What stood out to me in the Court (2018) reading was the mention of comparing the same information to when we were younger to now. I choose Seuss because as an adult, I enjoy rewatching cartoons from my childhood and comparing what I thought then to what I think now. As a young child, I remember enjoying books written by Dr. Suess. When I read these as an adult to my own kids, I experienced the same sense of fun and appreciate the language, unique characters & settings, and the illustrations. Books such as, The Lorax and Yurtle the Turtle also engage difficult topics at a level children can understand.

What I liked from the Lerer (2015) reading was the inspiration from knowing that children’s literature is for all ages and not bound to an age group, which creates an inclusive environment for all readers when reading. We are never too old to enjoy and learn from a storybook! Why not read picture books to kids at the Junior, Intermediate or even Senior levels?? We love them, and so will our older students.

As a child, I do not think I had a favourite book, but I loved (and still do) reading books by Dr. Suess. What initially drew me to these books were the illustrations, the rhyme, and the fun stories and characters.

My mom and dad read them to me and my sister before we could read ourselves, and I read them to my own kids.

What stood out from the Lerer reading was the idea that children's literature was not books written for children, but books read by children. Honestly, I don't exactly know what I think of that statement, but it certainly gave me a different perspective. It is something I will continue to reflect on.

As a child, my favourite book series was Percy Jackson. In grade five, it was recommended to me by the school librarian, and it started my love of reading. Before that, I was reading for school, not for pleasure. The world of Greek mythology captured me immediately, and still to this day I remain interested. I read that series into high school and now, as an adult, I have read works such as Circe and Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. These books are more adult adaptations of the Greek myths.

2) One of my favourite books is Holes by Louis Sachar which I remember reading in the 5th or 6th grade. Although this is a middle school or upper elementary story, it has stuck with me throughout my life and I continue to do a novel study with my own students now with this text. The story follows Stanley Yelnats who is convicted of a crime he did not commit. His punishment is to be sent to an all boys correctional facility in the middle of the desert, where he is forced to dig holes. The story introduced me to the themes of justice, fairness and coming of age. I resonated with Stanley as he was constantly proclaiming his innocence as is vindicated at the end of the story when he digs up treasure in one of the holes which belonged to his great grandfather. The idea of good vs bad, a happy ending and justice after all, really stuck with me throughout my teenage years. It spoke to me about resilience, friendship, and triumph, all of which I felt I experienced in my own teenage years. Many of my students are also trying to find their voice, develop meaningful friendships and overcome challenges which is why I continue to do a novel study with them on this story.

A significant idea that emerged is that children's literature is not only for kids. It serves as a lifelong friend that grows with us. Lerer highlights the richness and intricacy of these tales, illustrating how they influence our imagination, principles, and even our sense of self. Court’s insights surprised me by showing how revisiting childhood books can serve as emotional healing, allowing adults to reconnect with earlier versions of themselves and navigate life transitions. What struck me the most was the notion that rereading is not merely nostalgic, it's transformative. It prompted me to consider how stories I cherished in the past might uncover new meanings today, based on my current life situation.

2) Reflect briefly on your personal experiences reading children's literature. Name a favourite book or story you liked as a child (in English or in another language). Upload an image of the book cover or anther visual, if possible. (If you didn't have a favourite - and many adults don't --  why do you think that is?) Why do you think this book/story meant so much to you? How did you connect to the plot, theme, characters, and/or some other aspect of the book/story?

One of my favorite books from childhood is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I read it for the first time in French, and even as a kid, I sensed its subtle magic. The themes of loneliness, imagination, and the significance of seeing with the heart, not merely the eyes, profoundly touched me. I related to the Little Prince’s curiosity and his desire for connection. The fox’s lesson, "One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye", still resonates in my life today. It was more than just a story; it served as a guide for empathy, wonder, and emotional richness.

Court’s (2018) discussion on rereading children’s books also resonated with me, though in a more complicated way. Court argues that revisiting children’s literature as adults can bring comfort, rediscovery, and a deeper understanding of self. While I find this perspective compelling, I struggle to see how it applies to my own life. Unlike many of my peers who could connect with characters that looked like them, I never experienced that sense of belonging or recognition. As a Muslim female who proudly wears the hijab, I have never encountered a children’s book with a protagonist who shared that identity. As a result, I never had a “favourite” children’s book that offered comfort or representation. Court (2018) also points out that rereading can expose limitations in older texts, such as outdated perspectives. Encouragingly, with the expansion of English children’s literature, more diverse characters—including hijabi protagonists—are beginning to appear.

This connects back to Lerer’s (2014) point that childhood is socially constructed and historically shifting. As he writes, “Childhood was not invented by the moderns...but is a shifting category that has meaning in relationship to other stages of personal development and family life” (pp. 37–38). For me, this highlights how both personal circumstances and broader social structures shape the very meaning of childhood. It also pushes me to think about the role of representation and cultural inclusion in shaping the childhood experiences of future generations.

I am not certain I had just one favourite book growing up, but the series that really stands out for me was the Junie B Jones books. The Stupid Smelly Bus was the first chapter book I read independently. I remember being so proud of myself, and being so enthralled by how much personality and zest Junie B has. Part of why I loved these books so much was because I wanted to have the confidence JBJ has, I wanted to be silly and break rules, but perhaps did not want to get in trouble all the same! Reading these books was an indulgence into these desires, and always brought a good laugh all in the same!

When I was young my favourite book were Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and Narnia. I think what these books all had in common is that they create a whole world full of characters and locations that you can get lost in. They are also series, which I enjoyed because I was a fast reader. I know what drew me to them was that they were a challenge. They were big books, and I was known as a book worm so I figured I could handle it. I also remember enjoying the magical aspect of all three of these books. I hope to read them to my children one day.

What I enjoyed about Lerer's reading is that “Texts are mutable,” which means that an Adult and a child may read the same book but may not enjoy it in the same way. As a teacher, it is important to always keep their interests in mind.

2. When I was little, I had difficulty reading. Therefore, my mother would read all kinds of books to me every day. I loved so many different types of books. However, one that came to mind lately was “If You Give A Pig A Pancake”. I loved the whole series. Yet, I would have my mom read this book to me repeatedly. I though it was so funny. It was a great way to inspire my imagination as a kid.

As for the Lerer reading, it was the idea that books are not written for children, but are books read by children that had me thinking the most. The idea, in my perspective, is that the content of the book is more important than the intended audience the book is written for. Stories like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings contain content that can be seen as either violent or even sacrilegious. The question isn’t “is this bad for children?” The question should be “will children understand the message I am writing?”. If a child can learn from the message and be entertained at the same time, then the book serves its purpose. This purpose only fails if the story makes readers like children feel uncomfortable or disturbed which is why age restrictions exist to remind people what their story has to offer.

Having given my thoughts on the readings, I can honestly say that the graphic novel series “Bone” by Jeff Smith is my favorite. Growing up, I had a hard time visualizing what I was reading in my head. I had an average reading competency but struggled in taking in information and sharing ideas. Because of this, I immediately gravitated towards comics as my choice of reading. The visuals were made for me and elements like voice and expression in writing were clearly shown in the characters that were drawn. The story itself peaked my interest. Taking not-so-serious looking characters and putting them in a very serious plot involving family drama, loss and war just to see how they could handle it. That summary alone is probably why I connected myself with it growing up. Because I fell behind, I stopped taking myself seriously, but understood that being in school was a serious situation with its own plot, theme and characters laid out for me. If the Bone characters could find a role to play in their story, then I knew that I could find one too in mine.

Lerer (2015) discusses the use and importance of picture books in all stages of learning and childhood. This idea stood out to me as a fourth grade teacher as it reinforced my belief that it is important to read picture books to older students as well. They are valuable tools to use in the classroom to make abstract ideas more concrete and to reinforce a love of learning.

My favourite picture book as a child was A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza. I have strong childhood memories of my mother reading this book to my sister and me before going to bed. This book brings back nostalgic feelings of childhood. My mother always used to read books to me as a young child, which helped to reinforce my love of reading to this day. It was one of my favourites growing up as it helped me to understand the meaning of family and helped me to process my identity as an adopted child. My mom used this book to help me better understand my family reality, and made a rather complex topic feel normal instead of taboo. Thus, I believe picture books can play a great role in the classroom in approaching difficult topics, such as different family realities.

1. Court (2018). A point I reflected on from this text was how rereading childhood books and stories could cause adults to reflect on their personal growth and development. Whether these books remind us of issues we once dealt with and moved on from, or the ways we connected with the characters or the plot, it is intriguing to consider the power of rereading as a self-reflection tool to monitor our own growth and maturity.

A second point that struck me from these readings was the growth and development of children's literature and how it provides us more than just stories, but how they are a history of childhood (Lerer). The fact that there is no specific golden age of children's literature is also interesting as we observe changes in social values, norms, and cultural focuses. I reflected on how a book's value is not necessarily tied to its quality, but to the way (or how much and how often) it is used and circulated through homes, institutions and schools. I paused to consider the fact that just because a book became popular, it does not particularly mean that it was of amazing literary quality. It made me want to uncover books from my past that may have been largely overlooked, those that were written on the margins of popularity and not given the same limelight, to find further literary gems that highlight important pieces of the past.

2. Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase was the first book I read in the series, which sparked a fascination with mysterious and suspenseful stories that made up the bulk of my reading during Grades 3-6. I remember it fondly as a catalyst for a deep love of reading longer chapterbooks that pulled me in, and I devoured them. It was the first time falling in love with repeating characters - getting to know their personalities and watching how their relationships developed over several texts. It made the reading more meaningful. I empathized with their problems and enjoyed the elements of danger and mystery that sparked my imagination. Lastly, this book acted as a springboard of inspiration for me to write my own short stories and mysteries.

What I liked from the Lerer (2015) reading was the imaginative connection to children's literature. It is interesting to see how a book can help a child's imagination grow, making life and reading much more exciting. I remember reading Roald Dahl's "Matilda" and imagining eating the chocolate cake which was given as a punishment to one of the students at Matilda's school. Until today, I associate chocolate cake with that incident from the book.

My favourite book is difficult to choose but it would definitely be one of Roald Dahl's classics. They were easy to read and had interesting twists and turns through the different stories.

From Emma Court’s article, the idea that rereading childhood books can act as a mirror of personal growth really resonated. I was surprised by how powerfully adults can be transported back to childhood memories—through not just the story itself but also the emotions tied to reading it at a certain time in life. I liked the point about rereading being slower and gentler, allowing you to notice things you missed as a child. Both articles together made me realize how children’s literature is both a foundation for imagination and a tool for reflection later in life.

One of my favourite childhood books was The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

This book meant a lot to me because, as a child, I connected with the simplicity of the friendship between the boy and the tree—it felt comforting and unconditional. As I got older, I started to see the sadness in the story, the way the tree gives everything until nothing is left. That shift in perspective connects directly to what Court describes: rereading brings new layers of meaning and makes you think differently about the same story.

I think I loved it because I saw myself in both characters: the tree’s desire to give and the boy’s changing relationship with what he needed at different ages. It was a story that grew with me—simple enough to enjoy as a child but complex enough to challenge me later, much like Lerer’s idea that children’s literature is surprisingly deep and enduring.

I enjoyed reading both of these articles. In For Grown-Ups Too by Seth Lerer, I appreciated the notes on the importance of children's literature and the impact it can have on any type of audience members. Lerer ( 2014) states that “children's literature charts the makings of the literate imagination (p.37).  This demonstrates the importance of literature and how it has the ability to shape how children learn to think, wonder, imagine and make sense of the world they live in. 

In the article, What rereading childhood books teaches adults about themselves by Emma Court, I really resonated with a lot of what was discussed. Especially when Court (2018) states that revisiting stories one used to read as a child provides comfort, relaxation, and the pleasure of rediscovery. (p.2). I find this to be completely true and so interesting that each time I reread one of these stories, so many different memories pop into my head. Court (2018) states that “childhood books offer an opportunity to sit down in the river of time, if just for a moment, and ponder the full scope of one’s life.” (p.4). I think it is incredibly special to have such a profound experience from pieces of paper bound together. I feel very privileged to have access to a variety of books that were able to take me on so many different adventures. 

2) Reflect on personal experiences with children’s literature

As a young child, I loved the Magic School Bus series. I was obsessed with science, and these books made learning these different concepts feel like such an adventure. Every book took us on a field trip that was rooted in a big concept in Science (like the solar system, the human body, or electricity). It felt like a silly, imaginative, and magical journey. I loved Ms. Frizzle’s positivity and fearlessness when it came to all of her field trips and her reminder to “take chances, make mistakes, and get messy.” This is a message that still sticks with me to this day. I feel like that mantra gave me permission to see mistakes as part of learning, not something to be afraid of. This is something I now consistently tell my students too. Looking back now as a middle school teacher, I realize how much those books shaped the way I approach teaching. The Magic School Bus inspired me to make my teaching a hands-on experience full of wonder, curiosity, and mistakes. Just like the students on the bus, I want my own students to feel that learning is an adventure they get to be part of and only happens when they are open to taking chances.

My most-loved story from childhood is Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy. I remember my mom reading it to me when I was in upper elementary school and my returning to it many times over the years when wanting to escape to a place of comfort and familiarity. I think the story was so intriguing to me because the main character, Maggie's life was so different from my own. She finds refuge in the attic of her aunts' home and the company of two mysterious dolls, participating in tea parties and walks in the garden. The idea of another world to yourself has always been comforting to me, especially when I have wanted to escape real life. I remember wishing I had somewhere I could escape to (like Maggie) when I was younger.

What stood out to me in the Lerer (2015) article was the many ways in which a book can be looked at. I found the differentiation between “books that children read” and “books that were written for children” very interesting as well as the reminder that there can be a great divide between what the author meant a work to be, and what it means to the reader. I also enjoyed Lerer’s take on the evolution of children’s literature and how there were themes that could be found throughout regardless of the age in which the work was written.

As a young person I was a voracious reader. I read childhood’s standard authors (E.B. White, Gordon Korman, Beverly Cleary, Roald Dahl), as well as many “one off” authors that I have never heard from again. One such author was Jerry Spinelli and his young adult novel “Space Station Seventh Grade” (1982). I read this book when I was in grade six or seven and many of its themes really hit home. The novel was only a few years old when I entered the seventh grade myself. The vernacular was familiar and topics like puberty, first loves, death, and friendship were brought forward in an honest and accurate way in a time when these topics weren’t as openly discussed as they are today. I am certain that every boy between the ages of ten and fourteen that read this book saw at least a little of themselves in Jason Herkimer, the novel’s protagonist.  As I alluded to earlier, I reread the novel as an adult and there were elements of the novel that I found disappointing in some respects. The majority of these disappointments were based on the language used to describe some of the characters as well as the use of common stereotypes and gender roles. However, in the books defence, these topics were discussed in the novel, and at the time, the book was a pretty accurate representation of the time in which it was based. I still enjoyed it, but it has lost a little bit of the shine that it once had.

In Lerer’s article, he describes children’s literature as “a rack of hats… each item is a subject of interpretation” (p. 38). I interpreted this to mean that young readers bring rich, imaginative minds to the stories they encounter. Even when reading the same book, each child may interpret it differently, sparking unique thoughts and emotions. Storybooks, then, become a powerful tool for igniting creativity and diverse perspectives.

One of my favourite books as a child was Charlotte’s Web. It was the first story I remember. This book means so much to me because I grew up with a single father who worked long days, but each evening, when he would be putting me to bed, he’d read a bit each night as I’d fall asleep. Then come when the movie came out, I remember watching it on road trips in our Honda minivan and being so invested in the visual story as well. Reminiscing about it now, and the characters’ personalities, I may have resonated with Wilbur, as a shy, timid character and Charlotte, the wise spider, bringing him out of his shell by stating a descriptive word about him. Those words of affirmation now make me think of the relationship I have with my dad and how he was and still is my biggest cheerleader, even when I have my self-doubts.

life" (Court 2018, p.g. 4); paired with Seth Lerer's idea of children's literature as an opportunity to find a sense of escapism for the individual, I found these perspectives interesting and reflective. These ideas made me realize why I enjoy showing my students the stories that I had read at their age. I recommend the books or place it in my classroom library solely because I think they will like it; I do this because I look forward to seeing the excitement for the books that I once loved so dearly (passing on the torch, if you will).

As a child and teen I read many books; from dystopian heroics to texts of self discovery-- I read it all! A book (or series) that stands out the most is the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. This series was the first series that transported me into a different realm. It was a time where I could bond with other kids over this popular series, and a time wherein I spent all day (and night) reading. This time was really special to me; how beautiful is it to love a book series so deeply that it encompasses the entirety of your free time, and create such a large community of people with similar interests, providing a sense of belonging. Finding a sense of belonging is a huge theme in the series, and I think that it very relatable for a child making their way through the world; therefore, connecting to the misfit characters was made easy. The series helped a generation of kids feel not so alone!

My favourite childhood books were those by Robert Munsch. His stories were often available in my school library and were regularly read to me during class reading time, which made them a big part of my early experiences with books. I loved how his stories were funny, imaginative, and easy to connect with as a child. A few of my favorite books of his included like Love You Forever and The Paper Bag Princess which carried important messages about love, resilience, and independence. I think these stories appealed to me because they had a mixture of humor and meaningful lessons. 

Robinson Crusoe was my favorite book as a child. Back then, I was utterly fascinated by the idea of adventure and yearned for that sense of independence and exploration. Later, when I grew up and actually went abroad to study, I realized how much I could relate to Robinson's experiences. Of course, I wasn't stranded on a deserted island, but arriving in a new country meant facing loneliness, challenges, and gradually adapting to the environment step by step. This book holds great significance for me because it not only ignited my imagination as a child but also provided emotional support as I grew up.

I can never forget " The Crysalids". As much I was never the biggest of readers, this was my favourite literature books in secondary school. It is a fictional about mutations and people who a born different. They are known as outcasts just for being different. They had to eventually run away and go to a place where they were excepted for who they are. I love this book because we see today that we have different abilities and we may look different but it doesn't mean that we are outcasts. I loved the adventure and it widened my imagination. Now that I am older, I there are many movies that is similar to this book e.g The Xmen.