6 Children’s Stories That Appear in Adult Novels

by Keith Rice

Background image credit: solmariart/Shutterstock

Given the impact that the universal themes, moral lessons, imagination, and creativity of children’s literature can have on readers of all ages, it should come as no surprise that authors sometimes let those influences shine through in their books for grown-ups. Seeing a favorite children’s story make an appearance in adult literature is a fun experience, one that reminds us of the universal charm of the stories, awakens that pleasant feeling of shared nostalgia, or simply makes us see the children’s story in a new light.

Here are few of our favorite appearances of children’s stories in books for adults:

  • Madeline

    in Paris by the Book by Liam Callanan

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    When an eccentric novelist suddenly vanishes, his wife and daughters set out to find him. When the clues, and an unfinished manuscript, lead the women to Paris and an small, English language bookstore, they soon find themselves tracing the literary paths of a number of Parisian classics including the beloved children’s novel Madeline. 

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  • Magic Tree House Series

    in Only Child by Rhiannon Navin

    Only Child is a powerful — and sadly all-too-relevant — tale of heartbreak and hope in the aftermath of a school shooting. Narrated by 6-year-old Zach Taylor, a survivor of mass shooting, the novel follows a close-knit community attempting to heal after the devastating tragedy. As the adults around him come to terms with what happened, Zach retreats into the comfort of Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series to cope and find his own healing.

  • The Three Billy Goats Gruff

    in Small Favor by Jim Butcher

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    Harry Dresden, Jim Butcher’s wizard turned private investigator, has become an icon of the urban fantasy genre. With 15 novels and counting, Harry has found himself in plenty of dangerous situations involving fantastical creatures, and occasionally those creatures are lifted straight from children’s literature. In the case of Small Favor, Dresden comes face to hoof with three very disgruntled Billy Goats Gruff.

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  • Mary Poppins Series

    in The Fireman by Joe Hill

    Beginning in the months before the spread of global pandemic causes infected individuals to spontaneously combust, this sprawling post-apocalyptic novel from bestselling author Joe Hill follows a nurse named Harper Grayson as she struggles to survive in an increasingly dangerous world. Harper’s love for all things Mary Poppins proves a guiding light throughout the novel.

  • The Three Billy Goats Gruff

    in It by Stephen King

    Stephen King’s epic doorstop of a novel is easily one of my all-time favorites. It is a decades-spanning tale of friendship, loss, and redemption, which King once described as his “final exam on horror.” The novel features one of his most iconic and chilling creations in Pennywise the Dancing Clown, but both the fairy tale form in general and The Three Billy Goats Gruff feature prominently throughout.

  • Winnie the Pooh

    in Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore

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    While Jane, Unlimited is a young adult novel, it makes an enjoyable and fascinating read for the not-so-young adult as well. This imaginative rumination on grief and finding one’s way centers on Jane, a recent high school graduate floundering after her beloved and adventurous Aunt goes missing. However, an invite to a mysterious island mansion could change the course of her life. Winnie the Pooh is featured throughout.

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Have you ever read an adult book that featured a children’s story within its narrative? Let us know in the comments below!