One of the (many) great delights I’ve found in being a parent is reading to my kids at bedtime. Alas, my eldest two are self sufficient these days and read to themselves, but I still sometimes get to read to my youngest. There’s a fabulous wealth of children’s literature out there, and the simple but often profound messages that the stories contain.
Although I read extensively myself, both fiction and from the personal development and self help world for my own continued professional development, sometimes I find that adult literature just makes it all a bit too complicated. Like many things in life, often it’s the simplest things that are the most powerful. And an added bonus to the simple wisdom they contain is that reading a children’s book is quicker, has more pictures and is a lot more fun!
Here are some of my favourites for the simple wisdom and messages they contain:
- The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig (Eugene Trivizas and Helen Oxenbury) for messages about how if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got, challenging perceptions and assumptions about others and personal transformation!
- The Bear under the Stairs (Helen Cooper) about how many of our fears are born out of our own imagination and confronting them head on (with the help and support others if necessary) is the best way to overcome them.
- A Squash and a Squeeze (Julia Donaldson, Alex Scheffler) for how you may grumble about your lot but it’s all relative!
- Green Eggs and Ham (Dr Seuss) for try before you cry….
- And Miss Lily’s Fabulous Pink Feather Boa for using positive anchors to overcome fear, loneliness lack of confidence and isolation
So for simple but profound food for thought, next time you’re in a bookshop, head to the children’s section rather than the ‘shelf help’! Enjoy…
