Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See

Let me begin by saying that I am an educator who also holds a library degree. I ordered this book because of a webinar I viewed through my state library association, and I’m glad I did.The author of this work, Megan Lambert, is well-known in children’s literature circles; for several years she served on the committee to select the Caldecott Medal winners, the highest U.S. award for illustrators. She remarks that during one story time she had an epiphany, a light-bulb moment: Books are more than just the story, the text; books are the whole book! After reading Lambert's book, I see how true this is, even in books beyond picture books.So Lambert breaks down the “anatomy” of a book – from the size and shape of the book, to the jackets and covers, to all the other elements of a book and how each element can contribute to the story. Readers see marginal notes of the parts of a book’s anatomy in the margins – such as “copyright page,” “front matter,” “gutter” and more—and learn about how each part of a book’s anatomy can contribute to the meaning of the story and enhance readers’ visual intelligence.Lambert uses some terminology of education and librarianship, but she does explain new terms adequately for laypeople. I felt neither “talked down to” nor over my head.Anyone who works with children or youth – teachers, librarians, parents – should read and learn from this book to help foster reading in young people.

Ever peeked under the paper jacket on a picture book? After consuming Megan Dowd Lambert's Whole Book Approach, I’ll never not peek again! There are so many features we over look when reading these deceptively simple books. “Reading Picture Books with Children” walks the reader through the aspects which lead reader and child into deeper connections to, and understanding of a story. What is an “air frame”? Where is the “gutter” in a book? How do they affect our perception of the events? Ms. Lambert provides easy to follow explanations and the language to talk about and understand how a picture book works. A must read for anyone leading story time anywhere; but also so relevant to anyone sharing books with children. I share hundreds of books with students each year. Every chapter added new tools I now bring to enrich every reading with children! So interesting, so fun!

This was very helpful. I am going to be a teacher and it have lots of insight on how to read a book too children to spark conversation.

I couldn't read this book! It downloads as an image file to my phone, and I can't read the words, even when I tap the screen. The "bigger" font is still miniscule. It's an impossible book to read on the Kindle phone app--get the print version instead!

Without a doubt a must have for any educational professionals working with children's literature.Librarians, teachers, and Moms will all benefit from this reading experience.

Awesome book for teachers!

For work.

Adults often ask children, "Do you see what I see?" Megan Dowd Lambert changes the question in Reading Picture Books With Children so that adults who read picture books ask children, "What do you see?" Children, even the very young, become participants when picture books are read with them rather than to them. The reader becomes a facilitator of active listening and engagement by children in the whole picture book from cover to cover and everything in between. Who would have thought that Eric Carle's very hungry caterpillar left droppings? An active and visually astute child did when Megan Dowd Lambert once read the classic picture book with a group of children. That is but one of many examples she recounts in the book based on her years of experience of reading with children and developing her whole book approach. Reading Picture Books With Children contains a wealth of practical and informative examples, anecdotes, and suggestions for parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians who want to read picture books with, and not to, children. A guarantee: Adult and child will see what the other sees.

Excellent book. I would highly recommend 😃

This book when downloaded as a Kindle edition is a double page spread. You are unable to read the words as you are not able to increase font size. Also you are not able to highlight. Very disappointed with this Kindle purchase.