I’m not surprised I enjoyed this as a young child, it has a lesson and a meaning while still being a great story and is very accessible. It’s also genuinely emotional to read, even if you’re not a child. 
One complaint I do have, which I’ve seen in a couple older children’s books, is this trope of a young girl growing up and that turning her shallow and uninterested in whatever the point of the story is. I just think it’s unnecessary; girls can grow up and mature and still keep some of their childhood interests. Other than that, I think most children and even some adults would enjoy reading this book.