Dear Teach: A picture is worth a thousand words

Hi Boys and Girls.

I hope you have finished this weekend’s homework, but that you still found some time to relax, that is, with a good book. Besides reading the assigned novel for school, it’s always a great idea to sit back and read a picture story. Why? For several reasons. First, being so much wiser a reader can really appreciate a simple story line and notice how exactly an author created the lines. There is such a thing as writing with an economy of words. Reading these little picture books is a delight. And in many ways it helps to solidify your understanding of literary elements such as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, but in a much simpler way.

There is a double bonus to reading these short little stories, and that is, to take in the beautifully designed and sketched works of art. Everyone enjoys a pretty picture. Hey, you never know, maybe someday you’ll be a children’s writer. It is never too early to start.

Here’s a great blog written by a young woman who immigrated from Bulgaria, Maria Popova. I think this blog was absolutely beautiful, not to mention the great stories she chose. Have a look. Click here for the entire blog.

Then write and draw your own picture book, images and all, and I’ll post your beautiful work.

Enjoy!

This is only one of the many beautiful images found in the top ten children’s books of 2012. Take a look!


From Waterlife

Not only was this a super cool way to share the top ten children's stories, but here's an article from the NYTimes on their The Learning Network Blog, What's Going On in This Picture? Students are given an opportunity to answer three questions about an image:

    What's going on in this picture?

    What do you see that makes you say that?

    What more can you find?

This blog encourages students to think in creative, artistic, and visual ways. You may enter a new post as new ideas develop, plus it is fun to see what everyone else thinks the picture is about. 

Read the article to find out more about it.

What’s going on in this picture? Look closely at the image above, or view it in a larger size, then tell us what you see by posting a comment. On Jan. 8, we will reveal more about the image and its origins at the bottom of this post.

Be Well,

The Teach