What is Good Children's Literature?

Knowing what is considered good children's literature would require that you study the most popular children's literature series of the last few hundred years. Harry Potter may be the most popular example of children's literature since the invention of the printing press. Many people have been puzzled as to why the Harry Potter series is such a mega hit and others have tried to trash the series as derivative. More importantly vast amounts of children and adults view the Harry Potter series as the perfect example of what is good children's literature. What makes the series so special?

One reason for the popularity of the Harry Potter series is Harry Potter himself. He seems like the perfect protagonist because he is someone the reader wants to and even needs to root for. Because his parents died when he was a baby, he was raised by his aunt and uncle. Basically, he was the unwanted person in the house. Treated like a servant who lives in the cupboard under the stairs, Harry grows up lonely and unloved. His cousin Dudley, and what a dud he is, picks on him every chance he gets. He even allows his friends to bully Harry. In the beginning of the first book, Harry wears castoff clothes that are too large, is badgered by everyone, and feels as though he doesn't fit anywhere in the world. Who can't identify and love the orphan whom no one loves or even likes.

Throughout the seven book series, Harry matures to a young man of seventeen. Although he moves to adulthood, some aspects of his character never changes. Harry remains the very honest, courageous, loving, and kindhearted boy his parents raised for one year. Even though he is faced with every possible obstacle, he never sways from his quest to rid the world of the evil Voldemorte, even being ready to give up his own life.

Many of the characters in the book see Harry as a hero and when he finds out that he is a wizard born of wizards, he is shocked and delighted. Finally, he can get away from the Dursleys even if it's just for the summer. On his way to Hogwarts, everyone seems to stare at him. Rather than enjoying the limelight Harry shies away from it. During the course of the seven books, Harry never tries to be the showoff. Sure he is good at Quidditch, a powerful wizard who has overcome Voldemorte many times, and courageous way beyond his years, but Harry never plays the braggart. He never feels that he is worthy of all the attention he has received. He is horrified when the Ministry of Magic spreads lies about him, but he remains determined to do what is right.

Harry may be a hero but he is far from perfect and often his imperfections make him even more interesting and more appealling as a character. He is shy, especially around girls. When he is forced to go to the Winter Formal, he is petrified and ends up losing his date to another boy. His best friend Ron is equally scared of girls. They end up spending the evening together acting silly just as one would expect young teenage boys to act. He can be very angry. Faced with the death of those close to him, faced with having to hide at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, Harry becomes someone no one wants to be around. He takes his teenage angst to another level. His anger, however justified, does show that he isn't perfect, which is one of the reasons we love him. If he were perfect, he would be not only unbelievable but rather boring.

One more reason why the Harry Potter books answer the question 'what is good children's literature' is that the plots are full of suspense and because J.K. Rowling plotted each book carefully before it was written, she always left questions to be answered. Right up until the last book, readers have questions that they were dying to have answered. Even the last book doesn't answer everyone's questions. Because readers had to wait years between books, children and adults argued endlessly about possible plot lines and answers to burning questions. Basically the plot is very simple. Young orphan boy finds out he is a wizard and goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Young magical boy finds out that a powerful, evil wizard tried to kill him and did kill his family. Young magical boy finds out that Voldemorte wants to kill him. Young magical boy finds out that it's kill or be killed. Young wizard is victorious and saves the world. The story is simple. It's the getting there that is magical.

To try to discover what makes good children's literature is a bit like trying to capture light in a bottle. It may remain Impossible, but it is great fun to try.



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