This is an really interesting, if over-reaching, article on the decline in sales of picture books.
The author attributes this decline to parents pushing their kids too quickly into chapter books, but does little to examine other reasons that picture book sales have slumped.
One commenter, a librarian, ran stats on picture book circulation and found them up about 10%. Suggesting that picture books remain an important resource for families, jsut not one they will pay $18 for.
Now, I LOVE picture books, but I also have a hard time with the high price tag. I have noticed my local Borders carrying fewer and fewer paperback editions, except for the character driven books (Barbie's Whatever Adventure with Yo Gaba Gaba).
I really hope that kids are not pushed too quickly into chapter books, both because I think the visual literacy skills learned by decoding a picture book are critical and because the stunning art work is something to savor, not push through.
Read the article, and let me know what you think.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/us/08picture.html
Showing posts with label picture books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label picture books. Show all posts
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Monday, August 24, 2009
First Post
I started this blog to share my love of children's literature. I am fascinated with the beauty of picture books and the cadence of a good story.
When I was in college, I studied art history. I loved the detail of an illustrated manuscript and the deceptive simplicity of Ellsworth Kelly. I loved the saturated color of Georgia O'Keefe and the play of space and void in Jean Arps.
On my own I have been a voracious and omnivorous reader. Everything from Nora Roberts and Daniel Silva to Ernest Hemmingway and Don DeLillo -- the only catch being there needs to be a compelling story.
After college I pursued other areas for my career, only to be blindsided by the beauty of picture books when my kids were born.
So now that things are settling down on the home front and I am starting to explore children's literature from a professional view, it seemed like it was time to write about what I love.
Here's what a reader can expect: reviews of books I love from picture books to manga to novels for pre-teens, thoughts on why children's literature matters and an emphasis on the art of the picture book.
I hope you read and enjoy my posts and that you leave with a greater appreciation of what your kids are reading.
When I was in college, I studied art history. I loved the detail of an illustrated manuscript and the deceptive simplicity of Ellsworth Kelly. I loved the saturated color of Georgia O'Keefe and the play of space and void in Jean Arps.
On my own I have been a voracious and omnivorous reader. Everything from Nora Roberts and Daniel Silva to Ernest Hemmingway and Don DeLillo -- the only catch being there needs to be a compelling story.
After college I pursued other areas for my career, only to be blindsided by the beauty of picture books when my kids were born.
So now that things are settling down on the home front and I am starting to explore children's literature from a professional view, it seemed like it was time to write about what I love.
Here's what a reader can expect: reviews of books I love from picture books to manga to novels for pre-teens, thoughts on why children's literature matters and an emphasis on the art of the picture book.
I hope you read and enjoy my posts and that you leave with a greater appreciation of what your kids are reading.
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