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By Osa Amadi, Arts Editor

There is a prevailing notion that children’s literature must have moral lessons. But children’s literature doesn’t always have to be based on morality or have moral lessons.

This was the submission of Dr Osarobu Igudia of the  Department of Library, Archival & Information Studies, University of Ibadan, in a panel discussion Thursday at the ongoing 40th anniversary of the Association of  Nigeria Authors, ANA, in Abuja.

Dr Igudia said just as adults do, children also have other needs besides moral lessons, and therefore, authors of children literature need to attend to those other needs. He also said children’s literature must have simple, short sentences.

The panel discussion, chaired by Professor Akachi Ezeigbo, had another discussant, Mrs Chinyere Obi-Obasi, a children’s literature author. Mrs Obi-Obasi emphasised the importance of enlisting the services of good editors and proofreaders to ensure that all grammatical errors in children’s literature books are eliminated.

Prof Akachi Ezeigbo in her comment said it is important for authors of children’s literature to carefully determine the age of children for whom they are writing as well as employ the language suitable for children’s writing.

The 40th anniversary of ANA titled “Resilience and Nation Building: The Role of Nigerian Literature” which began yesterday, November 3, will run till November 6, 2021.