Picture Books Provide a Child's First Experiences with Art and Story

Editor Patti Lee Gauch Declares
the Value of the Picture Book

In the recent School Library Journal article "Editor Patti Lee Gauch Talks About the State of the Picture Book," author Mahnaz Dar reports on Gauch's speech at the New York Public Library Children's Salon, in which Gauch discusses how picture book stories resonate with young readers. Here is an excerpt:

"Gauch defended picture books as vital to children’s development, stating that they are a 'child’s first introduction not only to art but to narrative form.'

Gauch also addressed digital picture books, acknowledging that electronic versions do have their place. Gauch, however, stressed that a physical book is in and of itself an art form, describing the amount of effort that goes into designing a book’s endpapers or binding and concluded that children should have access to both formats."

To read the article in its entirety, click here. 

MORE Information
About the Value of Picture Books!

To learn how Caldecott Award winning illustrator David Macaulay defines a great picture book,  click here to read an interview on the NCBLA's website thencbla.org.

To read suggestions for selecting books for young people, including picture books, read children's book expert Stephanie Loer's article here on thencbla.org.

And for field trip suggestions for museums that highlight children's book illustrations, such as the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts and the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature in Abilene, Texas, check out the NCBLA article "A Literacy Field Trip."

You and the young people in your life can discover the vibrant world of picture books at your library!