| Picture books for children have become a great | | | | Reading picture books develops literacy |
| tradition over the last century. Most people | | | | This just shows that the belief that picture books |
| couldn't imagine a childhood without lots of | | | | prepare kids for later reading is not unfounded. |
| beautifully illustrated books. However, many | | | | One of the main purposes of picture books is to |
| people think these types of books are not really | | | | provide a simple format for young readers to |
| that important. That they are just a stepping | | | | practice reading skills. The pictures entice and |
| stone on the path to 'real' reading. While it is true | | | | entertain while the simple and often repetitive |
| that children must eventually move on to more | | | | text provide much needed reading practice. |
| sophisticated books, it is a mistake to think that | | | | Reading picture books develops visual literacy |
| picture books are just preparation for later | | | | We live in a world that is composed of pictures |
| reading. Here are 5 good reasons why: | | | | and images much more than words. Training |
| Picture books stimulate the imagination | | | | children to understand and 'read ' imagery is one |
| Allowing your child to travel to faraway places | | | | of the most important things we can do. Images |
| and to meet new characters and experience new | | | | can be used to manipulate and distort facts, to |
| things is a very important part of their mental | | | | demean others and to destroy self esteem. |
| development. A child who only knows the | | | | Guiding children in how to read and understand |
| humdrum world of their own house has a real | | | | visual imagery is extremely important and this |
| limitation when it comes to new situations. | | | | process should begin in childhood.Story books lay |
| Developing imagination can be one of the most | | | | the foundation for this all important developmental |
| important things a child will ever do. It shapes their | | | | skill. |
| entire outlook on life and affects the decisions | | | | Picture books develop a love of reading |
| they will make in later years. Picture books are | | | | Reading can be one of the most important things |
| perfect for introducing your child to the world of | | | | your child will ever learn and one of the best |
| creative thinking and fun that comes from having | | | | ways to insure their future success. Kids who |
| lots of imagination. | | | | read are far more likely to stay in school and to |
| Books with pictures educate | | | | earn significantly higher wages in their lifetime. |
| It is no coincidence that picture books often deal | | | | They experience boredom less and have a far |
| with real life situations. Children are inexperienced | | | | wider experience to draw on when dealing with |
| in situations outside of their school and home. | | | | problems. Nothing develops a love of reading |
| Story books that let them know what to expect | | | | more surely than a picture book habit in childhood. |
| in strange and sometimes frightening places can | | | | For these reasons and for many others it is |
| be a real boost to their confidence and ability to | | | | important that your child be reading story books |
| deal with new experiences. Stories about visits to | | | | every day. These days there are many options: |
| the doctor, first days at school, airports etc are | | | | traditional print books as well as Online |
| great for this. It is also interesting to note that | | | | Storybooks and books for mobile devices. |
| fantastic characters and settings can be just as | | | | Whatever type of storybooks you choose for |
| useful in this role. A great example would be Dr | | | | your child ( a mixture is best of course) you'll |
| Seuss' 'The Lorax' a fantasy story that has been | | | | know that you are giving them the best head |
| entertaining children and teaching them about | | | | start that you can. Simply by letting your child do |
| environmental misuse for many years. | | | | something they enjoy. Reading picture books. |