Why Children's Literature isn't to be taken lightly

Adam: (sniffing in near-disgust) "Why bother studying children's literature? It's for kids. It's not meant to be interpreted as deeply as adult texts." Karen and her sister: "WHAT?!" Karen's sister is doing her Masters in Children's Literature. In fairness to my husband, he was saying that just to get a rise-up. We took the bait. Here's one reason why children's texts are important. John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat is one year older than me. Published in 1977, it won the 1978 Picture Book of the Year from the Children's Book Council of Australia. I think it is in every school library in the country. I sure remember reading it first at school anyway, then I saw it the other day in our library and borrowed it for Keira. Here's a synopsis: This classic picture book is about jealousy, but is also about learning to give over through love. Rose and her Old English Sheepdog, John Brown, live contentedly together. They need only each other. When the midnight cat appears outside their home, John Brown refuses even to admit its existence. He comes to realise that the cat is important to Rose and to allow it in the house, even though it makes him sad. The cat is mysterious and possibly sinister, and John Brown's reactions may even have been right the first time. Nevertheless, his love for Rose prevails, and he puts her needs first. A strange little fable, but quite beautiful in both words and pictures. (Source) That just didn't sit right with me. I mean, yes, that's what the book is about, but I was sure there was something deeper. You finish the story and there's something haunting about it. I mentioned this to my sister, who, with her expertise, was able to fill me in. "Yes, I remember reading about this," she said. "Listen to the names. John Brown - he was Queen Victoria's kinsman/saddler/companion after the Prince Regent died. So, the dog is him. Rose, who was Victoria's nickname of sorts, is her. So John Brown is protecting her." "So what does the midnight cat represent?" We thought about this. "I think it's death," I said. "At the end, right, she wants to let death inside but John Brown won't let it come in until he too realises he can't protect her from death forever. So the cat comes in and sits by the fire, waiting." Get it guys. Read it. See if you agree. This is why kids need to read. To grasp onto a narrative; come to their own interpretation, to become active thinkers and logicians. Just because our reading might (I admit) be a bit much for others to swallow doesn't de-legitimise the deduction in the first place. It's also for the eternal child in all of us. In the screening of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on the weekend, it was the adults at the back of the theatre who cheered loudly for Gary Oldman as Sirius as he boldly jumped out into the fray at the climax, and I admit, I was one of them too. I wanted to be a member of the Order. I want access to, and placement at, Hogwarts. I want us all that chance to keep dreaming. And it starts with those few words on the page; a powerful picture accompaniment; for the magic to begin.