I am loving reading all the big brain thoughts about “Why Picture Books are Important on PictureBookMonth.com …
My immediate thoughts on this is purely emotional. For me, picture books are all about snuggling and cuddling and laughing and sighing and loving and ahhhhh togetherness! So picture books are good for developing hearts!
But also, there is the teacher in me that knows that picture books are good for developing powerful young brains too. The language of picture books – the rhythms and sound patterns help to develop and strengthen brains.
I loved reading this guest post on Imagination Soup – by Robin Merrill, a mom who reads poetry to her toddler. Gorgeous magic at work!
I encourage anyone who loves picture books to read this article by Anita Silvey regarding the wish for longer picture books – and for deeper, richer stories. Like the classics that are still loved. Even though they take longer to read. Or because they take longer to read.
The longer stories are a better brain work out!
Sarah Wones Tomp
WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK
You are so right about the longer PBs being a better brain workout. So many classics would not be published today because they exceed the 500-word limit many publishers prefer these days.
So, do shorter books cater to the short attention span today’s youngsters seem to be developing, perhaps in response to television, or are they a contributing factor to that attention span?
I know parents these days are busy, and at bedtime would rather see a sleepyhead choose a short book, but what better time to develop a child’s attention span than when the little one is curled up with a parent, secure, and comfortable, and there are no other distractions?
I’d love to see the picture story book re-emerge, with a page of story alternating with a page of illustration. I’d hate to think a new Bedtime for Frances or One Morning in Maine would be turned down today for having too many words. A PB should be rejected if it has the wrong words or unnecessary words, but, if every word is perfect, it should not be rejected because it comes in at 1000 words–or even 3000.
Thanks for this, Karen.
I have to say, I do think they are a contributing factor to the shorter attention span!
And I can see why parents/grandparents resist laying out the money for a picture book that is only a short joke. I think we need all kinds of books – short, long, funny, tender…