Erika Kosin
Library Notes
January 8th, 2010
Children’s books with Adult Appeal

Whether a picture book, fiction or non-fiction, thousands of children’s books are published each year. With many types of books geared towards different age groups available it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint which titles are meant for which age. Then there are those books that, even though they are meant for children, talk more to the parents, teachers, and librarians who would purchase them. These books usually contain well thought out stories that speak to adults on a different level than kids who may read them. Some of these stories may be found in a Children’s Chapter book, while others are full of illustrations and are marketed as picture books. Take the picture book Let Me Hold You Longer by Karen Kingsbury about a mother not wanting her child to grow up and move away. This book is geared toward the parent more than the child and children may not understand the sentimentality of the book. It deals with the emotions that parents feel as they watch their child grow up and become more independent. Here are a few examples of books written for children that appeal to adults on a variety of levels that can be found at the Rowan Public Library.

Pete & Pickles by Berkeley Breathed – ages 9 +. This picture book for older readers follows Pete, a perfectly predictable pig who lives an uncomplicated life, until one stormy night when he finds an elephant hiding in his bedroom. From then on, Pete and Pickles have many ridiculous adventures together that include swan diving off of Niagara Falls and sledding down the Matterhorn in Switzerland. This is a story of friendship that incorporates a gamut of emotions including fear, sadness, anger, and love. The beautiful illustrations enhance the story while taking inspiration from many famous works of art.

The Magician’s Elephant by Kate Dicamillo – ages 9+. Another great book from the author who brought us The Tale of Desperaux and Because of Winn Dixie, The Magician’s Elephant follows orphan Peter Augustus Duchene as he searches for an elephant after a fortune teller in the market square informs him that his sister is indeed alive and that to find her he must follow the elephant. As he tries to decipher the cryptic message about an elephant that should not exist, he struggles with the ideas of truth, faith, and the willingness to believe in the impossible. A richly layered novel, The Magicians Elephant gives readers the power of learning to believe.

Crow Call by Lois Lowry – ages 9+. A young girl named Liz goes hunting for crows with her father who also happens to be a stranger. He was off fighting in a war for many years so Liz does not know him very well but she is happy to be spending the day with him, even if it is to hunt crows. Based on real events from the authors life, this is a powerful story of longing and love between a father and a daughter separated by circumstance that adults separated from their children may be able to identify with.