Why are picture and photo books so great?
- Details
- Published on Monday, 19 September 2011 10:00
With a background in early childhood, I adore and endorse picture and photo books. While some folks would like to see our kids jump start to chapter books, hoping this boosts our education system, I could not disagree more. Picture and photo books are a much needed stepping stone (as is PLAY…but that’s another article for another day).
Here are just a few of the benefits of picture and photo books for early readers:
1. They allow a small child to engage with a book, before they can read the text.
2. They draw the reader in while teaching facial recognition, feelings and an understanding of expression. A small child can’t yet read but they can, indeed, study faces and expressions: mad, sad, happy, excited, inquisitive and so on.
3. Looking at images of people and animals helps to build pathways in the brain for empathy.
4. Small children won’t usually sit still for long books but they will often enjoy a short photo or picture book. This is the beginning stages of giving them an appreciation for literacy.
5. These books provide a chance for the adult to explain the images seen: “Look! This is a blue ball! This is a photo of your sister – she looks very happy, doesn’t she? Here’s a small puppy looking cold and wet. What could we do to help him?”
6. Communication and question asking are key factors in helping kids with social-emotional development. Picture and photo books are a critical piece of this equation. They allow for questions, conversations and the invoking of emotion – even in young children.
7. Enjoying a picture or photo book together is a wonderful bonding experience.
8. If you create a story using personal photos your child will love looking back, asking questions, talking about the images and discussing “how things used to be.” Kids love the memories! ACTIVITY IDEA: Try creating your own photo book using small inexpensive photo albums and photos: place the photo into the right slot and brief text on the left: this way your child will read simple text and then scroll over to the photo…left to right…just the way we read. You have now created a small personalized story book using your child’s own images. How fun!
9. Picture and photo books are often chunky, thick and long lasting (unless your kiddo is prone to tearing up books). This offers your child the chance to hold, turn pages more easily with their small fingers, master the book and feel confident that they are holding and manipulating something worthwhile. Once they get a page open there’s a photo or fun graphic inside – surprise!
10. Young readers associate simple words with the picture or photo: They see a ball and the word says BALL. They see a dog and the word says DOG. Teaching words through image association is one terrific way to tap into a young brain’s learning process. You might even say that small children need simple books, and less “noise”, in order to learn most effectively. Overwhelming the reader is very similar to overwhelming the TV viewer {watch this interview with Dr. Robyn Silverman on The Today Show}.
So…sit back, relax, slow down a bit and enjoy a picture/photo book with your kiddo!
Fun idea: Make a photo place-mat with your child
Further reading:
How we can save the picture book (Publisher's Weekly)
ABOUT the Author:
Shara Lawrence-Weiss is the owner of Mommy Perks, Personal Child Stories, Early Childhood News and Resources and Kids Perks. She and her husband co-own Pine Media. Shara has a background in education, early childhood, nanny work, published freelance, marketing and special needs.
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