So, What's the good book?(1)

In the previous post, I criticized buying complete book sets. In this post, I think we should discuss what makes a good book.

First and foremost, a good book is an enjoyable one. While we adults may prioritize educational value, if a book isn’t fun, kids won’t touch it again. So, fun is the top priority. But that doesn’t mean we can just give kids books that are ‘only’ fun. We need to find books that are both tasty and nutritious, so to speak. It’s not easy being a mom! Stories with unexpected elements are fun. There’s a fantastic book called “The Legend of a Friend” (written and illustrated by Lee Ji-eun, Printed by Woongjin Junior). The premise of a tiger and a dandelion becoming friends is very unique, and the cartoon-like illustrations are sure to appeal to kids. This book is a great example of a ‘good book’ that successfully blends fun with educational value.

Secondly, avoid books that oversimplify life. Fairy tales provide familiar and comforting stories for children, but they can also excessively simplify the complexities of life. This can lead children to take life too lightly. This is why fairy tales, with their clear distinction between good and evil, are not suitable for older children. As children grow older, they begin to understand the complexities of life and prefer creative novels that reflect this complexity. Also, Abridged versions or comic books can omit or simplify important parts of the original work, causing children to miss out on important lessons or insights that they could learn from the original work. For example, children’s abridged or cartoon versions of ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ stop at Gulliver’s exciting adventures. They miss out on the satire and disdain for human society that are present in the original work. Is there any point in reading such books? Teachers and parents should wait until children are old enough to read the full versions.

Lastly, a good book should have literary merit. In children’s books, literary merit means giving children room for imagination and inference. Books that explain everything leave no room for children to join in. <Waiting for Mom> is a work reborn by the short writing of teacher Lee Tae-jun and the illustrations of artist Kim Dong-sung. No matter how many times you read it, it feels new every time. This is what literary quality is. The scene where the child waits for his mother is drawn in black and white, but the scene drawn from the child’s imagination appears in beautiful watercolor hues. Looking at that scene, children also spread the wings of their imagination. A book with lasting resonance is one where a new story begins after the last page is turned - the reader’s story. A child who reads many such books will lead a rich life. (To be continued)