A lot of kids say they “don’t like” old books—otherwise known as “classic literature.” I’m not surprised to hear this: old books can be quite different from what you’re used to. They tend to move more slowly, have unfamiliar vocabulary, and go in unexpected directions.
New books follow new rules
If you’re a typical modern kid, you probably watch lots of action-packed shows, play fast-moving videogames, and read manga and other graphic-heavy text.
When kids read, you tend to read modern books, many of which are written under pretty strict rules. Did you know that a lot of publishers rejected Harry Potter because they thought kids wouldn’t like a book that was so complicated and featured so many adult characters. (Sheesh, were they wrong!)
Other rules that modern children’s authors may follow include not having too many long words, explaining unfamiliar concepts, and making sure to include a plot “hook” in the first chapter.
Old books break modern rules
Old books for kids didn’t have to follow any rules, because there was no children’s publishing industry. Publishers tended to release books they thought were good, regardless of how they were written. Classic books include episodic books like Gulliver’s Travels. They include adventure books that are actually pretty slow-moving, like Journey to the Center of the Earth. They include long, thoughtful books like Anne of Green Gables.
These books tend to have unfamiliar language, because language changes over time. They also tend to have big words, because writers then expected that young readers would look up unfamiliar words and enjoy learning new ones.
Most importantly, old books are time travel!
What?
Yup, old books help you travel back in time. The person who wrote the book immerses you in the world that they knew. The author had no idea of the future that you, the reader, were going to be coming from.
So in order to really enjoy old books, you have to immerse yourself in the world, just like if you traveled back in time.
That’s why I say old books are a form of time travel. They are a little piece of a world that writers left behind for us to enjoy and learn from.
A few tips for enjoying older books:
- Slow down your reading
- Don’t expect to be “hooked” right away—give it time
- If you can understand unfamiliar words in context, keep reading
- If you really need to look up a word, be prepared to do so
- Appreciate that the writer has used words to give you a chance to travel back to their time… even when you’re taking a fictional future trip to the center of the earth!
Enjoy time travel between the covers of a book!
I LOVE old books !
I’m glad, Alex! So do I!
I love this! I love old books.
I agree, Celisse. Old books are wonderful!