For children, reading can be a daunting task. The squiggles, lines, and dots could be very threatening, especially if the little ones do not even know what they mean. For some children, this ability to not understand what the zigzags, spirals, and circles mean can quickly put them off reading. It is such a shame, too, especially since these different characters inscribed on paper are very well the gate to a world of imagination. Usually, kids that are just about to learn to read are those who benefit from these exciting and colorful words. These are the stimulus to their learning. When they enter this world, they are introduced to different concepts that could very well form their personalities, realize their dreams, and just basically base their lives on. Sure, things may change as the kids grow up, but everyone has to start somewhere. Usually, that start comes from reading.

Thank God for picture books. Those little books and booklets that litter bookstores can be the much-needed key to a child’s reading potential. Picture books may come in different sizes. They also can come with additional content. Some picture books just focus on the pictures. Some teach just essential words. Some picture books even have simple self-contained stories in them, like  A Children’s Picture Book by Calauti. Some picture books have color on them. Some beg to be colored. Some have color AND textures on them. They give the reader the ability to touch and “feel” the beautiful pictures found inside their pages. These books not only teach that a sheep is spelled with the curve of an “S,” the intersecting lines of an “H” and the “E” s, or the combination of both in a “P.” They also show the children that sheep are soft, that is S-O-F-T.

Who Draws the Picture?

Like all types of books, a picture book has an author. This author can either draw his own pictures, or he may call on an illustrator. An illustrator is someone who draws. This illustrator partners with the author to make the letters in the pages come to life. In a picture book, the illustrator almost always does the heavy lifting. The pictures are what drive the book. It is what appeals to the reader. A picture book lives and dies with its pictures. As such, it falls to the illustrator to make the best pictures to represent the book. The pictures within the pages of the picture book can either be straightforward, or they can be very intricate. One book that is of notable importance is one called “The Invention of Hugo Cabaret.” This book was written and illustrated by Brian Selznick. This means that the author and the illustrator were the same. The book was made up of 284 illustrations among its 533 pages. Because of his efforts, Selznick won the Caldecott Medal in 2008.

The Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott Medal or the Caldecott is a special medal awarded to the “most distinguished American picture book for children.” The Caldecott medal is awarded to the winning book’s illustrator by the Association for Library Service to Children. The Caldecott is said to be the most prestigious award for American children’s books. It was named after English Illustrator Randolph Caldecott. The medals given to the award winner contain two illustrations in the front and back, which are both illustrations by Randolph Caldecott. The award was first suggested by Frederic G. Melcher in 1937, a few years after the Newberry Medal.

The Newberry Medal

The Newberry Medal can be considered as the older brother to the Caldecott Medal. Where the Caldecott is awarded to the illustrator of the winning picture book, the Newberry Medal is awarded to the author of the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children. The Newberry medal, along with the Caldecott medal, is considered among the two most prestigious awards for children’s literature in the United States. It was named after John Newbery, who was a publisher of children’s books in the 18th century. The medal is made of bronze and was designed by Rene Paul Chambellan. Like the Caldecott, it was first suggested by Frederic G. Melcher. The Newberry medal is older than the Caldecott, with the first one being awarded in 1921.

Despite their simplicity, picture books are still considered important literary pieces. They are often a child’s first foray into literature, and like all types of literature, they must be enjoyed, respected, and revered. Without these books, there might be less and less readers around the world.