tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post805228764953097623..comments2023-10-23T18:26:13.400-06:00Comments on Rena Jones: Picture BooksRena Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02328844122193024220noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-30860922105680867132010-10-11T08:11:02.517-06:002010-10-11T08:11:02.517-06:00You make SO many good points in this post, it'...You make SO many good points in this post, it's hard to know where to begin! We love picture books, we're still reading and re-reading favorites from years ago--and my babies are 6, 7 and 11 now! Reading picture books is HUGE for literacy development and kids get more "play time" out of a quality picture book than most toys we shell out money for. If money's an issue, there is always the library, but there is NO substitute for brilliant books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-70941737644740326762010-10-09T11:32:08.704-06:002010-10-09T11:32:08.704-06:00Thanks for your comments. Having so many picture b...Thanks for your comments. Having so many picture book writer and illustrator friends, I wasn't sure how well this would go over. As I said, I wish I could buy way more books than I do. As it is, I spend too much already.<br /><br />Lee -- You certainly hit everything right on the head! I don't have an issue with the social issue books, but I don't think they should be required reading for every child. Just as some parents would rather not have their child read some religious or spiritual based books, I feel the same way about some social issue ones. There's a time and place for everything and I think the parent knows when that is for their child, not some executive sitting in a building somewhere or some teacher who thinks its important. But having said that, they do have a place, and a very important one.<br /><br />Thanks, again!Rena Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02328844122193024220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-52643424425722813542010-10-08T18:06:49.844-06:002010-10-08T18:06:49.844-06:00I think the cost factor is an important one to con...I think the cost factor is an important one to consider. Even when I was a child most of my books were from the "Little Golden Books" library and the like. How much are these purchases tracked? Also, what about the bargain book shelves and books purchased in discount stores.<br /><br />I would not think of a bookstore as my first choice for buying children's books because of the cost factor. <br /><br />The article mentions that the classics like Seuss and Sendak still sell. That is probably parents buying what they know and loved as children. Perhaps some of the traditionalism and quality of the older books isn't there today. Do kids really need books dealing with certain "relevant social issues"? I think content may also dissuade some parents.<br /><br />Finally, societal expectations and those coming from the schools themselves may discourage picture books as being lacking in substance to some degree. My wife, who is a kindergarten teacher, tells me that kids are expected to know their letters and numbers when they enter school and to be able to read and write rudimentarily by the end of kindergarten. Kids are being overwhelmed and what little imagination they might have left is sucked up by TV and video games. Who needs picture books when you have TV?<br /><br />The decline of picture books would be a sad thing, but the publishing industry needs to take a hard look and the facts and adjust if they want to continue to survive.<br /><br />Lee<br /> <a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a>Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-59277911493450934762010-10-08T18:02:38.570-06:002010-10-08T18:02:38.570-06:00I have to look for the barganis too.
Just becaus...I have to look for the barganis too. <br /><br />Just because a kid may be able to read doesn't mean he/she is emotional/pschologically ready or be able to understand what's being read. I can clearly remember reading books when I was teen-ager that I didn't understand. Yet when I read them when I was older they made sense. Ability does not equal comprehension. Parents need to remember that.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-72227767649739877172010-10-08T16:47:50.997-06:002010-10-08T16:47:50.997-06:00I buy so many picture books as do my friends. I fi...I buy so many picture books as do my friends. I find it sad if technology will affect this. Little kids don't need apps of books (maybe on vacation, in the car, or on the go) on a daily basis. <br />I do think over $15 for a picture book is expensive. Have I bought picture books for more than than, yes, maybe one or two a year, but I can buy and enjoy MORE books if they are priced better.Kelly Polarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10968381456100611120noreply@blogger.com