November means many things: Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and, most importantly in the library world, Picture Book Month! Here at the Deerfield Public Library, we’re celebrating in a variety of ways. We have daily recommendations of great picture books on Twitter (@DeerfieldPL); there is an ever-changing display in the Youth Services Department (be sure to add your favorite title to the display), and we have handouts with recommendations. Why do picture books deserve such attention?
- Picture books have great vocabulary and use roughly twice as many rare words as adults do in conversation with children. (Rare words are those beyond the 10,000 most used in daily conversation.) When our children hear those rare words in picture books, they are expanding their own vocabularies and learning to recognize the words in print, which will make it easier for them to read when they’re ready to learn how.
- Picture book illustrations are like holding a museum in your hands. You may not be able to get to the Art Institute, but you can share exceptional art with your child through picture books. Whether it’s a Caldecott Medal Winner, Honor Book, or not…beauty lives within the pages of our picture book collection.
- Picture books encourage conversation and strengthen listening skills. Children love talking about books with their grownups! Whether it’s predicting what the story is about before you read, discussing cherished characters after the story is over, or recalling a favorite part… a shared picture book lives on long after the cover is closed.
- Picture books can be funny, touching, instructive, inspiring, imaginative, worldly and just-plain-wonderful! Whatever you or your child need, it can be found in a picture book.
- Reading picture books together will create memories that last a lifetime. My 18- and 13-year-old daughters still reminisce about their favorite picture books, even quoting some particularly special characters!
Help us celebrate Picture Book Month by checking out a stack of picture books today!
