A good children's book, in my opinion, is one that does not talk down to its height-deficient audience. Sugar-coated realism is in reality pure fantasy, but worse for its lack of dragons, magic, and epic quests. Of course, children can't appreciate or understand Dostoyevsky or Camus because the themes are in fact too harsh, nevermind the vocabulary.
In my opinion, Roald Dahl always did a great job of balancing the fantastic with the real and his books are thus enjoyed by children and adults alike. One example is his well known book, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." The book is about as strange and fantastical as they come, but the themes and lessons being taught are very honest. Charlie is ridiculously poor, the other three children are disgustingly spoiled in their respective ways, and the things that happen to them as a consequence for their greed are frightening at times. Veruca Salt and her parents may end up in the incinerator should it be the day that waste is burned, for example.
I enjoyed the fun wallpaper flavors as a kid but I also gained a respect for eccentric candy geniuses and their chocolate rivers.
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