Why Picture Books Matter
From the desk of Carol C…
Let me start off by saying that I love picture books…not all of them mind you but a vast majority of them. I’ve always loved them, so a few years ago I became concerned after an article in the New York Times reported that the sale of picture books was declining. Bookstores were giving these books less shelf space. They weren’t on display as often. What a loss! However, it now seems the pendulum is now swinging back. I hope! Why am I so concerned about picture books? It’s much more than the fact that I still love them. Picture books matter…to all ages! Why?
Stories in quality picture books are multilayered. Each time a reader or listener encounters the story there is more to discover and understand. One example is The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson. In this book a fence is the divide between two children’s homes. One child is Africa American and the other is Caucasian. On a beginning level this is a hopeful story about two little girls who couldn’t play together until the day one of them climbs over the fence to play with the other girl. However, its meaning can be much deeper than this. There’s the issue of race and acceptance. This can lead to the next layer which is what fences or issues divide us today. The fences will be more symbolic for older listeners, but children of many different ages can understand why crossing fences and connecting with others is important. That’s critical thinking at any age, and all from a book that is shelved with the E for easy books in the library.
The vocabulary in quality picture books introduces listeners to powerful words. When a beloved picture book is read over and over, listeners begin to pick up the language and use it correctly since they learned it in context. A good example of this is The Night I Followed the Dog by Nina Laden. In this book there are words like “exotic, fetch, limousine, and whisked” to name a few. Even with very young children there will be discussions about these words (and others). “What’s a limousine? Why isn’t it called a car? I’d like a fairy to come and whisk me away.” Older children, too, begin to incorporate this kind of vocabulary into their own speech especially if encouraged. What a great way to expand a child’s vocabulary thereby increasing his reading comprehension and writing ability.
More and more quality picture books center on the social issues of our time. These books can easily be used to begin discussions that require higher level thinking skills. Eve Bunting’s book Fly Away Home is a story of homelessness. Young listeners are likely to understand that a boy and his father don’t have a home, so they live in an airport. Later on more may be added to that understanding. The boy and his father live in an airport because they are homeless. They struggle to stay inconspicuous, so they won’t be thrown out. Questions arise in the minds of the listeners. Is this fair? Shouldn’t they be able to stay in an airport if they don’t hurt anybody? Who are homeless people? Later on even more critical thinking happens. What should we do about the problem of homeless people? Do we have a responsibility to help them? How can I back up my opinion with evidence? What powerful and rigorous thinking this requires!
There’s another important aspect of the book Fly Away Home and other quality picture books. These kinds of books allow listeners to analyze the author’s style of writing. How does Eve Bunting make you feel as you listen to this story? What does she do to make you feel this way? What’s her technique? Why does she leave the ending so ambiguous? This is a terrific way to study author’s craft in an authentic manner.
Picture books: humorous, sad, frightening, enlightening, illustrated with different forms of art, thought provoking, and an opportunity for rigorous work. Who knew so much could come from a book for children who have not yet learned to read?
No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.~C.S. Lewis
Two sites promoted as picture books for more mature readers are:
Children’s Literature http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/th_picbkolder.html
Children’s Book Reviews http://childrensbookreviews.pbworks.com/w/page/15753415/Picture%20Books%20for%20Older%20Children