For centuries, most people have enjoyed reading. Early forms of communication were pounded into stone, or written painstakingly with feathers. Before written communication, stories were passed down through generations of oral story telling. Stories were created around the campfire, long before there was television, radio or movies. Many of these stories still exist today.
Originally, fairy tales, nursery rhymes and fables were designed to teach lessons about morality and life skills. In the tales, if a child didnt obey his elders or follow the rules, usually something terrible would happen. If a child was smart and clever, he could usually bend the rules a little and carve out a life for himself.
Childrens Books Evolve on a Regular Basis
There are many stories that have been read and loved for many generations. It can be thrilling to see your child reading and enjoying the same book that you read and enjoyed as a child. Many authors are still being published today because their stories hit a nerve in the collective unconscious. It doesnt matter if a story takes place long ago or right now, as long as it is a good story. On the other hand, there are many new titles and authors that are making noticeable waves in the field of childrens literature.
A strange, resultant turn of events is that some books are starting to be banned in schools and libraries. Books that have been loved for years, such as those of Mark Twain and Harper Lee, have been threatened. If people in your area are worried about certain aspects of a book, especially one that has survived the test of time for being a good story, then perhaps educating people on the historical significance of the book might be in order.
For example, there have always been books about witches and magic, such as the Wizard of Oz or The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, not to mention most fairy tales, yet some people have decided to point the finger at Harry Potter and try to ban the books. Of course, most children want to do what we tell them not to do, so banning books will probably just make them want to read the books all the more. I believe that a child should be allowed to read anything she wants to read, but if the subject matter is tough or unusual, she should be able to discuss it with an adult.
Modern Authors Shape the World
As the world changes, so does literature. Now we find books about subjects that were pretty much taboo when I was a kid. There are books like Captain Underpants that are greatly loved, including by my own children. At first, I raised an eyebrow reading those books, but if they were getting my children to read, willingly, on their own, then I wasnt going to complain.
The events of 9/11 were dramatic and traumatic for pretty much everyone in North America. Years later, questions still remain, especially as the world continues to be plunged into turmoil. Ame the Elephant: Terrorized by Evil Mice can help your child understand the events of 9/11 through the use of animals as metaphors.
Books can inspire an interest in learning about history and science. Placing fictional characters into historical events can get your child interested in subjects that perhaps he normally wouldnt care about. As an example, there are books about Jeremiah Stokely, a charming character, that can teach your child about science, ancient civilizations and nature. These books have kits containing relative crafts that can be ordered with the books. Some modern books come with CDs.