Sunday, April 21, 2013

The Joy Of Illustrated Childrens Books

By Patty Summers


Generations of children have spent hours of their young lives enjoying the beautiful illustrations in books designed especially for them. Illustrated childrens books are those that have text, but are also enhanced by artwork. This can be anything from a simple line drawing to a full scale water color that has been done for that particular book.

It is a good idea to set aside time each day to read. This should begin within a few weeks of the babies birth. Even the smallest infant will enjoy listening to their mother or father's voice reading to them. As the child gets a little older they will soon enjoy looking at the pictures in a book.

In the late 1800's the wildly popular Alice books by author Lewis Carroll had beautiful illustrations. They quickly became collectors items as families held on to their copy to pass on to future generations. The children were captivated by the delightful pictures of the main characters of the story. It was one of the first occasions in which the reader had illustrations to connect to the characters. Instead of just using their imagination they had an image to show them what Alice, the Mad Hatter and everyone else looked like.

Children appreciate and respond to many different styles of illustration. There is the classic water color works that were popular from the late Victorian period. Line drawn illustrations are also popular and became standard when printing inexpensive book really began to take off. Generations of children grew up with the beautifully illustrated Dick and Jane books that taught them to read whilst engaging them with the everyday life of a typical family.

European printers have long known of the value of good illustrations. The Madeline series was first published in Paris in the late 1930's. Not only were the stories captivating, but the outstanding pictures that accompanied them were really unique at the time. Children all over the world continue to discover Madeline and her adventures.

Some of the most instantly recognizable children's classics are famous for their illustrations. The British author Beatrix Potter wrote wonderful tales about animals. Her most famous character is Peter Rabbit. Yet her books are just as well known for their beautiful picture. The details and colors still delight readers, both young and old today.

Finding books with not only good text, but also engaging illustrations can be a challenge. One author who never disappoints is Richard Scarry. His works have become classics in the realm of children's literature. The animal characters are fun and friendly and there are some excellent messages to the young readers. The illustrations really seem to bring the characters to life and it is no wonder they are such a favorite.

Youngsters today have just as many great stories to enjoy. Characters such as Franklin the turtle, Rupert Bear and the Backyardigans are featured in many great books. Children love to see their favorite friends come to life on the pages. Illustrated childrens books are as popular today as they have ever been and are helping to create a new generation of avid readers.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment