If a children’s book is appreciated also by the grown-up

Often considered as a subcategory only addressed to younger readers, children’s books are recently achieving a great success also among those people who are not children anymore. The most outstanding and striking evidence of this is probably given by Harry Potter, the magician that was born of the imagination of J.K. Rowling and that has become a cult book not only for children, but also for older readers. The fans of the magician do not only include children and kids that are reading their first novels, but also older and very often expert readers. Last but not least, Harry Potter’s deeds have also become the subject of university courses and thesis.

The interest excited by Rowling’s works on all the ages is actually only the tip of the iceberg, an iceberg that also includes the Fantasy genre (the Lord of the Rings first of all) and authors that are considered as classics of literature tout court, not only of children’s literature. Roald Dahl’s works, for example: adored by various generations of children, the books written by the British writer – of Norwegian origin – are very funny to read also if you are adult. It is no coincidence that many of the books written by Dahl have been transposed into wonderful movies which are as much appreciated by adults as by children, like in the case of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (in both the transposition, the most recent one by Tim Burton and the one by Mel Stuart of 1971) and in the case of Fantastic Mr Fox.

One might ask why these works, which are catalogued as children’s literature, are increasingly appreciated also by the grown-up. Some might say that this is due to a sort of regressive behaviour or that this is a type of unpretentious divertissement. In fact the reason why these books are so appreciated also by adults is because they are well-written, gripping, amusing and moving, which means that they have many of the peculiarities that you look for when you read a book. Consider, for example, Roald Dahl’s works: few books have the same sense of humour and sarcasm that characterize books like Matilda, The Twits or The BFG, and I defy any adult to read a few pages of these or other Dahl’s novels without having a good laugh. Moreover, the excellent use of words and the techniques that these writers use to keep the readers’ interest alive waiting for what will happen in the next chapter are ageless. Certainly plots, which are often very imaginative and sometimes unreal, are contrary to the perception or reality that (many) adults have developed with the passing of time, which might make it difficult for some readers to identify with characters. However, emotions, considerations and the messages conveyed by some of these excellent children’s books authors can really be considered as universal, and for this reason many children’s books can be appreciated also by those who only have a dreaming memory of their childhood.

Certainly also in the field of children’s literature generalizations should not be made, and we cannot claim that all the children’s books have the capacity to involve everybody, but if you happen to read a book belonging to your child or to your little brother or sister which immediately attracts your attention, do not worry: you are not getting involved in a children’s story, but simply in a good book.