SO, it’s a new year, and as I ponder what goals to set for the year, and whether or not to share them publicly, I’ve been taking note of various reading challenges. There are some great ones: the Australian Women Writers Challenge, for example, challenges you to read and review more books by Australian women, a really worthy and important challenge. A few years ago, in the National Year of Reading, I challenged myself to read 365 books – one for every day of the year. I didn’t quite get there, but I had fun trying.

This year, if you’re keen, I’m setting you a challenge. If you are an adult, especially, this is for you: read more kids books.

When was the last time you read a children’s book? Not TO a child (though that is, if you have young people in your life, so very important), and not a Young Adult book (though these also are wonderful), but a book which was written for children read by you for your own enjoyment? If you don’t pick up kids’ books because they are, you think, just for children, you are missing out on something. Children’s books are for children, but they are also for the child in all of us.

So, this year, I challenge you to take the time to read a children’s book or two, just for the sheer fun of it. It might be a picture book or it might be a novel. You can start with one of mine if you like (perhaps Pearl Verses the World or Roses are Blue, since I get a lot of feedback from adult fans), but this isn’t a plug for my own books so much as it’s a plug for the wonder of a good children’s books.

And, when you’ve read it, tell the world. Or tell a friend. Maybe even lend them the book. And when you read a children’s book that you think other adults might like, how about spreading the word on social media. The hashtag I’m suggesting is #readakidsbook

Now, I’m off to Twitter to spread the word of a great book I’ve just finished reading that I think adults should know about.