From: Megan Lambert <lambertmegan>
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 18:20:25 -0700 (PDT)

This is a particularly interesting discussion for me because much of my work involes engaging students of all ages with the picture book as an art form. While I appreciate the need for and the pleasure found in picture books with texts and verbal content that can appeal to older readers in ways that many have already articulated, I think that when approached for visual content, the picture book as an art form can engage all ages. For example:
   
  I use Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? with just about every outreach class I teach, whether I am in a preschool or a high school classroom. With older students I make sure to tell them that I am not there to teach them their colors (to use Brown Bear as the concept book it is), but to use it as a launching point for a facilitated discussion about picture book art and design.
   
  It's a cliche, but a picture really is worth (at least) 1,000 words, and establishing a framework for students to say "words about pictures" (to quote Nodelman) has proven to be a rewarding, successful, and supremely satisfying pursuit.
   
  Megan Lambert
  Instructor of Children's Literature Programs
  The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
  www.picturebookart.org

                 
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Received on Tue 19 Sep 2006 08:20:25 PM CDT