Before entering kindergarten, when I was still learning to read, my parents found an innovative learning tool to help me along the way. It all started during my birthday party, when my mom claimed she had found a book that was written just for me. I had never shown much interest in books before, but as we all know, kids believe that they are the center of the universe. Obviously this would be a book worth reading.
As I later discovered, the miniature novel had been custom ordered from a catalog. My parents had supplied the company with my name, my best friends’ names and a few of my favorite things. The concept was a lot like an extended version of Madlibs, except that I was made the star of my very own book. It made the content instantly relatable and – best of all – it helped to whet my appetite for reading. These days it’s easy to find similar personalized books for kids online.
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The best children’s books share several elements in common. They blend humor, quality storytelling and whimsy with a message that even kids can interpret. Dr. Seuss is the author who stands out as a classical example of this approach. From “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” – a screed against miserliness and greed – to “The Butter Battle Book” – an anti-war manifesto fit for first-graders – the good doctor was constantly couching his messages in a veneer of childish rhymes and dazzling artwork.