Because we are human we have a long childhood, and one of the jobs of that childhood is to sculpt our brains. We have years--about twelve of them--to draw outlines of the shape we want our sculpted brain to take. Some of the parts must be sculpted at critical times. One cannot, after all, carve out toes unless he knows where the foot will go. We need tools to do some of the fine work. The tools are our childhood experiences. And I'm convinced that one of those experiences must be children's books. And they must be experienced within the early years of our long childhood. E.L. Konigsburg
About This Quote

E. B. White (1895-1985), American writer and editor, was the author of the classic children’s book Charlotte’s Web, published in 1952. In this essay he talks about the importance of the reading of books to a child’s development. Reading is important from a very early age because it “sculpt[s] our brains” and helps shape how we think and react to situations in later life.

Source: Talk, Talk : A Childrens Book Author Speaks To Grownups

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