November Is Picture Book Month!

So grab a book and celebrate!

Nearly a year ago, the New York Times published an article declaring that picture books are no longer a staple for children. Of course, this incited a barrage of responses from authors, librarians and children’s book publishers defending the picture book. And out of this response, the idea to celebrate the picture book one month out of the year was born. In fact, according to the founders, Picture Book Month is an “international initiative to encourage and celebrate literacy with picture books.”

So, what’s my take on picture books? Yes, we do live in a digital age, and eBooks and eReaders do make our lives simpler, but there is still a very real need for picture books. Can you imagine reading a bedtime story to your one-year old from a Kindle? There is something magical and something much needed about an actual book at these early ages.

If you are like me, you love picture books and you especially love reading them to your kids (or your grandkids). Looking at the pictures, feeling the pages (even if they are now a little grimy and worn) and snuggling together all help create wonderful memories – and future readers. In fact, when my kids were younger, bedtime was a special occasion because they knew we would snuggle up close and read some books together. It was a wonderful way to end the day. And even before they could actually read – they often had the stories memorized and could “read” them to me, sometimes even mimicking my style and tone. In fact, some of my favorite memories with my kids are those quiet evenings reading a picture book together.

And although you probably don’t need much convincing if you are reading this blog, here are a number of ways that picture books impact early literacy in children (according to the Picture Book Month web site). “Picture books…

• celebrate childhood.

• contain universal truths, speaking to children about the world around them.

• are the gateway to literacy, allowing emergent readers to explore language.

• allow children to explore emotions and feelings in a way their current stage of development does not permit.

• expose children to vocabulary words and grammar, even before they step foot in school.

• can engage a group of children, allowing them to sit still, or wiggle, and imagine…

• showcase fine art, letting children explore a whole new visual world.

• allow children to explore a "dangerous" world in a safe environment.

• encourage children and grown-ups to bond over a shared experience.

• allow children to be children.”

In close, I would like to share with you the titles of our family’s favorite picture books – the ones we read over and over and over again. See if any of your family favorites are on this list. And the ones that aren’t included? Well, shoot me a note and let me know the titles.

Our favorite picture books….(in alphabetical order)

1. ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY
2. CORDUROY

3. DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!

4. GOOD NIGHT MOON

5. HUSH LITTLE BABY (the version by Syliva Long)

6. IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE

7. I LOVE YOU FOREVER, I LIKE YOU FOR ALWAYS

8. I LOVE YOU STINKY FACE

9. LLAMA, LLAMA WHO IS YOUR MAMA?

10. THE RUNAWAY BUNNY

11. THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR