A GOOD READ BY Barbara Weston
I was sad to see an article in the New York Times last fall that reported a decrease in publishing of children's picture books in the United States. Apparently, the introduction of standardized testing in the school system is pushing anxious parents to force their children to read chapter books at increasingly younger ages, fearing their kids will not otherwise make it into a good school.
I cringed when I read quotes such as the one from a mother who pushed her son to read chapter books at age four and now says he is a reluctant reader: "He would still read picture books now if we let him because he doesn't want to work to read." There are so many things wrong with that sentence, I'm not sure where to begin, but here goes:
First, reading a picture book is not being lazy. Art and illustrations in picture books can be sublime; they feed the imagination and hold a child's attention. The themes teach important concepts that are often much more complex than those found in chapter books. In addition, the vocabulary in a picture book is often at a much higher level than that of a chapter book.
Second, it's not surprising her son is a reluctant reader. I would be a reluctant reader, too, if I were forced to read books too difficult for my level and those that did not interest me.
Third, reading should not be work. Reading is one of life's great pleasures and to make a child feel that it is work is doing a great disservice to the child. A child who feels reading is work will never enjoy reading.
While the article focused on the U.S., we in Canada rely heavily on the American publishing industry for our picture book supply, meaning that a cut in publishing in the U.S. cannot help but affect us. This is bad news as it means we are held hostage by an industry we cannot control. Consider this article part of my attempts to promote picture books and keep a strong market in Canada. The following are some of the best I've encountered.
My current favourite is The Pout-Pout Fish, written by Deborah Diesen and delightfully illustrated by Dan Hanna. This is a heart-warming story of a gloomy fish who learns that self-esteem is based on the way he sees himself and that a positive attitude can change everything.
Rhyming Dust Bunnies, written and illustrated by Jan Thomas, follows four charming dust bunnies - Ed, Ned, Ted and the lone holdout, Bob - as they spend their day finding words that rhyme. The bunnies soon realize, however, that Bob is not just being obstinate, he is actually trying to warn them of danger. The book introduces children to humour as well as the importance of speaking out and not just following the crowd.
The ability to accept change can be a difficult lesson for adults and children alike. In Pete the Cat: I Love my White Shoes, written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean, Pete loves his new white shoes so much, he makes up a little song. But when he accidentally steps in other substances and his beloved shoes change colours, he continues on his way unfazed, changing his song to match his new shoes.
Ethan Long's books, starring the Duck, are just plain funny. In my current favourite, Have You Been Naughty or Nice?, the Duck is in a panic as he realizes he has been naughty just before Christmas. The illustrations are bright and colourful and the Duck is so mischievous, he will keep children entertained for hours.
These picture books and many more are available at your public library. I hope you can see their value and I encourage you to take a look, even if you don't have children. Picture books are magical.
A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published every Wednesday. Barbara Weston is children's librarian at Coquitlam Public Library.
