It’s Children’s Book Week!

In honor of the annual national literacy initiative hosted by Every Child a Reader and sponsored by the Children’s Book Council, I will be sharing a series of the seven elements I love about children’s books. One element was featured Monday through today, finishing with …

EVERYTHING!

I know, I know. It might seem like I cheated on today’s final element I love about children’s books.

But really, what’s not to love?

I considered ending the week by saying my seventh favorite element is writing children’s books. It’s true that I get a lot of joy from the writing process, but it’s hard to single out a final aspect when so many others are being omitted. There are many others I enjoy and equally as many illustrators. There are children’s literature festivals, storybook-inspired locations (like Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan, Wis.), derivative works in other media like the stage, film, and art …

There aren’t enough days in Children’s Book Week to list them all. So I’m wrapping up the celebration by spreading my arms wide and encompassing all elements of children’s literature by saying I love everything about it.

The rest of the series:

• (Pt. 1) What I love about children’s books: Imagination
• (Pt. 2) What I love about children’s books: Creativity
• (Pt. 3) What I love about children’s books: Family bonding
• (Pt. 4) What I love about children’s books: Teaching love of books/reading
• (Pt. 5) What I love about children’s books: Literacy development
• (Pt. 6) What I love about children’s books: Storytelling