Before I even knew how to read, I was looking through picture books. Each book blessed with stylistic drawings and animated illustrations, picture books convery stories through more than just words. Yet, as I got older, I traded these colorful tales for longer chapter books, eventually neglecting to pick up picture books at all. But why?
In a phenomenon that goes beyond just picture books, under the perceived notion of it being too childish, I stopped doing things that made me happy simply because I felt too old for them. In an effort to undo this, I’ve spent recent years attempting to pick up old hobbies I loved and gave up for nothing more than social expectations. Reading picture books made the top of the list, and it’s not hard to tell why.
Initially, picture books are comforting in a way many chapter books I read are not. Since the target audience is children, picture books often conclude with satisfying resolutions. An avid lover of happy endings, to the point where reading the happy conclusion of a character’s life makes me feel content about my own, I consider picture books to be an efficient stress reliever. Both the comfort of a picture book and the accompanying nostalgia of reading one allows me to put aside my worries for a moment. In an ever-stressful world, I consider that the mark of a notable pastime.
Secondly, with the blissful existence of libraries, picture books are free. Many of my hobbies cost a decent chunk of money to maintain, but picture books often cost me nothing but a trip to the library. Additionally, the Children’s Section of a library is often decorated far more than the rest of the building, and is generally quite fun to visit.
Lastly, despite when many people seem to think, many picture books do have literary merit. These books were written for children who to a great extent are still trying to understand who they are and the world that they live in. Thus, the stories showcased in picture books often contain elements of the world they may relate to or consider in relation to their own ideas. I’ve read a surplus of picture books that battle real issues with society and morality, yet showcase them in a way that a child with limited life experience could attempt to understand. These books might not be the pinnacle of literature, but oftentimes they are still exceptional.
So, it is with joy that I pick up a picture book. Comforting, costless, and full of character, these books are a simple piece of happiness — one that I am proud to enjoy at any age.