Why do most adults feel that reading a children's book is beneath them or an insult to their intelligence?

Question

Many adults would not voluntarily read a children's or Young Adult book. Some who do so for pleasure would never admit to it. Is this a situation that reflects the literary quality and standard of children's books or is it simply an prejudice people have that is based on ignorance?

Someone has asked where I got my statistics. Admittedly, it's simply from observation. I have a large children's and YA book collection and I also review these books for a Malaysian newspaper, and I constantly meet (in person, on email, online) people from all over the world who express surprise that, at 40, I am still reading children's books. "Childish", "poorly written", "too simple" are some of the things said about children's and YA books.

I'd just like to add that I am not assuming, as someone suggested, that ALL adults have a low opinion of children's books. It's simply been my (unfortunate) experience to meet many. However, I'm happy to add that I belong to a email discussion group comprising a great many adults who love children's books, esp boarding school series. :-)

Answer 1

A little bit of both, but mostly prejudice.

A REALLY good children's (or Young Adult) book stands the "readers growing up" test and can be enjoyed by adults as well. But except for the Harry Potter series, most of the children's books that I like reading as a grown-up were written 30 or more years ago, so maybe the quality is falling off.

I think prejudice is the bigger issue, though. A lot of people don't even think to step outside the box and try something that's not necessarily in their realm, such as reading children's books.

Answer 2

I think it is purely a prejudice. I am 21 and I still enjoy reading young adult and some children's books. I still read adult books too of course.. but I have a 13 year old brother and he will read something in school and come tell me it's good and that i should try it! I'm not a bit ashamed to say that I read these books. I just finished the first Keys to the kingdom book that he suggested to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!!!!

Answer 3

I'm 24 and I love reading YA. In fact, I almost prefer it. I have a friend who is a youth librarian and is always passing on things for me to read. I agree with you though that there seems to be a degree of ignorance associated with Young Adult fiction. It's the same thing, though as this "chick lit" phenomenon (The Devil Wears Prada, Good in Bed, etc.) - it has a stigma associated with it in that you can assume there's a female heroine, fashion, and sex. But really, they're not all necessarily like that. Frankly, half the things I've read that are classified as "YA" really could be considered adult fiction, in my opinion. There are complicated relationships, violence, sex, dark situations...good stuff! ;) I feel I get "more" out of most of the YA novels I read than the popular redundant adult fiction out there.

Answer 4

I think that statistic has very much changed in recent years, especially due to the Harry Potter phenomenon. I'm not sure where you have gotten your research because I know no adults who would pass up a great children's or young adult book.

I think assuming all adults feel that way is just as much of a prejudice or statement of ignorance as the adults who do look down on young adult reading.

Answer 5

i think that for an adult after graduating and so on not only do they not reserve time to do such things like that but are also more compelled to read more of books that are along the lines of a sophisticated novel due to them feeling more sophisticated. a younge adult/ teen nevel is not only as sophisticated as the more adult books but has the same readers behind it. older people sometimes do not want to read them because they have the thought set in thier minds that they are to old for that or even that they are of a different generation and feel that it is odd to do the same things as your child/ grandchild/ nephew... as for childrens' books such as clifford and what not are greatly looked up to as childrens' books but as for adults most consider it a problem within the person that has develpoee over time and that that person is possibly mental or has a peculiar osession. i however do not believe this for when a person of ANY age can relate to that of a child they know thier true self. that person is able to be themself and comprehend what it means to be a child once more and live life to the fullest day by day no matter what and brig joy in2 one's life.

it ios pure unadolterated ignorance on and adult who fails to realize this!

Answer 6

there are quite a few adults out there who turn their noses up at young adult fiction and i don't know why that is. i am not one of those people. i like to read anything that is entertaining. while there are some things that i can't get into i will try. i recently read the first "adventures of captain underpants" just to see what it was all about and it was cute. i'll definitely read it to my kids when i have them one day. also just read james and the giant peach. i think some adults lose sight of things in general. are you really ever too old to drink kool-aid or jump on a trampoline or read a kid's book? no- but there certainly are people who think they are above it.

Answer 7

Too bad for those who think this way, they are missing out on reading some great literature. I very much enjoy reading young adult and children's books, both old and new, as well as adult works.

Answer 8

It could be that older readers prefer more complex storylines. With the exception of some fantasy novels such as Harry Potter, the Chronicles of Narnia, etc., most childrens and young adult books have very simple plot lines that are easier for a young reader to follow and understand.

Answer 9

I just think that it depends on the book. Many adults enjoy reading Harry Potter, for example, although most probably wouldn't want to read many other types of "children's" books.

Answer 10

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