The Emotional Appeal of Children's Literature

What book from your childhood still comes to mind as a special favorite? Why do you think it still means so much to you? Adults tend to remember books they heard or read between the ages of seven and ten. They are likely to recall an emotional identification with the characters in these stories. Is that true for you? If you entered into a story so completely that you relived the events through the eyes of a character, you experienced the kind of emotional involvement that we wish for all children. Your own book memories can help you select books that will appeal to students' emotions and make reading an important part of their lives.

Literature that Deals with Love and Friendship Reading responds to needs we all share. Children connect with stories that show love for family members, pets and toys. Literature that Deals with Curiosity Children are innately curious about other people and about the world around them. They learn a good deal through TV. We want them to see how they can satisfy their thirst for information through books, as well. Studies of children's reading show an increased interest in informational books, perhaps because publishers are producing more good books of this genre each year. Literature that Deals Safely with Fears Fear can be a delicious, safe emotion in response to a story that has a predictably satisfying ending or is told with humor. Children's fears of new experiences or frightening creatures can be put to rest with a good book. A favorite book may be a fantasy with fearsome situations like those in the Harry Potter series. It may be a survival story. Literature that Deals with Laughter Children's lives are sometimes serious and dark. They need books to laugh at and characters to laugh with. Additional Resources Reading Teacher Resources Literature – Teacher Resources Teacher Guides to Primary Literature Teacher Guides to Intermediate & Middle Literature