Why Do We Share Literature with Children?

I strongly believe that sharing literature with children opens them up to new worlds. Books can transport a child from the mundane to the extraordinary. They can also help them to feel they are not alone in the world. I believe books can be powerful tools for teaching empathy to children. They are able to read firsthand accounts of others in totally different situations than them. Sometimes books can help a child who is shy or introverted to feel bold and adventurous. Children in broken or abusive homes or who live in poverty are able to escape the harsh realities of their everyday lives. Sharing literature with children teaches them new concepts in ways they can understand. Books can serve as entertainment that rivals the highest tech game. Books make children feel valued and their voices heard.

Here are the top 10 reasons to share literature with children:
1. Because it's fun!
2. Because it aids in the acquisition of language and language development
3. Because it develops empathy
4. It supports lifelong readers
5. Reading autobiographically
6. Reading for vicarious experiences
7. Reading for philosophical speculation
8. Reading for aesthetic experiences
9. Literature develops the imagination
10. It can transmit culture

This affects how I have read and evaluated YA literature in that it has changed how I view books in terms of them being enjoyable for young adults, whether they are something that a young adult can connect with autobiographically, how a book will help develop empathy and transmit culture, and how YA books can help keep imaginations active even when older kids are bombarded with reality all around them as they grow up.