An article published in the NY Times yesterday really, really, really depressed me and alternately made me crazy angry. The article was about the decline of the picture book. It explained kids don't want to read picture books anymore because they view them as "baby" books and how parents are viewing them as too easy and are pushing their kids to tackle more "advanced" books. Oh boy. I have so much to say on this topic, I need to take a breath and collect myself.
Firstly, pushing our kids on to more "advanced" books at six. Stop. The. Madness. Now.
Secondly, for those out there who think picture books are "too easy", they are entirely missing the point of picture books.
Picture books are often a celebration. They commonly have sophisticated themes, vocabulary and humor. They can teach so much about so much. They give our children exposure on how to handle tough situations, friendship, interpersonal skills; generally touching on life's bigger issues. They are often masterpieces of artwork. They give parents and children wonderful bonding opportunities.
These are just a few of the virtues of the picture book, there are so many more, too many to list. Chapter books or harder books can accomplish some of these things, but not all. Comparing picture books to chapter books or other levels of reading is like comparing apples to oranges. Picture books have their own valuable place in our lives and our children's lives, that no other type of reading can replace.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't take picture books out of your children's lives. For some beautiful examples to support my pro-picture book argument, take a look at the links below to read book reviews on our site. These are priceless pieces of literature, and the literary world would be bereft without them...and please remember that these are just a sampling, there are so many more to discover!
Click here to read the entire article on the NY Times website.
Don't Forget to click the comment button below and let us know your thoughts on this issue!
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Links to some FABULOUS picture books you don't want to miss...
City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems
A VIsitor for Bear, Bonnie Becker
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox
My daughter is 10 years old and an avid independent reader. Every single night, we get into her bed together to read -- a picture book. Some are old favorites from her childhood (Jesse Bear What WIll You Wear, The Kissing Hand and any Arthur book), some are for a little bit older crowd (the Storytelling Princess, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Oh the Places You'll Go) and some are just plain silly (Underwear Dos and Don'ts, The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza). I would not trade this time, or these wonderful books, for anything.
Posted by: Lesley Barovick | 10/19/2010 at 11:12 AM