Picture Books - not dead yet

Response to NYTimes story "Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children."

"'We live in such a visual world. Visual literature is increasingly important, not less important. Picture books are one important way to develop that.' Many picture books are better when kids are older. That's true for fractured fairy tales... which work best if kids know the originals. 'Those definitely require higher-level thinking skills.'" -Karen MacPherson, children and ys coordinator Takoma Park Library, MD

"The pressure to get kids to read at a young age is unfortunate. 'It's skipping a whole evolutionary chapter in the child's life.'" -Ken Marantz, emeritus professor of art education, OSU

"Picture books exercise kids' brains in a different way than test-only books. 'There's no other art form where pictures and words are completely interdependent on one another. An illustrated storybook can stand on its own when read aloud, but a true picture book needs both.'" -Elizabeth Bluemle, co-owner Flying Pig Bookstore, VT and ABC president

PW Dec. 13, 2010