Children’s Literature
The United Nations created the UNICEF agency after World War II to aid children during the war. It provided health care, food, and clothing to children in Europe and the United States, and was made a permanent part of the UN in 1953. In that year, UNICEF began a global campaign to end yaws, a disease that causes disfiguring yaws. The good news is that yaws is curable with the use of penicillin. In 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which defined the rights of children to protection, education, and health care.
While many adults read adult novels, children often retain the qualities of children. Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh are widely read by adults. In addition, the Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf is read by many grownups. Whether a child’s reading habits are still influenced by their parents or their culture, children are entitled to a voice.
Children’s literature is a subset of world literature. It includes widely recognized works of literature for young people, as well as works that are easy to read. Other types of children’s literature are lullabies, folk songs, and oral transmission materials. In any case, children’s literature is meant to entertain young people. They also have the right to have their own culture, religion, and lifestyle, and to have their own education.