Excellent article about the way parents and schools are pushing children away from picture books far too early! http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/us/08picture.html?_r=1
WOW! You know, my gut reaction also says they sell less also because the parents just don't (won't) take time to read to kids like they use to.
Einstein had it right when he said: "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." This is sad.
I have been saying for a long time that kids were being pushed into reading ahead too soon. That is what ruined my girls' love for reading in public school. Teachers would tell Emily she couldn't get books she wanted to read in first grade because they were too easy (she loved the ones with lots of pictures) so she stopped picking out what she wanted and just took what they told her. We fixed that by taking her to the public library and letting her choose.
I did this with my son. I started giving him chapter books when he was 3 because I knew he could read them. It temporarily killed his fire for reading, and I won't make that mistake with my younger son. Just because you "can" read something doesn't mean you "should" read something. You can look at my siggy to see what he's doing, but I guarantee you he's NOT READY for lengthy chapter books with tiny print. He's overwhelmed by them. He's only 4. He's still a baby. He still needs the pictures! There are plenty of picture books out there that are designed to be read by an adult to a child. He can read those and feel normal next to his friends who are also reading books with pictures. Those kids won't notice how many words there are or how big the words are. They'll just see their friend reading books with pictures exactly like they are.
I have never felt any pressure to push my kids into chapter books, but I do see it in my friends. Even some of those who homeschool seem to panic if their 5 year old isnt reading fluently.
I just don't get it. I'm thankful when my children read. Period. And they do read a lot. Stories can be great no matter how 'little'. Just look at I Love You Funny Face and Goodnight Moon. IMO, those are both GREAT stories. So what if they're short, sweet, and to the point?
It saddened me to read that article. I'm still reading picture books to all my kids strictly for enjoyment! Why rush them through such a critical and wonderful stage?
My 7yo is ahead in reading skill...but at the library, he consistently heads for easy books. It's not the reading - it's the stories. I finally convinced him to look ahead a little, but if he wants to read 20 Sweet Pickles books while we're there, that's fine with me.
Also, new books can be pricey, there is a glut of used children's books, and right now many people do not have disposable incomes. Wonder what the used market is like? Interesting article.
It's vary sad to see picture books going away. We don't buy a lot of books, but most of the books we get from the libarary have lots of great pictures, even the books we get for history or science. We'd be lost without the pictures.
Very sad article. Picture books open a new world and excite the imagination...so sad. We are quickly becoming a country with NO imagination or creativity. Conveyor belt kids is what we will begin to see. My five year old can barely read two words...I'm not worried about it. My older two are excellent readers and early readers. My five year old can read a few Bob Books but that's it for now. Maybe I should hang up my homeschooling hat! lol. Anyway, it is very sad. I don't buy many picture books simply due to price. I can see how many don't buy them because of that reason. They can be quite expensive.
We also love to check out stacks of picture books from the library, but I must agree that the main reason I don't buy many of them is the cost. When I was teaching I filled the bookshelves in my 1st grade classroom with books from yard sales and thrift stores. It was the only way I could afford to get lots of them. I still do that today. I just can't spend $12.00 for one book.
My son actually loves chapter books, but will not read them on his own even though he reads at a much higher level. It's OK with me, though. I love reading to my kids and wouldn't care what they picked for me to read.
I can honestly say you've given me something to think about, I still get picture books from the library to read TO my boys, but I too am guilty of the nope, you can read better books than that. So I'm going to make it a goal to let them pick out whatever they want to read, though I'll probably require at least one chapter book each trip.
You know, my youngest 10, and I will still on occassion pick one up! We found a very interesting one called "Pink and Say" (I think!!!) last year about a Union soldier being helped by a Black family during the Civil War. I'm thinking it was based on a true story.
I love picture books. I don't have my kids pick and choose from the library though. They pick and choose from their bookshelves that are full of picture and chapter books. For reading instruction I have them read a book on their level or one that would challenge them. Taking a step into chapter books doesn't have to leave picture books behind. Even if all reading instruction is in chapter books doesn't mean picture books are left behind. I guess if the only reading done during the day is during reading instruction I could see a problem.
I would encourage you all to read the transcript of playwright Tony Kushner's A Modest Proposal. He is outrageously blunt and uses ALL manner of vocabulary, but it's TOTALLY worth it!!! He discuses the very thing that Ava touched on: our nation is raising children devoid of creativity. More precisely, he addresses the fact that art majors, ART MAJORS, have no creativity!!!! Not only do they have no creativity, they've never been exposed to great art. ('art major' is a generic term for anyone majoring in the arts... not just 'art') I have this transcript available via .doc, if any of you would like to PM me your email address so you can read it.
