The Giving Tree, Charlotte’s Web, and The Day The Crayons Quit are all stories that shaped me to be who I am. Within all these stories were messages that can be seen as hard-hitting, whether that be friendship, self-acceptance, kindness, and inclusion. Growing up in a society where reading has evolved overtime, there is a thin line between what can be seen as powerful and what is seen as weak, especially in childhood stories. The tales that once held importance beyond generations and structured the ways in which individuals acted. The innocence of stories that don’t comply with modern realities anymore seem to lose touch as new material gets released.
Many classic stories have been exiled from bookshelves as no one seems to find them aligning with their current societal values. These values may pertain to either race, gender, or class. Looking back on specifics, a lot of Disney novels, more or less the princess fantasies, always convey a story with a girl being saved by a man. This indicates that “all” women need a man to save them. In modern society, these ideologies do not fit into the ways in which the world works now. As society grows in awareness of the inequality between genders these stories begin to expire and decline.
Continuing, some books that reflect contemporary realities can be seen as ‘Holes’ written by Louis Sachar, the ‘Junie B. Jones’ series written by Barbara Park, or even ‘Totally Joe’ written by James Howe. These stories reflect ideas that could really happen in real life while also presenting a fun storyline any reader can enjoy. Nothing in each of these stories connect to a singular timeline or specific event in history, however these books highlight ongoing problems that can appear in children’s lives such as parental divorce, friendship troubles, or teenage issues. While some of these problems are indirectly mentioned in each story it still gives purpose to the writing in a more meaningful way.
Childhood stories should be viewed as playful and entertaining while providing a retaining value. If you have the opportunity to learn off of something, you might as well take it.
Fantasies, myths, and mysteries might be all the rave, but providing children with a touch of today is impactful. Looking back upon the past, there is no need to change what is already there. However, bringing out some new content could bring back the power childhood books used to hold.
Taking into consideration, redeveloping classic stories would be quite unfortunate, however they could potentially resonate with a wider range of audiences in that way. This leads to stories being more inclusive and relevant. Still, maintaining the original versions enables us to take account of the past and recognize our progress. Instead of erasing the past, the objective should be to balance it with fresh narratives that capture the variety of experiences and difficulties of the present.
“The End Of Innocence” in writing ultimately refers to a change rather than a loss. As children grow, the stories we tell them should change to accommodate both nostalgia and new tales that prepare them to deal with the world they inhabit.
