Concept books, such as alphabet and counting books, are an absolute staple in any young child’s collection of books. Sometimes neglected are other types of nonfiction picture books aimed at preschoolers and young elementary aged children. Star Bright Books has two new offerings in this category, and they each bring factual material to life in wonderful ways.
In Isabel Hill’s Building Stories, architecture is the focus, and readers are called to pay attention to the small details in real life buildings that help to tell each building’s unique story. What type of building might have the image of a coin carved into its facade? What could one presume about a building with instruments featured all around the archway of the entrance? What story is being told? Close-up shots of each feature are shown alongside larger viewpoints of the structures. Many of the additional photographs show dated scenes from the buildings’ first purposes, from folks behind an old-fashioned movie camera to moms pushing buggy carriages behind an apartment building. Factual information on each building is provided at the end, in a section titled “Characters and Plots,” continuing the literary metaphor. Reading through this after looking at the whole book, my suspicions were confirmed: this book will be especially loved by New Yorkers, as all the buildings are in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or the Bronx!
Switching gears to a mathematical mindset, the concept of relative sizes is addressed in Small Medium Large by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. The title is represented by the three cutely illustrated mice on the cover, and their names are familiar to young children when referring to size. When more characters are introduced, the sizes definitely become relative. From extra large all the way up to colossal, and back down to minuscule and itty-bitty, the sizes are compared and contrasted, and added up into equal combinations. With the printed words’ sizes representing the meanings of the words, too, the visual representations of the concepts are multiple. What a fun way to introduce children to a rich vocabulary and understanding about size.
Whether you’re a parent of a young child, or a preschool teacher (like me!), Building Stories and Small Medium Large are two sure-fire hits with the children in your life.
Dawn happily indulges her love of picture books with a crew of young kids every day. In her “free time,” she also happily blogs away at my thoughts exactly.
Architecture is my chosen profession for Kyle, who is artistic and analytical (Tell me I’m not the only one who makes plans like this for their kids??).
I notice that I’m doing exactly what I did with his big sister when she became a fluent chapter-book reader — forgetting about great picture books. It sounds like Building Stories would be a great fit, so I’m going to seek it out!
I’m hoping to get the Small Medium Large one nominated in the Cybils!! These are both really fabulous books.