Children’s book lessons for life.

I have been an avid reader as long as I can remember, often getting lost in the pages written by Beverly Clearly, Judy Blume,or R.L. Stine. In my college years, my childhood reignited when I began reading some of my favorite books aloud at the Pre-school I worked for. Seeing these stories through the eyes of an adult lifted the veil on so many values that were engrained in me and inspired me to one day do the same for the younger generation. Check out the lessons you may have missed during your childhood reading:

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

Lesson: Don’t be afraid of life’s challenges.

Favorite Quote : “Can’t go over it, Can’t go around it, we’ve gotta go through it”

Oh! the Places you will go! by Dr. Seuss

Lesson: You are in charge of which way life will take you.

Favorite quote: 

“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Lesson: Using others for your own benefit selfishly is a terrible thing, and unconditional love is self-sacrificing.

Favorite Quote: ” And the boy loved the tree, and the tree was happy.”

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Lesson: Bad days usually last only 24-hrs. 

Favorite quote: “It has been a Terrible, Horrible, No good, very bad day. My mom says, ‘Some days are like that-even in Austraila”

The Little Red Hen by Little Golden Books

Lesson: Work hard for what you want, even when you have to do it alone.

Favorite Quote:” All by myself I baked the bread and All by myself I will eat it. And she did, to the very last bite”