Top 5 children’s books that are still fun to read as an adult

Rachel Muenz Makes Children's Book Selections For Adults - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

Often, people read books as children that they think are the best things ever only to be disappointed when they return to them as adults. But there some children’s books that, whether you re-read them or explore them for the first time as an adult, are still great adventures.

Here, in my opinion, are the best kids’ books anyone of any age can enjoy:

1. Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy

Yes, technically it’s three books, but each part of the trilogy is so good that it would be a shame not to include all of them in the top spot. Pullman does not dumb down his writing yet still gives us an amazing story and characters we’ll never forget.

2. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series

While the first two books aren’t as fun to read as an adult, from book three onwards, the series gets darker, more exciting and more mature. Also, though the characters are lumped into simple good and bad categories at first, they get more complex as the series progresses. And the excellent story still pulls readers in long after they’ve grown up.

3. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit

Reluctant hero Bilbo Baggins makes this tale of dwarves, wizards, elves and a dragon stand out even in today’s massive fantasy genre which the book essentially started. Clever writing and a great adventure keep both children and adults coming back to The Hobbit.

4. Kate DiCamillo’s The Tale of Despereaux

This simple story of a mouse and his adventures is actually more complex than it first seems. The writing is beautiful and the characters are not just good and evil like they are in many children’s books. DiCamillo does not cover up the darker side of life, making this book something that anyone can relate to.

5. Roald Dahl’s Matilda

Pretty much anything by Dahl is fun to read no matter how old you are, but Matilda’s playful, funny narrator and over-the-top characters like Miss Trunchbull make it especially good to liven up a boring afternoon.

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