I love Children’s Literature. There is so much to be learned about life and living in the simple pages of books that has stayed with me for my lifetime. Various forms of religious literature, often, do not say nearly as much as a book made for a child.
That said—feel free to follow me under the orange to see some of my favorite quotes! And…feel free to add others in your comments.
Welcome to Brothers and Sisters, the weekly meetup for prayer* and community at Daily Kos. We put an asterisk on pray* to acknowledge that not everyone uses conventional religious language, but may want to share joys and concerns, or simply take solace in a meditative atmosphere. Anyone who comes in the spirit of mutual respect, warmth and healing is welcome.
Aesop’s Fables: The Lion and the Mouse
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
Jez Alborough: Hug
HUG!!!!
Lewis Carroll: Alice in Wonderland
If you don’t know where you are going any road can take you there.
I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.
Roald Dahl: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.
Antoine de Saint Exupery: The Little Prince
Only with the heart can one see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.
Don Freeman: Corduroy
“You must be a friend,” said Corduroy. “I’ve always wanted a friend.” “Me, too,” said Lisa, and gave him a big hug.
Brothers Grimm: Snow White
It is when we are most lost that we sometimes find our truest friends.
Eric Litwin: Pete the Cat-I Love My White Shoes
The moral of Pete's story is: No matter what you step in, keep walking along and singing your song. Because it's all good.
A. A. Milne: Winnie the Pooh
“Sometimes,” said Pooh, “The smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”
You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you’ll ever know.
Maurice Sendak: Where the Wild Things Are
Let the wild rumpus start!
And Max, the king of all wild things, was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him, best of all.
But the Wild Things cried, “Oh please don’t go—We’ll eat you up—We love you so!”
Shel Silverstein: The Giving Tree
“I wish that I could give you something… but I have nothing left. I am an old stump. I am sorry…’
‘I don’t need very much now,’ said the boy, ‘just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired.’
‘Well,” said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could. ‘Well, an old stump is a good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.’
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.
Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends
Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me ... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.
Dr. Suess: Horton Hears a Who
A person’s a person. No matter how small.
Dr. Suess: Oh the Places You’ll Go
You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose.
Chris Van Allsburg: The Polar Express
At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.
Judith Viorst: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
It has been a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day. My mom says some days are like that.
E.B. White: Charlotte’s Web
“Why did you do all this for me?” he asked. “I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you” “You’ve been my friend,” replied Charlotte. “That in itself is a tremendous thing.”
Margery Williams: The Velveteen Rabbit
When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.
Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out, and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to the people who don’t understand.
Margaret Wise Brown: Goodnight Moon
Goodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight noises everywhere.
Margaret Wise Brown: The Runaway Bunny
Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away. So he said to his mother, “I am running away”. ”If you run away”, said his mother, “I will run after you. For you are my little bunny”.
Charlotte Zolotow: Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present
“I would like to give her something that she likes,” said the Little Girl. “Something that she likes is a good present,” said Mr. Rabbit.