Opening the Doors to Picture Books for All Ages

  • Kimberly Gotches University of Illinois

Abstract

This essay considers the misperception that picture books comprise a genre and that they are exclusively intended for the very young. It argues that educators, librarians, parents, and all who are involved in the promotion of children’s literature should promote the reality that the picture book is not a genre, but rather is a form of literature with benefits for people of all ages. To understand this form, it is imperative to consider the interplay of the words and pictures.

Author Biography

Kimberly Gotches, University of Illinois
David Beagley is Lecturer in Children's Literature and Literacy at La Trobe University's Bendigo campus, Victoria, Australia, where he teaches units in Genres, History, Australian and Post-colonial children's literature. He has previously taught in secondary schools, and has been a school and university librarian.
Issue
Vol. 13 No. 2 (2009)
Section
Picture Window
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