Have you ever wandered into the children’s section of a bookstore without a child chaperone? If you have, you may know the furtive stares and blooming bewilderment an adult can inspire in others when she browses the shelves alone or shocking! dares to pick out and purchase a children’s book for her own shelf and self. While sharing children’s books with the special kids in one’s life is never a bad idea, here are a few reasons why any adult can enjoy these books by herself:
Nostalgia No book can have quite the same effect on a person as the first ones she fell in love with. The best only get better with time, so pick up a few of your favorites and relive a little.
Conversation Starters Most people love talking about their favorite books to read as children, and a shared childhood favorite can begin an instant friendship between two adults. You may even receive some recommendations for some new titles to enjoy.
•Story-Time – Adults do not often indulge in the pleasure of being read to, an experience that can be soothing, amusing, or thrilling, depending on the story. Many bookstores, libraries, and even museums hold story-times regularly, and don’t mind a lone adult or two enjoying the story as well as the wee ones.
Feeling of Accomplishment If you don’t have time to finish War & Peace in your spare time, you can always finish a children’s book. Chapter books can take as long as a couple of hours, but most picture books take 15 minutes, longer if you spend some time exploring the delightful illustrations.
Next time you head into your favorite bookstore or library, indulge your inner child a little by marching into the children’s section with pride and settling yourself into those tiny chairs for a few minutes or more.