By Patty Summers
Reading with a child is one of the best things a parent can do. It has been shown to encourage a lifelong interest in reading and literature. A great way to develop an interest is by having lots of illustrated childrens books available at all times. So many children have loved the classics such as Goodnight Moon or We're going on a Bear Hunt. The beautiful and engaging pictures are remembered just as much as the accompanying text.
Children today often watch too much television. This is damaging for them in many ways. The images move so fast that the young brain simply cannot keep up. There is no opportunity for imagination as the images are bombarded at the viewer. It is also a solitary experience with no close human interaction. Busy parents are often tempted to use the television as a baby sitter.
Children will spend many hours simply enjoying the illustrations. Parents are often in too much of a hurry trying to tell them about the story and read the words. A small child is often enthralled by the beautiful pictures in a book and will want to look at them again and again. This is a perfectly natural behavior and one that should be encouraged.
There are so many different styles of illustrations to choose from and no one is really better than another. Studies have shown that children enjoy looking at everything. This includes traditional drawings, water color and oil paintings, abstracts and even silhouettes. Their brains are ready to accept just about anything and they can pick up details that adults often miss. They are so careful to look at the pictures so closely, they can often construct their own unique story to go with the illustrations.
European printers have long known of the value of good illustrations. The Madeline series was first published in Paris in the late 1930's. Not only were the stories captivating, but the outstanding pictures that accompanied them were really unique at the time. Children all over the world continue to discover Madeline and her adventures.
Generations of children have loved the Thomas the Tank Engine series. These classic book have a beautiful illustration to accompany every page of text. The readers can see each of the engines and their individual characteristics. The Island of Sodor seems so real, complete with its hills, rivers and towns. It is these wonderful images that have helped to keep these stories at the forefront of children's literature.
Modern writers such as Richard Scarry have also used outstanding artwork to make their work really standout. The characters are delightful and really come to life on the pages. Countless thousands of children have begged their parents for just one more story from their treasured collection featuring Huckle cat and his friend Lowly worm.
Illustrated childrens books are the perfect gift for a birthday or holiday. Parents should make a habit of giving each child at least one book every month, so they can start to build their own library at home. School book fairs and garage sales are a great source of inexpensive books.
Children today often watch too much television. This is damaging for them in many ways. The images move so fast that the young brain simply cannot keep up. There is no opportunity for imagination as the images are bombarded at the viewer. It is also a solitary experience with no close human interaction. Busy parents are often tempted to use the television as a baby sitter.
Children will spend many hours simply enjoying the illustrations. Parents are often in too much of a hurry trying to tell them about the story and read the words. A small child is often enthralled by the beautiful pictures in a book and will want to look at them again and again. This is a perfectly natural behavior and one that should be encouraged.
There are so many different styles of illustrations to choose from and no one is really better than another. Studies have shown that children enjoy looking at everything. This includes traditional drawings, water color and oil paintings, abstracts and even silhouettes. Their brains are ready to accept just about anything and they can pick up details that adults often miss. They are so careful to look at the pictures so closely, they can often construct their own unique story to go with the illustrations.
European printers have long known of the value of good illustrations. The Madeline series was first published in Paris in the late 1930's. Not only were the stories captivating, but the outstanding pictures that accompanied them were really unique at the time. Children all over the world continue to discover Madeline and her adventures.
Generations of children have loved the Thomas the Tank Engine series. These classic book have a beautiful illustration to accompany every page of text. The readers can see each of the engines and their individual characteristics. The Island of Sodor seems so real, complete with its hills, rivers and towns. It is these wonderful images that have helped to keep these stories at the forefront of children's literature.
Modern writers such as Richard Scarry have also used outstanding artwork to make their work really standout. The characters are delightful and really come to life on the pages. Countless thousands of children have begged their parents for just one more story from their treasured collection featuring Huckle cat and his friend Lowly worm.
Illustrated childrens books are the perfect gift for a birthday or holiday. Parents should make a habit of giving each child at least one book every month, so they can start to build their own library at home. School book fairs and garage sales are a great source of inexpensive books.