November is National Picture Book Month, and the APL’s Head of Children’s Services Mrs. Brown wants to remind everyone that picture books are for all ages. Picture Book Month is an international initiative to encourage everyone to celebrate literacy during November. With real-time topics of homelessness to civil rights and family structure, to more funny topics like talking animals and wacky inventions, today’s picture books offer great stories in an attractive concise package. Here are eight reasons why everyone should read picture books:
1) Themes of new picture books lend themselves to older readers. From themes of racism to war, picture books tackle sophisticated themes. Using a book with this content can give background knowledge to scaffold children’s/young peoples’ learning.
2) The brief format of a picture book allows time to expand on the topic with additional activities. By using a book with strong content, caregivers and teachers can jump into a discussion making the best use of their time.
3) Picture books are excellent models of exemplary writing and illustration. You can’t beat the compact precision of a picture book. In less than 40 pages, an author must develop a story, characters, and settings. They must create a problem and solve it. Look for various genres in the picture book collection: narrative nonfiction, mystery, humor, biography, or folklore.
4) Picture books bring art to an important focus. Picture books are an easy way to support The Arts. By reading picture book biographies of artists, dancers, musicians, and writers, readers have an opportunity to connect to people of all backgrounds and cultures. Choosing different types of artwork is important as well. Whether watercolor, wood block, collage, or pen and ink, illustrators use a variety of techniques to support the story.
5) Illustrations aid in comprehension for ELL and students reading below grade level. Illustrations give readers confidence in their literacy skills by providing key elements and clues to the storyline. A picture book can be less intimidating than a novel, and give the reader a sense of accomplishment upon completion.
6) Some picture books are written at a third grade reading level or higher. Though frequently a misconception, just because a book is short doesn’t mean it’s easy. Remember that content often outweighs reading level as well.
7) Reading aloud develops better readers. Read a book that’s laugh-out-loud hilarious. Read a story that has a driving plot and stop—right before the resolution!
8) A good story is a good story—no matter the age of the reader. This might be the most important point of all: What difference does it make how long or hard a book is? If it’s a great book, it should be read and shared. Why should we put restrictions on every book a child reads? A good story is a good story; picture books provide many great stories for sharing, laughing, questioning, and reflecting.
So come on by the APL and let us give you fresh eyes into the world of picture books–no matter what your age!
