A group of us at the Ohio Literacy Resource Center has been working to identify appropriate books and field testing them in a variety of adult literacy settings. It is our experience that adults are not offended as long as you choose appropriate titles and present them carefully. First-rate children's literature offers the same benefits that any high quality literature or art offers. Multicultural texts for a diversity of students can be used to build awareness of other perspectives. But I am supposed to teach science, social studies, reading and writing skills.
Some teachers take reading time for children's literature.
But many books are available in the subjects you teach, and children's informational books are a wonderful way to introduce concepts, demonstrate a point, or provide information to supplement textbooks. Picture books can rekindle scientific curiosity. There are dozens of ways to introduce books into the curriculum. Some teachers begin every class by reading a poem or a picture book aloud, simply for the enjoyment of the literature. Picture books and short novels make wonderful writing prompts and can provoke good journal writing.