Reading books for a child is the best first step towards developing their reading cravings in the future. Fairy tales are a genre intended primarily for children: they develop an understanding of the world around them, form an understanding of good and evil, help enrich the vocabulary, and develop the imagination. You can come up with short fairy stories on your own for very young children, and as you grow up, it is more difficult to switch to books with a plot. After all, there are so many wonderful fairy tales written by world classics in this genre – the brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, Gianni Rodari, Astrid Lindgren, Gauf Wilhelm, and many others. As soon as the child learns to read, they will excitedly read books with their favorite characters from these authors. Read on to find out the top of the most exciting books that have been popular among young readers for more than one century.
Fairy tales are somewhat reminiscent of parables – they also bring wisdom for children, while the child can plunge into new worlds with exciting adventures and heroes. That is why the fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen are so admired by children all over the world, and today many cartoons are even made based on their adapted storyline. For example, the fairy tale The Little Mermaid. The story told in it helps children understand what love, compassion, and devotion are.
The Snow Queen is another work by Andersen, which tells about the intervention of magical forces in the friendship of the children of Kai and Gerda and the amazing adventures that followed. The tale teaches little readers to be brave, loyal friends and teaches nobility. The Ugly Duckling fairy tale will also be instructive for children, which will give children an understanding of tolerance towards others and teach them never to give up and believe in themselves.
The fairy tales of Thumbelina and The Princess and the Pea will be an excellent choice for little girls. These works by Andersen show how important qualities such as justice, kindness, and empathy are, that appearance is often deceiving, and attention should be paid primarily to the insides of a person. The plots of fairy tales themselves are so fascinating that it is simply impossible to stop reading them.
Another world-famous author of fairy tales, Charles Perrault, can be said to be one of the first to start such a concept as a literary fairy tale and bring it on a par with serious literary narratives. This writer lived and wrote in the 17th century, and his works such as Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots have become hit books for many generations. In his work, Perrault drew inspiration from folklore stories and added morality for the younger generation, and laid the foundation for ethical norms in his fairy tales.
Another writer to look out for when choosing a book for your child is Astrid Lindgren, a Swedish writer. Her children’s books have been translated into many languages, and many cartoons have been filmed based on the books’ plot. Interestingly, during her lifetime, the writer was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Prize for her contribution to children’s literature, and her Karlsson-on-the-Roof and Pippi Longstocking became beloved in families around the world.
Winnie-the-Pooh, a book by the English writer Alan Milne, will be able to instill in children a love for animals and show the value of true friendship. The prototype of Christopher Robin and his friend Winnie the Pooh was the writer’s son and his plush toy, bought after the child met a real bear at the zoo. The whole book is permeated with warmth and gives an atmosphere of serenity, and every young reader can go on an adventure with the well-known characters of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, and Rabbit.
From the first days of life, children absorb information from everywhere, therefore it is important to try to fill their still-forming worldview with the help of children’s books. Fairy tales play an important role in this and serve as both a tool for entertainment and learning.
