Children's Books, And How It Impacts Us Ages 0 - 99

Have you ever stopped and really considered the importance that children’s books have on our lives, from childhood to adulthood? Who doesn’t remember the daunting tales of Dr. Seuss, Berenstain Bears, and Magic Tree House? These time honored stories provide an action plot filled with drama, popularity, and conflict while keeping a gentle undergrowth of awareness suited for the minds of these young readers. Whether you are reading to your children or they are reading for themselves, it is a great way to start off their scholastic adventure with a few memorable classics.

Randolph Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the most illustrious children’s picture book in America. These can include 3d “popup” books or regular story books with delicate images, usually filled with lots of colors and scenery.
The 2008 winner of the Caldecott Medal is Brian Selznick with the release of his book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, a story about a boy living in a French train station who strives to complete a mysterious invention left to him by his father. This story consists of over 500 pages of both text and images, neither of which can tell this story alone. Black and white pencil sketches show the silent films to which this book pays homage. It is a masterpiece and must be honored with such a fabulous award as the Caldecott Medal.

The John Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to literature for American youth. These can include dramatic presentations, extensive series, historical documentations, illustrious drawings, etc, etc.
The 2008 winner of the Newbery Medal is Laura Amy Schlitz with her book Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village, a theatrical narrative about the medieval times, presented by 21 dramatic individuals who express this story in ways that truly merit the acceptance of the Newbery Medal. This book was illustrated by Robert Byrd and published by Candlewick.

Well, there you have it. In the realm of children’s books, some stories become classics, others become life-long shelf mates, and others consists of truly good material but are inevitably lost to the sands of time. No matter what course a book runs in its existence, remember that reading is the most essential quality to a person’s intellectual success and you can never start reading too early.