I could spend my whole day reading picture books. There are so many great stories out there that teach young children (from three to eight) good values while they help build valuable analytical skills for success in school. This is the age where we build a foundation for learning, and it's good to know that there are so many useful and lovely books for this age group. A good picture book needs to have an important message, a well-grounded theme and outstanding illustrations. Above all, a good picture book should be entertaining. Picture books are generally for children up to eight years old. Parents can read them to younger children; older children can read these books themselves. Some picture books have a reading level up to nine or ten.
Here are some of my favourite picture books:
1. Ibis Stew? O, No! by Joanne Gail Johnson–This Trinidadian picture book is a fun read with a mission: protect the environment and think about the value of our flora and fauna. Protect endangered species.
Our children are lucky to have a local book that highlights environmental issues in a fun book that is not preachy.
2. The Orange Shoes by Trinka Hakes Noble–Delly Porter is a poor girl who enjoys the simple things in life–like the dirt under her feet when she walks to school in the village where she lives. She has to deal with children making fun of her and being poor. One day there is a contest for art supplies. Delly enters the contest and shows her own artistic talent. This is a wonderful book about being yourself and appreciating the simple things in life.
3. Gilgamesh the King–retold and illustrated by Ludmila Zeman–This ancient tale, the oldest known piece of literature written in cuneiform on clay tablets, is a real treat for children who love mythology and folk tales. Gilgamesh is a wretched king who learns about friendship, loyalty, and true humanity from Enkidu.
4. India ABCs–a book about the people and places of India–There is a whole series of these. These ABC books are actually on a reading level for an eight or nine-year-old. Each letter tells something about the culture or history of the country featured.
5. The English Roses series by Madonna–I am not a Madonna fan but girls love her books because they show what friendship and caring are really about.
6. Skippyjon Jones series by Judy Schachner–Skippyjon Jones is an adventurous Siamese cat who thinks he is a Chihuahua. The stories are funny and they rely heavily on puns.
7. The Butter Battle Book by Dr Seuss–Any Dr Seuss book is a must, but The Butter Battle Book is my favourite for its valuable lessons on confrontation and even war. Older children can benefit greatly from the lessons in this book.
8. Fancy Nancy–the series–All Fancy Nancy books have extraordinary illustrations. These books are a fantastic way to get young children interested in building their vocabulary. Fancy Nancy always gives a fancy word and its meaning. Very young students can be encouraged to start their own glossaries with new words they come across.
9. Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore–Many famous actors are writing books and Moore is among them. Frekleface Strawberry is about a girl with red hair and freckles. It is really quite an interesting book about accepting how you look. Young children from pre-K on up can be very self-conscious about their appearance and this book helps.
10. Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton–The illustrations in this book are simply precious. Splat the Cat doesn't want to go to school. He faces his fears by taking his pet mouse in his lunch kit. Once in school, the mouse escapes and Splat learns a valuable lesson about appearance and prejudice. There's a lot to think about in this book including friendship, being open-minded, fair and caring.
11. A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni–If you haven't discovered this author yet, you certainly will want to do so quickly. Lionni's books feature well constructed stories with an important theme. In this book, a chameleon learns how every animal has a colour. The chameleon wonders why he doesn't have his own colour. He is told wherever he goes with his chameleon friend he will change colours, but he will have company. In the end, they find a red and white polka dot toad stool and take on the polka dots. This is a very subtle lesson about finding yourself and being happy with who you are, knowing that there is someone like you.
12. My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig–This book is a valuable lesson about dealing with bullying–something, unfortunately, that all parents and children need to be aware of. This book could head off some possible problems.
Next week: More great picture books. There are just too many to fit in one column.
