Reading Children’s Literature!

Over the weekend, I spent some time with school kids in a school at Kasoa. The ages of these kids ranged from 5-8 years.

The programme was about educating school kids on the need to improve on their reading skills. In my interactions with them, one kid asked me what my occupation was. Guess what my answer was? I told them I was a Book Blogger.

The very next question thrown at me was about who a book blogger was. In response, I told them that I read books and have them reviewed on my personal blog online. I went on to tell them about the importance of reading, that reading empowers the individual, that reading broadens ones horizon, that reading would enable them speak good English, and on and on and on.

The next question that followed is what has challenged me to start a session on reading Children’s literature. One kid asked me about the kinds of books I read. In response, I found out that I could not mention any Children’s book I have read since I formally started blogging. I could not talk about books by the Chinua Achebe’s, those by the Ben Okri’s, those by the Coetzee’s and so forth. In view of this, I am starting a project with the label – Children’s Literature. I would be starting with Ghanaian Children’s literature and then later plunge into world Children’s literature.

Already, I have got a few suggestions of Children’s books from the kids and may want to start with them. However, I would appreciate it the more if I could hear suggestions from you (both Ghanaian and World Children’s Literature). Thank you!