For most of us, who are parenting a child with vitiligo, life was a series of exciting holidays and a humdrum school routine. And it was all those years of reading tales of glory, adventure, mystery, and fantasy that made our imagination bloom in a myriad of wonderful ways. If you are thinking of weaning your children away from vitiligo induced negativity, reading to and with your children can be the most rewarding bonding time.
Books broaden your child’s outlook and horizons, helping him/her live happier with vitiligo. Expanding the imagination, getting the brain geared up to process words into meaning and meaning into images – children’s books can work wonders and help your child be confident, even with vitiligo.
Wondering where to begin? Well, it’s always best to keep it simple and classic. The favorite of generations of kids, my pick of the 5 All-Time Greatest Books for Children, in random order, include:
1 – Heidi
The story of a young girl named Heidi, who goes to stay with her grandfather in a cottage high up in the panoramic Swiss Alps, this children’s classic novel by Johanna Spyri was first published in 1881. So many decades later, this timeless tale of friendship, kinship and kindness still moves readers to tears and instills in them an undying love for bucolic life and snow-covered mountains.
2 – Black Beauty
The tale of a horse named Black Beauty, and the hardships he faces, Anna Sewell finished this novel in 1877. While Sewell died soon after the novel was published, Black Beauty created a huge wave of empathy for the plight of animals and triggered an unprecedented outrage against their cruel treatment. It is as relevant today as it was in 1877.
3 – The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn
When Mark Twain wrote about the lives of two young boys named Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, he was inadvertently laying the foundation of many future generations becoming free spirits and lovers of nature. First published in the late 1880s, the story of the legendary friendship of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, growing up along the Mississippi River, remains memorable and is universally hailed as a classic.
4 – Around the World in 80 Days
An adventure novel by Jules Verne, it recounts the series of exciting events that Phileas Fogg of London and his French valet Passepartout experience in their attempt to circumnavigate the world in just 80 days! Published in 1873, Around the World in 80 days is full of wonder and adventure. Your child will thank you for introducing this book to her.
5 – Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
Charlie Bucket is poor and lives with his grandparents and parents in a rickety house. He may be hungry all the time, but he is never unhappy because everyone in his family loves him. One day, Charlie wins a lottery for a free tour of chocolate millionaire Willy Wonka’s factory. After that, his life is never the same again. This 1964 novel by Roald Dahl is full of fantasy and adventure, with generous doses of humor and magic realism.
Here’s to keeping the wonder of the written word alive and the spark of creativity aglow, in young adults and grown-up kids!