THE IMPORTANCE OF PICTURE

BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOLERS

A presentation for parents of a new preschooler

By:

Natalie Stringer
"I feel strongly that by reading with your child, by the simple
act of holding them close while you read to them, you let
them know that you care for them, have time for them and
love them.”

-Eric Carle (2018)

 FOOD FOR THOUGHT

What is your earliest memory of books? Do you remember reading

picture books with either a teacher or family member?

When you think back, how does that memory make you feel?
 WHAT IS A PICTURE BOOK?

Before we dive into WHY picture books are important for preschoolers,
what is a picture book? Why do people find them important?

Let’s hear what some authors have to say about what picture books are to
them!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GCJ-iGhTxA
WHAT IS A PICTURE BOOK CONT.

In the last video, we explored what picture books are though experiences
and feelings shared by authors.

That does not tell us how picture books “work”, or why they are
important.

Below is a video that focuses on what picture books look to accomplish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZylRY7mcRw
 UP NEXT…

Now we have an idea of what picture books are, and a general idea of
what they look to accomplish, we can examine some studies and evidence
behind why reading picture books to preschoolers is important.
 RESEARCH SHOWS…

Bettina Kümmerling-Meibauer’s book Emergent Literacy : Children’s

books from 0 to 3 contains some excellent information backing the
importance of literacy.

Let’s examine two excerpts from the chapter titled “This is me”:
Developing literal and a sense of self through play, talk and stories.
 “Young children love listening to stories read aloud. Having repeat readings of them means
they often get to know and recognise many of the words and they also grow to know and
understand the differing narratives (Spreadbury 1998). This reading and re-reading of books
is not to be underestimated and is an essential part in the process of forming young fluent
readers as observed by Margaret Clark as early as 1976. Many readers begin to memorise
substantial parts of a text and instantly recognise if any pages or parts of pages are missed
during a storybook read aloud, demanding that all parts of the book be read at each and every
read. For some emergent readers it is the illustrations in [picture books] which help them to
make sense of the text (Evans 1998).”

(Kümmerling-Meibauer, 2011, page 230)

 “In a study looking at children’s favourite books, Wilkinson (2003) felt that
what they choose to read for themselves might define what literacy and
literature mean to them, the beginnings of the development of a “sense of self ”
reflected in the reader/text relationship.”

(Kümmerling-Meibauer, 2011, page 230)

 MY TWO BLANKETS
BY: IRENA SOBALD
ILLUSTRATED BY: FREYA BLACKWOOD

John Callow wrote a peer reviewed

article titled “Nobody Spoke Like I
Did”: Picture Books, Critical Literacy,
and Global Contexts which focuses on
a study around this book, My Two
Blankets.

Let’s dive into this article/study and

see what can be learned!
 Here we have an excerpt from the article by John
Callow. Follow along as I read the highlighted sections.

This excerpt highlights a possible outcome of picture

books: empathy.
In preschool, children are developing social skills,
one of which is empathy, or understanding how
others feel. As shown here, through a story, Chris
was able to relate to how Cartwheel felt.
Chris may not have experienced what Cartwheel had,
but through a story and pictures he was able to feel
how she may have felt. This small grasp of empathy
creates stepping stones to bigger socio-emotional
development.
 SOCIAL EDUCATION
While not considered “formal education”, though picture books children gain a
social education, and here I refer to the term “social education” in the terms of
cultural, emotional, and personal growth!

Education is NOT always a formal tested entity, something many people forget.
As parents, you educate your children everyday through your actions and words.
They look to you as to what is important. By taking time to read with your
children you demonstrate that reading is an important thing to do.

This is also reflected in the stories they read, or that are read to them, an example
given with the story My Two Blankets.
 IN CONCLUSION…

As an educator with 10+ years experience working with preschoolers, I

firmly believe that children learn and grow with each book they read.

As parents, you strive to help your children grow into the best they can
be, and reading to them is a way you can help them.

All the evidence provided in this presentation backs the two points
above. For further information, please contact myself, or another
librarian for assistance!