Carmela Dutra's Blog - Posts Tagged "learners"

November is National Picture Book Month. So for today’s blog, I thought it was be fitting to discuss Picture Books!

We want the best for kids, be it as parent’s grandparent, aunts, or uncles we want them to reach their full potential. It’s like that slogan the army had, “Be all you can be!” That’s all we want for them, is to be the best them they can be. In an effort to accomplish this, many have bought everything possible to help their children read.

From computer programs, to enrolling them in best preschools they can find. I’m not faulting them for wanting the best for their children by any means, who can argue with wanting the best for their children. Growing up I was not a good reader, I well below the average. My mother got me “hooked on phonics” reader rabbit, and everything she could find. Until one day, she gave me a picture book, then things changed.

Often time’s, individuals can underestimate the value of picture books. Some will encourage their children to move on to more text-heavy chapter books as a means to advance their skills. Chapter books are not necessarily more complex than picture books in fact, their vocabulary and sentence structure can be considered simplistic when compared with older level picture books.

So why are picture books important?

The illustrations of a picture book help children understand what they are reading and allow young readers to analyze the story. When children are having difficulty, the illustrations can help them figure out the meaning of what they are reading. The illustrations are a powerful way to help get the point across to young readers.

Children love art! Why do you think they spend so much time coloring, drawing and doing crafts? Children are drawn to the bright vivid pictures, captivated by the details each illustration holds. And let’s be honest with ourselves, as adults we too are spellbound by the beauty and intricate details on the pages.

Picture books are multi-sensory, which aids a child’s growing mind and stimulates their imagination. Not only do the children hear the story, they see the illustrations, and smell and touch the pages. Picture books are less daunting than say a chapter book, so they will be more likely to give a go at reading a sentence or two. Thereby, building their reading skills while enjoying it.

Picture books allow an entirely different, more interactive communication between parent and child. My mom use to read bothbanner-mother-child-smaller chapter and picture books with me. While I enjoyed both, it was easier for me to comment on the subject out of a picture book. Picture books allow you to talk about what you see on each page. Asking questions such as: How they are feeling? What do you think we will discover on the next page?

It’s unfortunate when kids are pushed past picture books, just as some turn up their noses at graphic novels and magazines. It’s important to encourage kids to get their hands on everything they can, especially picture books, comics, and even kid-friendly websites. It doesn’t matter what they read as long as they read and children who learn to love books will be children who grow up to be good readers.

Support National Picture Book Month by reading a picture book yourself. You never know what reading one will lead too. Please, tell us what your thoughts are on this topic, we would love to hear them.

“Literature has the ability to open up a whole new world to children, but we need to have a share in helping them to find that door and open it with them. Let’s set the example and help to foster this love of reading in our little ones. ” ~ Carmela Dutra

Wishing you all a little to Adventure today!

Carmela Dutra
Author of Lorenzo the Bear Series

www.Lorenzothebear.com
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