Books hold a special place in my heart and particular books have made an indelible impression on my life. My very first memory of reading is when Grover invited me into the pages of his book in There’s a Monster at the End of This Book. Later, Judy Blume’s Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret would teach me how the lessons learned through the pages of a book could impact my own life. I devoured Ann M. Martin’s The Babysitters-Club series throughout my childhood, making clear and lasting connections to the characters and hoping for a tight-knit group of friends for myself. In adulthood, Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train gave me insight into another side of myself, and Fifty Shades of Grey, well, let’s say that I was hooked on that series, too. 

The books we read matter, and as we grow, each one changes our impression of ourselves and of the world around us. But just because we grow older doesn’t mean we have to leave the powerful literature of childhood behind. Quite the opposite, actually. 

While adult fiction novels can delight, inform and entertain grown-ups, children’s literature should have a special place in every adult reader’s life. Here are five reasons why:

Get Out of a Reading Rut

We’ve all been in a reading rut, finding ourselves stuck in the same genre, the same format or the same reading procrastination and children’s literature can quickly get us out of it. Since these books are usually shorter, they can be read quickly, giving us the perfect opportunity to try a new author, genre or format without a big commitment. Books like When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed or How to Find What You’re Not Looking For by Veera Hiranandani are the perfect opportunities to try graphic novels and historical fiction, respectively. 

Foster a Child-Like Mindset

Adulting is hard. And enjoying the process can be even harder. Books offer us an escape from our own lives, a brief period of refuge from the chaos and an invitation to lighten the load. Reading children’s books does all that and more, inviting us to remember what it was like to be a child with childlike wonder and curiosity. Apple and Magnolia by Lauren Gehl reminds us to believe in the sheer power of hope and connection. The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcarcel reminds us it’s ok to be who we are and that we can decide how and when we share our inner selves to others without judgment. 

Get New Perspectives

Children’s literature gives us child-like perspectives into adult situations, something incredibly useful, but easily forgotten. Exploring the lives and inner thinking of young protagonists can give adult readers new insight into their own thoughts and actions and who knows…you might even heal your inner child in the process, too. Reading The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Brayden might offer adults in emotionally-abusive relationships a new reason for taking action. Reading Starfish by Lisa Fipps forces adults to think about their relationship with their body and the messages they might be sending to the children around them. 

Boost Parenting Skills

Books are meant to be enjoyed, but they often provide readers with important life lessons to make their own, lessons that we can share with others, too, especially the young children in our lives. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park can help parents start important conversations about bullying. Reading To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer can help children growing through divorce to articulate their feelings and remain open to new connections that can enrich their lives.

Connect the Next Generation With Books

One of our greatest responsibilities as a reader is to pass the reading life onto the next generation of readers. Readers who will not only learn from, explore and enjoy the stories already written, but perhaps, might just decide to write their own, too. Sharing your personal favorites with the children around us for the sole reason of connecting with a book can have powerful impacts years later. 

Reading children’s literature opens your reading heart to new opportunities and possibilities, something we can all use a bit more of. So, what children’s book will you add to your TBR stack?