Picture Books
Picture books are a format rather then a genre. The illustrations and text share the job of telling the story or teaching content. Picture books are suitable for young children, however, there are many picture books available for young adults. There are a variety of picture books available, which may by categorized in more than one group.
ABC Books
ABC Books are largely created as a way to enrich children in a variety of imaginative ways. For example, finding the letters of the alphabet in a picture or scene, such as how Stephen Johnson does in Alphabet City (1995).
Another very creative use of the alphabets is Cathi Hepworth's Antics! An Alphabetical Anthoogy (1992). Hepworth paints human-like ants whose personality traits begin with each letter in the alphabet and have the word 'ant' embedded in them. Very fun and clever!
ABC Books can be used to help young children develop the foundation of language, by teaching and reinforcing the letters of the alphabet. However, controversially, ABC Books are not well suited to introduce phonic generalizations (sounds) that correspond with the ABC's, because they may misconstrue an image for the letter and its sound
(i.e. I is for insect, but the picture might show a ladybug. The child might think a ladybug begins with the letter I. OR the insect might be on a flower, the child's attention might be on the flower and might associate flower beginning with the letter I.)
When using ABC Books to teach content, it is important to ensure they meet a criteria:
1. Words used to represent each letter must begin with the common sound generally associated with that letter, not blends, digraphs, and silent letters.
2. Illustrations must represent each letter using only one or two objects that are easily identifiable and meaningful to young children.
3. Illustrations must represent objects that do not have several correct names, thus confusing the readers. (i.e. Q for quail. The reader might think, Q is for bird.)
(i.e. I is for insect, but the picture might show a ladybug. The child might think a ladybug begins with the letter I. OR the insect might be on a flower, the child's attention might be on the flower and might associate flower beginning with the letter I.)
When using ABC Books to teach content, it is important to ensure they meet a criteria:
1. Words used to represent each letter must begin with the common sound generally associated with that letter, not blends, digraphs, and silent letters.
2. Illustrations must represent each letter using only one or two objects that are easily identifiable and meaningful to young children.
3. Illustrations must represent objects that do not have several correct names, thus confusing the readers. (i.e. Q for quail. The reader might think, Q is for bird.)
-Brown, Margaret Wise. 2010. Goodnight Moon ABC: An Alphabet Book. Harper. Illustrated by Clement Hurd. This ABC Book is based on Brown's classic bedtime story.
- Ehlert, Lois. 1989. Eating the Alphabet. Harcourt. An alphabetical tour of the world of fruits and vegetables, from apricot and artichoke to yam and zucchini. - Ernst, Lisa Campbell. 2004. The Turn-Around, Upside-Down Alphabet Book. Simon and Schuster. An alphabet book in which each letter becomes three different objects as the book is turned different directions, as when A becomes a bird's beak, a drippy ice cream cone, and the point of a star. - Lester, Mike. 2000. A Is for Salad. Putnam. Each letter of the alphabet is presented in an unusual way. For example, A is used for salad because the illustration shows an alligator eating a bowl of greens. - Martin, Bill, Jr., and John Archambault. 1989. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Illustrated by Lois Ehlert. Holt. An Alphabet rhyme/chant that relates what happens when the whole alphabet tries to climb a coconut tree. - McLimans, David. 2006. Gone Wild. Walker. This stampede of wild animals, from Chinese Alligator to Grevy's Zebra, are so rare, they are all endangered. -Shannon, George. 1966. Tomorrow's Alphabet. Illustrated by Donald Crews. Greenwillow. A is for seed. B is for eggs, C is for milk. The seed is tomorrow's apple, the eggs are tomorrow's birds, the milk is tomorrows cheese. - Hepworth, Cathi. 1992. Antics! An Alphabetical Anthology. Putnam. (ABC.) Alphabet entries from A to Z all have an "ant" somewhere in the word, such as E for Enchanter, I for Immigrants, P for Pantaloons, S for Santa Claus. - Johnson, Stephen T. 1995. Alphabet City. Viking. Paintings of objects in an urban setting present the letters of the alphabet. |
Counting
Counting books help children learn basic numbers and give them practice counting, typically from 1 to 10.
The simplest form of counting books provides a printed number accompanied by the same number of like objects.
The simplest form of counting books provides a printed number accompanied by the same number of like objects.
Some counting books extend the opportunity of learning by allowing personal discovery and have beautiful illustrations. A good example is Mitsumasa Anno's Anno's, Counting Book (1977.) This book is noted as 'a classic example and remains one of the best-conceived and-designed of counting books to date. The books begins with the important concept and introductory of the number zero. It is illustrated with an empty snow-covered lanscape. As each page succeeds, objects of that many number are added to the landscape, and the scene changes from season to season. Alongside the left page are cubes that also represent that number. Another addition to Anno's Counting Book is that is continues up to the number 12, two numbers (11 and 12), which do not conform to the usual patters (oneteen and twoteen?).
- Anno, Mitsumasa. 1982. Anno's Counting Book. Philomel. A counting book depicting the growth in a village and surrounding countryside during 12 months.
- Andreasen, Dan. 2007. The Baker's Dozen. Holt. The reader is invited to count from 1 to 13 as a jolly baker makes delectable treats, from one mouth-watering eclair to 12 luscious cupcakes, and serves them to invited guests. - Cronin, Doreen. 2005. Click, Clack, Splish, Splash. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Atheneum. While Farmer Brown sleeps, some of the animals who live on the farm attempt to rescue fish from a tank in the house, releasing 10 fish in 10 buckets while the farmer slumbers. - Dobson, Christina. 2003. Pizza Counting. Illustrated by Matthew Holmes. Charlesbridge. Decorated pizzas are used to introduce counting and fractions. Includes facts about pizza. - Johnson, Stephen. 1998. City by Numbers. Viking. Paintings of various sites around New York City- from a shadow on a building to a wrought iron gate to the Brooklyn Bridge- depict the numbers from 1 to 21. - Walsh, Ellen Stoll. 1991. Mouse Count. Harcourt. Count along with 10 mice as they outsmart a hungry snake. |
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Concept Books and Informational Books
Concept books introduce single, focused concepts to young children, such as colors, opposites, size, sequencing and shapes. ABC and counting books are also considered concept books.
Quality concept books help children think about ideas, such as Tana Hoban's Is It Red? Is It Yellow? Is It Blue? (1978). Hoban provides a brilliant color photograph of a city or home scene and then placing colored circles below each photo. The reader is drawn back and forth between circles and photos to find the matching color.
Picture books that deal with concepts in greater depth are informational picture books. Informational picture books are usually more text heavy and are usually for older readers.
- Ehlert, Lois. 1989 Color Zoo. Lippincott. Introduces colors and shapes with illustrations of shapes on die-cut pages that form animal faces when placed on top of one another.
- Fisher, Valerie. 2006. How High Can a Dinosaur Count? And Other Math Mysteries. Schwartz & Wade. Presents fifteen miniature worlds, each showcasing a math problem. - McMillian, Bruce. 1991. Eating Fractions. Scholastic. Food is cut into halves, quarters, and thirds to illustrate how parts make a whole. Simple recipes included. - Schwartz, David M. 1999. If You Hopped Like a Frog. Illustrated by James Warhola. Scholastic. introduces the concept of ratio by comparing what humans would be able to do if they had bodies like different animals. |
LINKS TO CONCEPT AND INFORMATIONAL BOOKS:
- http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/concept-picture-books
- http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/books-teaching-economic-concepts
- http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/children-s-informational
- http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/concept-picture-books
- http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/books-teaching-economic-concepts
- http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/children-s-informational
Participation Books
Participation Books are designed to involve children in physical activity that goes beyond reading the text, such as finding hidden objects in an illustration, manipulating the flaps and tabs of a pop-up book, or chiming in with a refrain. Participation books also typically fall into concept book categories. Counting books demand a child's physical participation.
- Yolen, Jane. 2009. How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? Illustrated by Mark Teague, Blue Sky/Scholastic. Illustrations and rhyming text present some of the different ways dinosaurs (people) can express their love, from cleaning up after making a mess to smiling sweetly instead of roaring.
- Martin, Bill, Jr. 1993. Old Devil Wind. Illustrated by Barry Root. Harcourt. On a dark and stormy night, one object after another joins in making eerie noises in the old house. - Ljungkvist, Laura. 2007. Follow the Line Through the House. Viking. Rhyming text invites the reader to search different roms of a house to find hidden objects. - Carlstrom, Nancy. 1986. Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? Illustrated by Bruce Degen. MacMillian. Rhymed text that begs to be recited and colorful illustrations describe Jesse Bear's activities from morning to bedtime. |
Wordless Picture Books
Young children discover much of what they know about books as they "read" by themselves, learning left-to-right/top-to-bottom orientations, grammar of story, personal pleasure of reading. Teachers find that wordless books are a vehicle for practicing language experience approach- children may create their own text to a wordless book.
Wordless book are meant to be enjoyable. They may tell stories that teach concepts. Facial expressions speak with the power of words, visual actions, foreshadow events, and the story line flows seamlessly as the author focuses the reader's eye with details, visual transitions, and artful composition.
Wordless book are meant to be enjoyable. They may tell stories that teach concepts. Facial expressions speak with the power of words, visual actions, foreshadow events, and the story line flows seamlessly as the author focuses the reader's eye with details, visual transitions, and artful composition.
- Mayer, Mercer. 1974. Frog Goes to Dinner. Dial. Having stowed away in a pocket, Frog wreak havoc and disgraces his human family at the posh restaurant where they go for dinner.
- Mayer, Mercer. 1976. Ah-choo. Dial. Relates the consequences of an elephant's sneeze. - Varon, Sara. 2008. Chicken and Cat Clean Up. Scholastic. Chicken and Cat run a housekeeping service; Cat fouls up the cleaning but saves the day by catching a purse-snatching mouse. - Wiesner, David. 1999. Sector 7. Clarion. While on a school field trip to the Empire State Building, a boy is taken by a friendly cloud to visit Sector 7, where he discovers how clouds are shaped and channeled throughout the country. |
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LINKS TO MORE WORDLESS BOOKS:
- https://www.goodreads.com/genres/wordless-books
- http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/top-ten-wordless-picture-books-by-kristen-remenar/
- http://www.readinga-z.com/books/leveled-books/?lbFilter%5Bwordless%5D
- https://www.goodreads.com/genres/wordless-books
- http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/top-ten-wordless-picture-books-by-kristen-remenar/
- http://www.readinga-z.com/books/leveled-books/?lbFilter%5Bwordless%5D
Predictable Books
Sometimes called Pattern Books, often can be young children's bridge into the world of independent reading. These picture books are characterized by repeated language patterns, story patterns, or other familiar sequences.
The best of the predictable books are lively, use interesting words, and invite children to chime in. Predictable books may use a repeated story pattern, often found in fairy tales and folktales such as "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" and "The Little Red Hen" - and in modern stories such as Monkey Seek, Monkey Do.
The best of the predictable books are lively, use interesting words, and invite children to chime in. Predictable books may use a repeated story pattern, often found in fairy tales and folktales such as "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" and "The Little Red Hen" - and in modern stories such as Monkey Seek, Monkey Do.
Bill Martin's classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (1967) is still a favorite in kindergartens everywhere: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see? I see a redbird booking at me. Redbird, redbird, what do you see? I see a yellow duck looking at me. Yellow duck. . . |
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Predictable book titles:
-Where’s Spot?, Eric Hill, G.P. Putnam, 1980 -Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, traditional, adapted by Nellie Edge, Nellie Edge Resources, Inc. 1988 -Rosie’s Walk, Pat Hutchins, Macmillan, 1968 (BB) -I Went Walking, Sue Williams, Harcourt Brace, Jovanovich, 1989 (BB) -A Dark Dark Tale, Ruth Brown, Andersen Press Ltd., 1981 For additional lists of Predictable Books that children love to read: http://www.nellieedge.com/articles_resources/predictablebooks.htm |
Beginning Reader Picture Books
The beginning reader picture book is designed to give fledgling independent readers well-written yet easy-to-read materials. The beginning reader picture books are generally of the same size and shape-- more like a chapter book rather than a typical picture book. Of course, they are much thinner, each consisting of about 40 pages of illustration and brief text.
Adults often will choose any controlled-vocabulary picture book for their children merely because the words are overly simplified and seem easy to read. However, many of these titles offer little more than vocabulary practice and are of limited interest to children. A strong story and a fresh and lively writing style coupled with a wise control of vocabulary make for easier reading.
Adults often will choose any controlled-vocabulary picture book for their children merely because the words are overly simplified and seem easy to read. However, many of these titles offer little more than vocabulary practice and are of limited interest to children. A strong story and a fresh and lively writing style coupled with a wise control of vocabulary make for easier reading.
A Few Noteworthy Beginning Reader Picture Books:
-Arnold, Tedd. 2010. Super Fly Guy and Buzz Boy. Cartwheel. Buzz creates a comic book that features Buzz Boy and Fly Guy as the superheroes. -Lobel, Arnold. 1970. Frog and Toad Are Friends. Harper. Five short tales recounting the adventures of two best friends. -Minarik, Else. 1957. Little Bear. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Harper. Little Bear's four adventures of two best friends, Frog and Toad. |
Link to more Beginning Reader Picture Books:
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/beginning-reader-picture-books |
Picture Storybooks
The hallmark of the picture storybook is that text and illustrations work together to tell a story. Picture storybooks are the most plentiful and the most popular variety of picture book. Picture storybooks are the most likely choice for parents and children who read together before bedtime. Such books are read to young children long before they are able to read on their own and are often the best-loved stories from childhood.
Picture storybooks are the foundation of literacy training. Children typically learn their favorite books by heart, thus beginning a process that eventually becomes full-fledged reading. The rich vocabulary and sparkling illustrations help broaden language horizons and develop taste in art.
Picture storybooks are the foundation of literacy training. Children typically learn their favorite books by heart, thus beginning a process that eventually becomes full-fledged reading. The rich vocabulary and sparkling illustrations help broaden language horizons and develop taste in art.
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-McCloskey, Robert. 1941. Make Way for Ducklings.
-Sendack, Maurice. 1963. Where the Wild Things Are. -Allsburg, Van. 1985. The Polar Express. A Few Noteworthy Picture Storybook Titles: -Agree, Jon. 2001. Milo's Hat Trick. Hyperion. A failed magician's routine is saved by a bear who can disappear into a top hat. -Cronin, Doreen. 2000. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Simon & Schuster. When Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn, they start making demands and go on strike when the farmer refuses to give them what they want. -Helquist, Brett. 2010. Bedtime for Bear. Harper. Just after the first snowfall, Bear is ready to go to sleep until spring, but his friends encourage him to spend one last day playing with them. |
Engineered Books
The category of engineered books is one of physical structure. Paper engineering involves the cutting, folding, or otherwise restructuring of the normal printed or illustrated page. Pop-up books are likely the best-known variety of the engineered book.
Often pop-ups include pull-tabs, cardboard wheels to be turned, or flaps to be lifted, thus allowing children to manipulate the pages. Some engineered books rely completely on lifting flaps to reveal concept or story elements. Others provide a tactile experience...which allows children to pet a fuzzy little rabbit and offers children a variety of textures to feel.
A comparatively new variety of engineered book is the electronic book. By embedding a microchip in thicker cardboard pages or covers, readers can make a book play music, make animal noises, create the sounds of a flushing toilet, flash lights, and so on.
Often pop-ups include pull-tabs, cardboard wheels to be turned, or flaps to be lifted, thus allowing children to manipulate the pages. Some engineered books rely completely on lifting flaps to reveal concept or story elements. Others provide a tactile experience...which allows children to pet a fuzzy little rabbit and offers children a variety of textures to feel.
A comparatively new variety of engineered book is the electronic book. By embedding a microchip in thicker cardboard pages or covers, readers can make a book play music, make animal noises, create the sounds of a flushing toilet, flash lights, and so on.
Baby/Board Books
Baby/board books are made from thick cardboard with clear plasticized coatings. They are meant to withstand the buffetings, dunkings, and suckings of babies and toddlers. Some of these baby books are wordless, each page depicting a single object, such as a shoe or a spoon, that is common in a baby's environment. Sometimes single words or short phrases accompany illustrations.
A Few Noteworthy Baby/Board Titles:
-Alborough, Jez. 2007. Fix-It Duck. Kane/Miller. When Duck's roof starts leaking, he enlists the help of his friends but then finds more things that need fixing. -Buehner, Caralyn. 2004. Snowmen at Night. Illustrated by Mark Buehner. Dial. Snowmen play games at night when no one is watching. -Cowley, Joy. 2005. Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Scrubbing Machine. Philomel. Mrs. Wish-Washy has a new scrubbing machine to help her keep everything clean, including her anim |