I just saw someone say “You need to read a book intended for adults.” instead of “Read a different book.” to a Harry Potter fan. Big fan of that.
The reaction to this post is making me realize I need to start saying this immediately.
They are books written for children. Children are the intended audience. Not that you cannot enjoy children’s books as an adult but that you should not be reading children’s books exclusively.
Children's books are not stupid but they are intended for an audience with
very limited experience,
very limited access to resources
and the unique legal and social positions that is found in childhood
You should be able to read children's books and recognise that they are not for you. they are answering questions that you should know the answers to. They are describing social and political situations that children are new to and have little to no social responsibility to react to
You an adult, when you engage in adult literature should already know and be able to process social nuances developed with age you also have a different social responsibility when you engage with this type of literature, you have a different political and legal framework to engage with this literature.
If you find yourself only reading kids books ask yourself, what about your own adulthood Has left you so sheltered that literature intended for people that have only been alive for ten years is the only thing that you can engage with.
