Picture Books as a Successful Learning Tool for Older Elementary School Students

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Picture Books: Creating a Picture of Success in Older Students

Though commonly only viewed as learning materials for younger elementary-age students, picture books are an innovative and exciting teaching tool for older

elementary-age students, too. In fact, picture books can even assist middle and high school students on their respective roads to success. By going “back to the basics,”

as Maybeth, a 3rd grader in Dicey’s Song by Cynthia Voigt did, young and old readers alike will again be struck with the delight and sheer power that picture books

contain. These books help readers affectively—giving them pleasurable experiences with reading and boosting their self-concept; these books help readers culturally and

socially—giving them examples of different ethnicities and personalities and those particular ways of life; and these books also help readers cognitively—giving them

needed reading experiences that will lead to more successes in the future. Voigt’s example, though perhaps not the intentional theme of her book, is very clear: the

implementation of picture books into a curriculum will have enormous effects on students of any age.

In the article, “Look again: Picture books are more than pictures,” Martha Belden outlines four general areas of self-concept that are spoken to by picture

books. First, picture books help students develop an awareness of their bodies. Books dealing with body language, such as Face Talk, Hand Talk, Body Talk by Sue

Castle (1977), and books dealing with kinesthetics, such as Look What I Can Do (1971) by Jose Aruego, illustrate some of the body’s abilities. Belden claims, “The

way a child learns what the body can do shapes his or her feelings, attitudes, and values about him- or herself” (1985, p. 58). Becoming aware of their own bodies will

be the beginning (and perhaps the core) of some students’ future self-concepts. These same picture books also teach students to be content with who they are. Though

their bodies may not be perfect, students can be assured that everyone experiences insecurities. In One Dragon to Another (1976), a caterpillar wants to be a dragon

and blow smoke rings, but finds that he can only fly (a disappointing loss).

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