellent book called Witch Child that I really enjoyed.
so.
do you read books aimed at children?
do you assume they will be inferior to those written for adults, or do you read them if you like the look of them?
which ones did you enjoy most?
[question posted by Galena]
responses and comments:
I really do enjoy reading children's books. My favorites are the Harry Potter series. I also love books written by Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn-Dixie & many others.) Any newberry award winner is welcome to my personal library. :) My son and I are also enjoying "Captain Underpants" books. He's reading them for school, and they are so hilarious!! I've also read most of the Series of Unfortunate Events books by Lemony Snickett. They were fun, but started to get redundant, so I never finished the series. I may just have to start where I left off again. Great topic!! [creematee]
If you want Harry Potter new edition go to www.datbiz.zlio.com, books .. I also like and read, I always read whenever I have chance, I feel like child .. [deepak31]
I love reading children's books especially comics. I still make it a point to read comics at regular intervals as it appeals to the child hiding somewhere inside me :). As far as Harry Potter series is concerned, read this carefully - THIS IS NOT A CHILDREN'S BOOK!!! :) I think the series is out of the realms of children right from the Prisoner of Azkaban and children won't understand the nuances of the book just yet. I think it is definitely for young adults and adults. Cheers! Ram [ram_cv]
I have been reading the book The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan and it is a very good read, 'cause it's an allegory about the Bible and it inspire me to be a better person and also childhood memories came flashing through as I read through its pages. [garyeye]
I have been reading the book The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan and it is a very good read, 'cause it's an allegory about the Bible and it inspire me to be a better person and also childhood memories came flashing through as I read through its pages. [garyeye]
I went to a friend of the library sale yesterday & we spent $70 on books. the adult hardbacks were $2, paperbacks & childrens hardbacks were $1 & children's paperbacks were 2 for $1. The roomie hit the large print & I did the "Youth" books then we went over & did the science fiction together. One of the things I like about the "Y" books is that I can find horse books, I also found some sf & fantasy in there. The roomie likes stories with ghosts, we found ghost books. [ElicBxn]
I love reading children's books. Strangely enough, I only started reading children's books since I was in high school or so. As a child, I thought I was "too smart" for them and read adult books instead, even when I was young enough not to be in school yet. Tamora Pierce is one of my favorite authors of all times. I love her "Lioness" series, as well as the "Wild Magic" one. I'm so glad that I discovered her! =) Another children's book series that I'm actually rereading right now is "The Dark is Rising" series by Susan Cooper. [lecanis]
Sure. I liked The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher. And Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. And you are right a lot of children's books are much better than those for adults. [mobyfriend]
Yes I do. Since I was a little girl I always loved books, and now that I'm a mother of a toddler I'm wishing that he will like books as much as I did. I often buy books for my son whenever I see something that is suitable for his age and he will enjoy reading. I'm thinking of collecting Harry Potter books, sadly I haven't started on my collection yet due to lack of budget. [lafavorito]
I love Enid Blytons Faraway Tree Series and am reading The Magic FAraway Tree to the boys again now. I also love Harry Potter, Winnie The Pooh, any animal stories, Beatrice Potter, Mess Monsters, Thomas The Tank Engine, any toddler books etc. I tend to buy a whole collection in a big book that we can all enjoy together, they like listening to my Terry Pratchett too, just the same if I cut out the occasional swear word, lol. [rainbow]
I do enjoy reading some books aimed at children. I love the Harry Potter books, i have read all of them so far and eagerly await the last one. I also love all books written by Terry Pratchett including the ones he has aimed at children. such as the Johhny Trilogy and Amazing maurice and His Educated Rodents etc. I don't think these books are inferior to books writen for adults at all, they are just as well written and just as enjoyable to read. [hezoid]
The Wee Free Men / A Hatful of Sky / Wintersmith are among my favourite Pratchett books. they may be aimed at children but are so very close to the things I beleive in that they really mean a lot to me [Galena]
children book are the best books for readin as they had both humor and adventure..and i enjoyed reading tintin... [gauravgupta]
I think it's not strange that adults read childrens books as well. Theye are imaginative, innovative and funny. I do read books that are meant for children, i am a big harry potter fan myself. Great books, aimed at kids, but they are just fantstic. I hate the fact that there are little books for adults that are so creative, unless you read fantasy novels, which i don't like, because they are to long and complicated. [nietske]
My primary reading is children's books. And, I don't think they're inferior at all. It makes me angry when people imply that they are. A good book is a good book. One book I really liked is more of a young adult book. It's called Raising the Griffin. It's about a teenage boy who's the son of an exiled royal family and he has to adjust to royal life when the country decides to reinstate a monarchy. I also like the books of Cynthia Voigt. I actually need some newer books to discover. [Angelwriter]
Great thread I thought I would be alone in appreciating children's novels. I was reading them to 'keep up with' my children and be able to discuss things with them. Now they are teenagers I still like to read children's books. Have you heard of the Everworld series? by K.A. Applegate. Our library has it in the children's section but I think it is too scarey, rude and in depth for that. I wonder sometimes if parents know what their children are reading. I trusted the librarians to have decided on the suitability of the content on their shelves and was sadly disappointed. It is a great series but for Young Adults not young children. [magicalmerlin]
I love children's books. I have been reading them my entire life. I never stopped reading them once I became an adult. Of course, at certain times in my life I kept the fact that I read them a secret because I was embarrassed. It was my "guilty secret!" Now I am older and not quite so easily embarrassed! I do love reading kids books but I do also read books for "grown ups!" [horsesrule]
When my children were small, up to the age of about 7 or so I used to read to them every day and share the books they had. As they got older they would recommend their books to me, right up to being teenagers. So I would read some of their recommendation and must say that there is some really good stuff out there and it skips the lurid and often too graphic stuff put into adult fiction and for me that is an improvement. I enjoyed the John Marsden series, I think that is the man, based on a group of kids in Aus after they had been invaded by a foreign power. Really well written and with that great sense of adventure that teenagers love. [vitausp]
I don't enjoy reading them for myself but don't mind reading them to my children before bed or when they want to hear a story . Although I did read a couple for older children that were not too bad and my daughter has read a couple that she has thought I would like to read but I haven't got around to reading any of them yet to see if I would find them interesting . I guess I do feel that somehow it will be inferior to those written for adults but shouldn't make judgement on something I have never actually took the time to read to find out . [samtaylorskykierajen]
I REALLY like teen books actually. I dont usually read kids books but usually teen ones. I love several series. I think teen books are actually sometimes better than adults. I loved the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, read all 4, own one and saw the movie. I hope they make a movie for each book they are that good! Eragon is more aimed at teens and I am currently stil in the process of reading this RATHER LARGE book. I got nothing against kids books, but somtimes I do prefer teens over adults for sure! [monkeywriter]
I enjoy reading children's books... But like what you said some are not well written, i guess it is because they made the stories a lil shallow so that kids will understand it easily... [naughtymelai]
nope mostly no I grew up pretty much as I was expected to I read a few pages of that harry potter book my sis was sayin it was Snaayyppppeee not snap I just jus don't get it Adult books for me I think [kurtbiewald]
yes,I enjoy a lot, when I am reading some children books, I always remember my childhood days. [Jamian]
i like reading books very much especially books of the children and sometimes if i have time id love to watch fairytales and cartoons movie.. [joy1982]
My daughter likes to choose her own books. She has pretty good taste in books. And, I love the look on her face when I read to her. [Munira]
i enjoy reading the little kids all kinds of children books i really dont have a favorite love them all. [sweeetkisses2]
i like reading children's book especially hardy boys and nancy drew. i also like harry potter books. I couldn't get tired of re-reading children's books. I also agree with you that they are moer imaginative and fantastic. [jinggay46]
I enjoy reading children books! Because,I am an elelmentary school teacher,my occupation must request understand student's psychology.Through reads the student books,may let me come into student's world,link up well with them!!! [wopawudi]
I love reading children's books. I love books like Harry Potter, Heidi, Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of OZ etc. These are my favourite books and I feel they are real treasure. [manzician]
I enjoy them. They're typically entertaining, although long series get formulaic after a couple of iterations. Recently I started reading DJ MacHale's Pendragon series. I like it. Highly readable. [MrCoolantSpray]
Sometimes really enjoy it ;) [jauhari]
I never imagined--until the night I was staying over at my dauighter's, using my one grandson's room and unable to sleep. Had no book along!!(very unusual) so pulled the Harry Potter book from the shelf. Reaad throughout the week-end and went home with the loan of the rest that he had. Wow a great new dimension of pleasure. From that to His Dark Trilogy- but my grandsons have outgrown these childrens books so until now I 've been sort of groping in the dark for some names of good reads. thank you for posting this and to all who added their favorites to it- I now have a list. And a big smile. Ya'll're great. [arcadian]
Are you kidding?--I read nothing but children's books most of the time--right now I'm going through a series of books written by Erin Hunter, it's the Warrior series ---of course I've read Harry Potter, and yes, P. Pullman's books, artemis fowl--oh and yes, read Tamora P's books you mentioned--the quality of children's books is a hell of a lot better than when I was a kid--LOL [pyewacket]
Yes I really enjoy reading children's books. My favorites are the Harry Potter series,I quite like the Harry Potter books, but I don't think they're particularly well written. the stories are fun though, I also love books written by Kate DiCamillo , My son and I are also enjoying "Captain Underpants" books. He's reading them for school, and they are so hilarious!! I've also read most of the Series of Unfortunate Events books by Lemony Snickett. They were fun, but started to get redundant, so I never finished the series. I may just have to start where I left off again. [unisis]
I like reading them to my baby but that about where it ends for me! I love Shel Silverstein, he was always my favorite since I was little. I don't know if you have heard of Lemony Snicket, but it's a series you might enjoy. My older daughter loved the books. http://www.lemonysnicket.com/ [oraclemv]
i also like reading children 's books because it is easier to read and understand! [xylon17]