I explore the
Barnes and Noble picture book section every weekend as research for my class
and for my craft. This weekend, I found
a lovely new picture book called This is
not a picture book! that I think would be perfect for my second grade class
next year (actually, in about a month).
The main
character is a duckling who is perplexed by a book that has only words, no
pictures. At first, the duckling is not quite sure if he is up to the challenge
of reading the words, but soon discovers that some of the words, words that he
knows, have the ability to transport him and his friend Bug.
The book is
an homage to the power of reading. Duckling and Bug experience laughter,
sorrow, adventure, and peace at the hands of the book with no pictures. The
brightly colored illustrations are evocative of a child’s imagination and the
creative, world-building capability of words.
This is not a picture book! can help both parents and teachers transition
children from picture books to chapter books. It creates an opportunity to open
a discussion about the difference between picture books and chapter books and
about harnessing the imagination to co-create a vision using the author’s words
as the framework.
And its sweet
and funny to read.
See you next
Wednesday!
