From: K.T. Horning <khorning>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 1997 09:19:53 -0600 (CST)

Cyrene Slegona asks:

To respond, I don't think there's a new area being developed because we've always had picture books that can be used with older readers. I think what's currently happening, though, is that adults are beginning to accept a broader definition of what we mean by "picture book." In the past (and to some extent in the present) people have thought of picture books as the province of young children, although creative teachers have always found ways to use picture books with older kids as well. Lately, though, we're seeing more and more picture books that are obviously being created with older children in mind.

If any of you can recall the uproar after "Smoky Night" by Eve Bunting and David Diaz won the Caldecott Medal, I think you'll see what I mean. The criticism of the committee's choice had little to do with the art in the book, rather it was the content, which was declared as too complex or depressing for young children. "Smoky Night" didn't fit into people's preconceived notions as to what a picture book should be. For many it was a revelation that a Caldecott-winning book might not be for preschoolers or early elementary school kids. I remember a retired kindergarten teacher saying to me rather forlornly, "When did they change the rules?"

Does anyone else have any responses to Cyrene's question? Do you agree/disagree with what I've said?

Kathleen Horning Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education University of Wisconsin-Madison
Received on Wed 05 Nov 1997 09:19:53 AM CST