Are Children’s Books Still Relevant?
October 13th, 2025
Photo: Libby Zufi
Writer: Grace Heller
Editor: Talya Applebaum
I grew up immersed in children’s books— princesses, Dr. Seuss, and Disney were all staples of my early reading life. The castles and universal truths of these texts deeply shaped my upbringing and early understandings of our world. I fell in love with each character and the vivid, imaginative worlds they lived in. While five-year-old me did not pick up on most of these quintessential lessons hidden in these stories, my first year of college has brought me back to them. Adjusting to a new environment, I have found solace in returning to these stories’ teachings.
Harold and the Purple Crayon was a staple in my household. Four-year-old Harold’s purple crayon allows him to manually create his world, filling in gaps with his purple crayon drawings. For example, when he goes on a walk at night, upon realizing that there is no moon, he draws one himself. There is no path, so he draws one. I have found myself thinking about this book when I feel lost or overwhelmed in the chaos of college. I can create my future, picking what classes to take, friends to surround myself with, or activities to partake in. Where there is a void, I too can fill it. I have the control and autonomy to create my path, just like Harold.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? details how, in “filling each other’s buckets”, or uplifting others through kindness and support, we too become uplifted and feel good about ourselves. When we feel happy and have high self-esteem, we feel empowered to help others feel the same way. We can be better friends by checking in with others’ buckets and aiming to pour some of the water from our buckets into someone else’s. During my transition to college, I have continued going on walks or doing yoga; these activities uplift me and fill my own bucket, fueling me to be able to fill other people’s buckets.
The Story of Ferdinand particularly illustrates how young Bull Ferdinand’s passions and skills are contrary to those of his bull counterparts. He is not passionate about fighting or aggressive behavior; most bulls enjoy…he loves smelling flowers. Other bulls observe Ferdinand as he accidentally sits on and kills a bumblebee; consequently, they mistake him for a fighter, pushing him to participate in bullfights. During a fight, he smells the flowers placed in the audience's hair. This story has a lot to offer in regards to nonconformity. At Michigan, it is easy to fall victim to what the crowd is doing, seeking certain clubs, classes, and careers. However, it is crucial to maintain your sense of self, even if that does not align with the aspirations of other students. It is easy to get lost in what everyone else is doing, or to feel like your journey is somehow wrong. Just like Ferdinand, though, we all have our own paths to follow.
When I feel overwhelmed, taking a second to reflect on these nostalgic universal truths truly uplifts and centers me. While our problems may become more complicated or discouraging with each new chapter, our repertoire of skills and experiences becomes greater as well. Harnessing the knowledge from our childhood bedtime stories, as well as subsequent life experiences, enables us to not only be successful and maintain our sense of self.
