National Book Month

Haley Saffren ‘20/Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Happy National Book Month! The month of March is dedicated to encouraging kids to read more because reading is vital to personal and academic development, and it’s awesome! In this younger generation, it is getting harder and harder to keep kids interested in reading with the rise of technology. This March madness is all about books and increasing awareness of the benefits of reading for kids starting at a young age. Here are some of the best kids’ books that spark that early desire to read and then read some more.

Goodnight Moon

This adorable, heartfelt story is for young kids, around the ages of 4-6. It is about an anthropomorphic bunny who says goodnight to all of the objects around his room, including the moon shining outside his window. This book is a very easy read, and it is perfect for kids who are beginning readers. It is short, sweet and beautifully illustrated which attracts a young child who cannot yet read. Not only will it help kids learn to read, but they will also love the story about the little bunny who is around the same age as the reader.

Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel)

It is no secret that Dr. Seuss is one of the most well-known children’s authors. All of his stories are funny, quirky, and teach a lesson, which is why he is on this list rather than just one of his stories. Dr. Seuss books are always filled with important lessons such as try new things (Green Eggs and Ham) or everyone controls their own path (Oh, the Places You’ll Go). Dr. Seuss manages to impart these lessons with elegant simplicity so that kids will easily understand and relate to the message in the story. Reading Dr. Seuss teaches kids important lessons about life without complicating the message given.

The Giving Tree

A lot of kids’ books are upbeat and end happily, but this story is actually quite sad. It is about the friendship between a boy and a tree. As the boy grows older, he is less playful with the tree because he wants to branch out (pun intended) and make a life for himself. The tree gives up more and more parts of herself so he will be happy, and she is reduced to just a stump. This story is gripping and offers important lessons, like people should be thankful for what they have instead of focusing on what they don’t have. The book is another easy read and the story is incredibly realistic. Adults actually enjoy reading this book as well!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

This story is fun, colorful, and enjoyable as it follows a caterpillar eating one food after another, mostly fruit. The pages have food-shaped holes in them helping the reader identify the caterpillar’s latest snack. The book is another easy and fun read because the caterpillar gets fatter and fatter until he has to force himself to stop snacking. Once he’s full, he becomes cocooned and then turns into a beautiful butterfly. This book uses humor and comedic storytelling. It also teaches kids about the different types of fruit and how to count!

Where the Wild Things Are

This book can be on the creepier side, almost a scary story for kids, but it is still a great read with a positive lesson. After being sent to his room for causing trouble, a young boy named Max finds himself in a jungle with strange creatures. The story teaches that being wild may be fun for a short amount of time, but, eventually, it does not have positive results. The book is full of scary/cute monsters who tempt Max to be wild. Max realizes that he misses home and wants to leave the wild things. Kids will root for Max to go home in the end. The thrilling aspect does not scare young readers too much but rather keeps them interested in Max’s journey.

These are just a few of the amazing, classic books available for kids to read. Not only is reading fun, but it is one of the most important skills and pleasures in life. National Book Month is aimed at encouraging kids to read and enjoy doing it for the rest of their lives.