Are you fond of reading? Are you also fond of browsing for photos? What if those two will mix together and become one? That would be amazing because you get to experience the best of both worlds! All you have to do is to go into either a physical or online bookstore and get some copies of picture books. These books are under children’s literature and are intended for children, but they do not restrict you from reading one.
Among the promising authors of picture books are Maurice Sendak, Gabriella Eva Nagy, Dr. Seuss, Matt de la Peña, Doreen Cronin, Marcus Pfister, and more. Are you still debating whether you want to dig into a picture or book or not? Well, worry not! You can cease that internal debate now because listed below are the benefits of reading picture books. You’ll be surely surprise and get more convinced into reading one.
They double the entertainment
Every person is visual. There is no one in this world that doesn’t find photos entertaining and beautiful. People always appreciate pictures, how much more those images embedded in a literary work? Picture books are intended for the young minds but that doesn’t mean that others cannot read them. They are always there on shelves waiting to be picked and read.
You will be surprised on how much entertainment you’ll get from reading a picture book or two. Some of the stories are humorous and witty but the humor and wit becomes twice the effect because of the illustrations inside. Also, the pictures contribute to the degree of attraction of the book. Readers will be drawn into it because of its vibrant pictures and delightful tale.
They feature a new learning approach
Learning is essential. No matter where you go, you will always encounter something new that will bring you a whole lot of fresh knowledge. Picture books are among those things that can offer both learning and entertainment. They are not only pictures and words put in pages but are also teachers that aim to educate its readers in the most enjoyable way possible.
They do not offer lessons contained in textbooks. Hence, most of the picture books contain morals and values that are useful in everyday life — such as family, love, friendship, courage, faith, honesty, and more. There are also others that slowly introduce academic lessons but are written in a funnier way. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, No, David! by David Shannon, and The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper are some of the great examples of picture books that teach readers lessons that can be applied in real life.
They stir the imagination better
Reading is a good brain exercise. They can generate the imagination of the readers with only the use of words. But can you picture-out how amazing it would be if you can read the words and see images at the same time? It would definitely make reading cooler and get your imagination to work better! You will not be bored or lose some interest in your current read because of the wonderfully-made images and beautifully-written tale.
The more you read the story and gaze on the illustrations, the more your imagination will stir and sparkle. It is because you are already given the face of the characters and the setting of the story. All your imagination need to do is to make these elements work together. Hence, you will not have a hard time picturing out the appearance of something or someone because the illustrations will guide your imagination.
They help readers process the story clearly
Pictures are definitely helpful. In literature, they are the elements that help the readers to gain better understanding. Moreover, it is a known fact that most books from different genres contain only great stories written by great writers, picture books enjoy the perks of their difference and uniqueness. Although there is a popular quote that goes “do not judge a book by its cover,” it cannot be denied that picture books have covers that are amazingly illustrated making readers become drawn to them.
The illustrations embedded in every page of a picture book help the readers, especially the younger ones, to process the story better. It is because of the fact that sometimes there are words that are hard to comprehend and statements that are hard to decipher in a story. So, being supplied with an illustration that is related to the particular scene or chapter is a great help. Thus, it will improve not just the vocabulary of the readers but also their critical-thinking and comprehension skills. Picture books, indeed, proved that they are among the greatest literary works of all time.
Alex Writes 