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Re: A Paucity of Picture Books
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From: Kathleen T. Horning <horning_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:31:00 -0500
I think Leonard Marcus's description of adult shoppers making decisions about which picture books to buy based on childhood favorites and/or name recognition is sadly accurate.
As librarians, we are able to expose children and parents to great books through preschool story hours, and one-on-one suggestions. And I always advocate for libraries as a rich source of all kinds of books for children and teens; however, I think book ownership can make a huge difference in the life of a child. I want all small children to be surrounded by picture books that they have read aloud to them, that they have time to look at themselves, use as construction materials in their imaginative play, and even sleep with, as they woould a beloved stuffed toy.
When I was a child, we owned just four trade hardcover picture books -- "But Not Billy" by Charlotte Zolotow; "The Very Nice Things" by Jean Merrill; "A Hole Is to Dig" by Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak; and "The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids" illustrated by Felix Hoffman. But we owned dozens of Little Golden Books, and many of the early ones were quite good, not just Disney and Sesame Street sidelines. I am wondering (and perhaps Leonard can answer this) if there is a modern equivalent to the high-quality $.29 book that families have access to?
KT
Kathleen T. Horning Director Cooperative Children's Book Center 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park St Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608-263-3721 FAX: 608-262-4933
horning_at_education.wisc.edu http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Fri 05 Nov 2010 10:31:00 AM CDT
Date: Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:31:00 -0500
I think Leonard Marcus's description of adult shoppers making decisions about which picture books to buy based on childhood favorites and/or name recognition is sadly accurate.
As librarians, we are able to expose children and parents to great books through preschool story hours, and one-on-one suggestions. And I always advocate for libraries as a rich source of all kinds of books for children and teens; however, I think book ownership can make a huge difference in the life of a child. I want all small children to be surrounded by picture books that they have read aloud to them, that they have time to look at themselves, use as construction materials in their imaginative play, and even sleep with, as they woould a beloved stuffed toy.
When I was a child, we owned just four trade hardcover picture books -- "But Not Billy" by Charlotte Zolotow; "The Very Nice Things" by Jean Merrill; "A Hole Is to Dig" by Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak; and "The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids" illustrated by Felix Hoffman. But we owned dozens of Little Golden Books, and many of the early ones were quite good, not just Disney and Sesame Street sidelines. I am wondering (and perhaps Leonard can answer this) if there is a modern equivalent to the high-quality $.29 book that families have access to?
KT
Kathleen T. Horning Director Cooperative Children's Book Center 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park St Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608-263-3721 FAX: 608-262-4933
horning_at_education.wisc.edu http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Fri 05 Nov 2010 10:31:00 AM CDT
