Learning from Kids' Books

In the midst of this year’s Banned Book Week, I was surprised to learn that my favorite childhood book, Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in

Time, appears on some banned book lists.

It actually has an overtly Christian theme, though I read right over that as a kid. Apparently, the issue is that Jesus is portrayed alongside thinkers like Einstein and Gandhi.

Missed that, too. I just thought it was a ripping good read about a collection of misfits who save the world. And, spoiler alert, rescue their father.

As a teenager, I fell in love with the protagonist, Meg—fierce, uncompromising, and unabashedly protective of those she loved. (She was Katniss before there was a Hunger Games.)

The power of great children’s literature is that it can be read at so many different levels. Only when I recently reread the Harry Potter series did I see that it is a story about loss and grief. The books are also, of course, ripping good reads about a collection of misfits who save the world.

I’m always bemused when parents come into our bookstore and gently steer their children away from books that are ‘too intense,’ like the later Harry Potter books.

We parents are desperate to ensure our children are always happy. Yet the role of great children’s literature is to gently, through story, impart the harsher lessons of life that parents can’t bear to teach. Life is hard. You will suffer. But, also, draw strength from your community.

Love and protect your loved ones. Because, in the end, that’s all you have.