It all started with an article in the New York Times, “Picture Books Languish as Parents Push Big Kid Books”. Mother Reader and Read Roger weighed in, and Amanda at the Zen Leaf who was quoted in the article published a rebuttal.
Our own Dawn shared her thoughts in her trademarked style: Pushy, pushy (that’s the post, not her style).
There was a bit of an uproar, but honestly, I sort of got it. My daughter, now 12, went from barely reading/sounding out words to Magic Tree House in the course of a school year. That’s what she liked. As a parent, I liked that she could read and entertain herself independently. Yes, we had some picture books around, and I read them to her, and I didn’t completely stop reading to her once she read alone (and in the last several years, we have made a strong effort to share books together).
The problem? The picture book section in the library overwhelmed me. Rows and rows of books with those thin spines showing. Where to begin? Well, I figured it out. The right place to begin was with the librarian. Please read more about my amazing discoveries at my Newtown Patch article “Need Help, Just Ask,” where I also list a few of our favorite discoveries.
Who are some of your favorite picture books authors? Let us know in the comments. I find that it’s very helpful to work our way through some favorites.
Jennifer Donovan reads, writes, and raises kids. She blogs at Snapshot.
We have lots of favorite picture book authors at our house. : ) Anything by H.A. Rey (Curious George), James Mayhew, Nancy O’Conner (I believe, author of Fancy Nancy books), Tomie dePaola, Katherine Hollabind (Angelina Ballerina), Cynthia Rylant, Robert McCloskey (Make Way for Ducklings, etc.), the Little House picture books. I could go on… : )
Did you see my interview with Jane O’Connor recently? She was really great. Loves what she does.
Even though he’s not “fancy,” Kyle likes the books too.
I can’t remember if I read that or not … it seems vaguely familiar. I’ll definitely go check it out! We just found a Fancy Nancy Christmas book at the library – my girls will be ecstatic. : )
Jacqueline Woodson, Mo Willems, Kevin Henkes, Cynthia Rylant, Angela Johnson, Steven Kellogg, Donald Crewsand his wife Ann Jonas and their daughter Nina Crews, Lois Ehlert, Faith Ringgold….
Oooh–some new ones here for me. Thanks.
I don’t remember now, but there was one whose name started with an O…her books had no words but the illustrations were gorgeous. Jan Ormerod. Sunshine and When we went to the zoo. I kept a box of our fav picture books for future grandkids, or visitors, or mostly cuz I’m secretly terribly sentimental.
And we LOVED the Max and Ruby books (he’s so unrepentant!) and the Tom and Pippo books.
Oh Elizabeth, I could quote “When We Went to the Zoo, we saw ____ and ____. . . .An organtan played with a paper bag.”
It’s one of my sentimental favorites from Amanda’s childhood too, and yes, one of the few that I’ve set aside to save.
I love picture books but you’re right, it can be overwhelming. I tend to go in with a list of books I want rather than browse, although I often find good books on the end caps or other displays.
Mo Willems, Melanie Watt, Eric Carle, Laurie Keller, Syd Hoff, Alyssa Capucilli (the Biscuit books), Doreen Cronin, Cynthia Rylant, David Shannon, Jon Scieszka, Amy Krouse Rosenthal… I think that’s a good start. 🙂
yes, yes we love Mo and Melanie Watt here too. In my Patch article, I mention Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller as one of his favorite finds.
Patricia Polacco comes immediately to mind, especially as an author whose books are complex enough to appeal to older readers.
I’m not sure what constitutes a picture book..is it one without words? Well, I do still buy the thin children’s books and read them to myself now that I have no little ones to read to…Just last week I read, “When I was Young in the Mountains” by Cynthia Rylant…others I like are “The Little House” by Virginia Lee Burton, “Love you Forever” by Robert Munsch, “Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister, “If you Hold my Hand” by Jillian Harker and of course, “Peter’s Song” by Carol P Saul, which I must have read at least once a day when Wonder Boy was small.
Mama Bear