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Top 5 Children’s Books that are Still Relevant Throughout Your Whole Life

Christiana Houser Student Contributor, Appalachian State University
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App State Contributor Student Contributor, Appalachian State University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at App State chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

 

 

1. Oh the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss’ Oh the Places You’ll Go!  is one of the most talked about books when it comes to moving on. It is one of the top graduation presents, and it is a book that has been read to you since you were a little kid. It is basically Dr. Seuss’s guide to life, telling the readers to be who they want to be, and that there are no limits when you actually put your mind to something and work hard for it. Success comes to those who work hard and set goals. This book reminds us that being idle is dangerous, and nothing in the world is handed to you. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is relevant to readers of all ages, whether it be inspiring a young child to work hard in school, or to teach a college student that studying and getting good grades is more important than partying every weekend.

2. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

This is a children’s book about the unconditional love of a mother for her child. As the child goes through each stage of life, his mother sings the same song to him, reminding him that no matter how old he gets, he will always be her baby, and she will always love him. This book is still relevant at any age, because a mother’s love is forever, and no matter how much you screw up throughout your life, whether it’s in college, or out in the real world, you’ll always be your mother’s baby and she will always love you.

3. Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

Most people may think this book is just all about how sharing is important, but as with most works of literature, there are deeper meanings to the story. Rainbow Fish is not just about sharing, but it is a wise story about how to make and keep friends. In any relationship you have, you will have to make sacrifices. That’s just how the world works. This story also shows that selfishness gets people nowhere. It is more important to help others and give back to your community than to only care about yourself all the time. If you constantly go through life only caring about the way you look and being better than everyone else, you will have an unhappy life, but if you are caring to other people, they will reciprocate those feelings to you. That treatment from other people makes for a happier person all around.

4. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstien

This book has a similar meaning to Rainbow Fish in a sense that it is important not to exploit your friends. The boy comes to the tree to play as a child, but as he gets older and more unhappy, he asks to use the trees leaves and branches and limbs and eventually her whole trunk. She allows all of this because she wants so badly to be there for the boy in any way she can, even if that means sacrificing herself. It is important to remember to be there for your friends in any way possible, but also do not exploit or take advantage of them. 

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

This book is a reminder that everyone has their bad days. There will be days when it feels like nothing will go right and the world is crashing down upon you. You will feel like you can’t do anything right, and you’ll want to cry, but one thing this children’s book always reminds us is that you are not alone. There will be times when you feel like you are alone, and that you are not good enough for anyone or anything. When you feel that way, open up a copy of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and remind yourself that there are other people out there that are feeling the same, if not worse than you, and you always have someone to turn to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6rp0SZX7lg

http://allpoetry.com/poem/8538991-The-Giving-Tree-by-Shel-Silverstein

http://www.weavervale.cheshire.sch.uk/class/class-6-asc-resource-provision

https://www.bookdepository.com/Love-You-Forever-Robert-Munsch/9780920668375

http://www.toysrus.com/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-5618366dt.jpg

http://www.swiss-miss.com/2009/12/my-current-favorite-kids-as-a-20×200-p…

Christiana is a Senior at Appalachian State, where she is an Elementary Education major. She is the Editor in Chief of Her Campus App State and a sister of Sigma Kappa Sorority and serves as her chapter's Vice President of Scholarship. In her free time, Christiana likes to look at cute pictures of puppies, watch Netflix, and eat Ben and Jerry's Half Baked ice cream. She hopes to be a Kindergarten teacher one day, and to be a role model for elementary schoolers everywhere.