Building with Story Books
Good Stories
Research proves two things about good stories:
Treatment trumps topic. How a story is told is more important to the audience than its topic, what it is about. The best story is a well-told tale about something the reader feels is relevant or significant.
The best stories are more complete and more comprehensive. They contain more verified information from more sources with more viewpoints and expertise. They exhibit more enterprise, more reportorial effort.
(Excerpt: API What Makes a Good Story?)
Strong Opening: A great book grabs readers on the first page and doesn’t let go until they’ve reached the end of the book.
Compelling Characters: Good characters draw readers in, giving them someone to love, hate, or identify with.
An Absorbing Story: Good characters draw readers in, giving them someone to love, hate, or identify with.
Sharp Dialog: Bestsellers contain dialogue that advances the plot, demonstrates your characters’ personalities, and adds texture to the world of your story.
Unique Style: Writing style is the voice and tone a writer uses to convey a story or express an idea.
Picture Books @ New Zealand National Library
Wordless picture books
Wordless picture books rely on illustrations alone to tell a story. They are a wonderful resource that allows children to tell the story 'in their own words'. These books encourage children to:
read the pictures
look at the details
follow patterns and sequences
explore characterization
work out what is going on and bring their own language to their own version of the story.
Iconographic by ABC Copywriting
Babies and Toddlers
Very young children are attracted by brightly colored pictures of simple objects.
They are listeners, and respond well to books with simple texts and good rhythms.
Wordless books stimulate them both visually and mentally, and encourage them to create their own stories.
They are delighted with board books and cloth books, which have the virtue of being practically indestructible.
Preschool and Kindergarten
Mother Goose, nursery stories, and other books depicting familiar objects and experiences are enjoyable to children in this age group.
These children like listening to slightly complex texts with good rhythm and effective word repetition.
They are also coordinated enough to have constructive fun with toy-like books that may pop up, move, or provide other astonishments.
Early School Years (Ages 5-8)
A few children may learn to read before they are in the first grade. Most learn during first grade. Many learn even later.
For reading to or with children, select picture books with strong storylines and character development.
For the child who is reading independently, choose a book with a straightforward story employing words that will be familiar from everyday use. Some publishers produce books, generally called "easy readers," which independent readers often enjoy.
Third-graders are often able to handle stories of some complexity. The vocabulary should be relatively familiar while including some challenging words.
A lot of informational books have been published for the early grades. These non-fiction books encourage children to read about topics that interest them and to satisfy their curiosity about complex subjects.
Types of Picture Books
Board Books
Board books are meant for the youngest readers, from birth to 2 years old. Board books have cardboard pages to withstand wear and tear from little fingers and mouths.
Examples:
Yummy Yucky by Leslie Patricelli
Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton
What's On My Head by Margaret Miller
Concept Books
Concept books introduce children to a theme such as the alphabet, counting, colors or shapes. Some can be as simple as “A is for Apple.” Others are more complex like the "Miss Bindergarten" series, where each sentence uses a letter of the alphabet to tell a Kindergarten story. They are suggested for ages 2-8.
Examples:
Freight Train by Donald Crews
Feast for Ten by Cathryn Falwell
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Easy Readers
Easy Reader books, also known as Beginning Readers or Early Readers, use a limited vocabulary and are structured as chapter books. Text blocks are bigger and the included images function more as illustrations than as essential elements in the story. Some representative Easy Reader imprints are I Can Read, Ready to Read, and Easy-to-Read. They are recommended for ages 4-8 and novice readers.
Examples:
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
There Is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems
Non-Fiction
Non-fiction picture books introduce children to new subjects in a simple way and are recommended for ages 3-12 years.
Examples:
A Million Dots by Andrew Clements
Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale
Wangari's Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter
Wordless
In these types of books, the stories are told completely by the pictures. Making up stories to go with the pictures is a perfect pre-literacy activity. They are recommended for ages 2-12 years.
Examples:
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
Flotsam by David Wiesner
Do You Want To Be My Friend? by Eric Carle
Picture Books
Hardcover Text/Images
Digital Text/Images
Award Winners
Texas Award Lists
2x2: Age 2 to Grade 2
Little Maverick: Graphic novels for K-5
Texas Topaz: NonFiction gems for all ages
Tejas Star: Bilingual reading for ages 5 - 12
American Award Lists
John Newberry Medal: It is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
Randolph Caldecott Medal: awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Pura Belpre: presented annually to the Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
Coretta Scott King: are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. (1970-Present)
Robert F Sibert Informational Book Medal: awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award: given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.
Association for Library Service to Children Best of the Best - Notable Children's Books
Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media: browse the collection for nearly 2,000 books, recordings, apps and websites for children spanning over 100 years.