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[CCBC-Net] Board Books and Abridgement
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From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman>
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 08:46:43 -0500
Over the past decade or so at the CCBC, we have periodically gone to the Current Picture Book Collection (copies of the newest titles) and scanned the shelves paying specific attention to board books. What we typically noticed was how few original board books there were, and how many board book editions of previously published, full-size picture books. (In the past couple of years, I'm happy to say that we are again seeing more and more original board books for babies and toddlers--books that are conceptualized with very young children in mind.)
Occasionally we've done a side-by-side comparison of an original picture book and the board book edition of a title. Not surprisingly, a lot can get left out of the board book edition in terms of both art and tex, as has already been noted with "The Little Engine That Could."
I will sometimes do a random experiment when presenting to education students, pulling a board book edition off the shelf and then pulling the original picture book, and doing a side by side comparison of certain parts of the story. I remember the first time I did this--the book happened to be Jan Brett's "The Mitten." What was so very striking was how much of the original language--the langague that was most rich and descriptive--was missing from the board book edition.
Not everyone using children's literature is as savvy about publishing as many in the CCBC-Net community. They don't always realize that a board book is not "the" book as originally written or illustrated. Is there anything wrong with them finding and using just a board book edition? No and yes. If the board book edition suits their need and purpose, that's terrific. (And sometimes the text is one perfect for adapation to board book, such as Lois Ehlert's "Color Farm" and "Color Zoo.") But I do think it's a shame if they don't know that an "original" exists that often offers so much more than the abridgement they don''t know they are holding.
Megan
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 08:46:43 -0500
Over the past decade or so at the CCBC, we have periodically gone to the Current Picture Book Collection (copies of the newest titles) and scanned the shelves paying specific attention to board books. What we typically noticed was how few original board books there were, and how many board book editions of previously published, full-size picture books. (In the past couple of years, I'm happy to say that we are again seeing more and more original board books for babies and toddlers--books that are conceptualized with very young children in mind.)
Occasionally we've done a side-by-side comparison of an original picture book and the board book edition of a title. Not surprisingly, a lot can get left out of the board book edition in terms of both art and tex, as has already been noted with "The Little Engine That Could."
I will sometimes do a random experiment when presenting to education students, pulling a board book edition off the shelf and then pulling the original picture book, and doing a side by side comparison of certain parts of the story. I remember the first time I did this--the book happened to be Jan Brett's "The Mitten." What was so very striking was how much of the original language--the langague that was most rich and descriptive--was missing from the board book edition.
Not everyone using children's literature is as savvy about publishing as many in the CCBC-Net community. They don't always realize that a board book is not "the" book as originally written or illustrated. Is there anything wrong with them finding and using just a board book edition? No and yes. If the board book edition suits their need and purpose, that's terrific. (And sometimes the text is one perfect for adapation to board book, such as Lois Ehlert's "Color Farm" and "Color Zoo.") But I do think it's a shame if they don't know that an "original" exists that often offers so much more than the abridgement they don''t know they are holding.
Megan
-- Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, UW-Madison 600 N. Park St., Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706 ph: 608-262-9503 fax: 608-262-4933 schliesman at education.wisc.eduReceived on Fri 28 Jul 2006 08:46:43 AM CDT
