Confidence in Literature

There are so many books out there, it seems like picking a theme for my collection would not accurately represent the many types of books I love. When it comes to children's books, I love a story easily understood but rich in meaning, and narrative pictures with artistic value. I strongly believe that when it comes to children, we should not compromise quality because we think they can't tell the difference. Cheaply made books and commercial prints with little aesthetic value maybe a lure for a baby's eyes, but could there be another option with the same information and richer representation? I always say babies are not dumb, they're just new to art. I believe that if we show them beautiful art from the start, they will harbor greater appreciation and interest later in life.

Literature is such a wonderful way to teach our children about these ideas. They use character modeling to demonstrate outcomes, use varied contexts to give different examples of behavior, and incorporates other subjects to give an interdisciplinary education.

I have two goals for my "Leaves of Grasslings" literature collection. One is that all the books have a certain artistic value in both text and illustrations. This value, of course, will be objective since my artistic opinions might differ from yours.

The second, and most important, theme that will string these books together is the concept of raising confident children. Not the false confidence built up in constant praise, but the more inward confidence that a child finds on their own. They need to be realistic about their abilities, understand how to deal with expectations and disappointment, and have the courage to take risks. Just as Walt Whitman's epic collection of poetry commented on the impact of the individual on the world, I hope the books discussed in "Leaves of Grasslings" will encourage young readers to go out into the world with confidence and... grow.