Inside Picture Books (Paperback)

Ellen Handler Spitz

ISBN 10: 0300084765 / ISBN 13: 9780300084764

Published by Yale University Press, New Haven, 2000

About this Item

Paperback. Mention a name from a beloved childhood picture book-Madeline, Corduroy, Peter Rabbit, Max and his "wild things"-and most adults can recollect a bright image, fragments of a story, the timbre of a certain reading voice, the sensation of being held, and best of all being together with someone and enveloped in fantasy. Why do picture book images shown to us as young children linger in our minds? How do picture books shape our lives early on and even later into adulthood? This book takes up such questions. It explores the profound impact of the experience of reading to children. Ellen Handler Spitz reveals how classic picture books transmit psychological wisdom, convey moral lessons, shape tastes, and implant subtle prejudices.Each chapter of the book discusses well-known children's books-Goodnight Moon, Babar, Little Black Sambo, to name a few-that deal with a theme of importance to young children. These include bedtime, separation, loss, and death; curiosity, disobedience, and punishment; and identity and self-acceptance. Focusing on the relationship between a child and an adult reader, Spitz explains the notion of "conversational reading" and emphasizes the mutual benefits of dialogue and intimacy. This book not only gives parents, grandparents, teachers, therapists, and scholars a new understanding of the meaning of picture books, it also empowers adults to interpret and choose future cultural experiences for their children. Discusses well-known picture books and how they transmit psychological wisdom, convey moral lessons, shape tastes, and build a special bond between the child and the adult reader. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780300084764

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Inside Picture Books (Paperback)
• Publisher: Yale University Press, New Haven
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0300084765
• ISBN 13: 9780300084764
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Mention a name from a beloved childhood picture book--Madeline Corduroy Peter Rabbit Max and his "wild things"--and most adults can recollect a bright image fragments of a story the timbre of a certain reading voice the sensation of being held and best of all being together with someone and enveloped in fantasy. Why do picture book images shown to us as young children linger in our minds? How do picture books shape our lives early on and even later into adulthood? This book takes up such questions. It explores the profound impact of the experience of reading to children. Ellen Handler Spitz reveals how classic picture books transmit psychological wisdom convey moral lessons shape tastes and implant subtle prejudices.
Each chapter of the book discusses well-known children's books--Goodnight Moon Babar Little Black Sambo to name a few--that deal with a theme of importance to young children. These include bedtime separation loss and death; curiosity disobedience and punishment; and identity and self-acceptance. Focusing on the relationship between a child and an adult reader Spitz explains the notion of "conversational reading" and emphasizes the mutual benefits of dialogue and intimacy. This book not only gives parents grandparents teachers therapists and scholars a new understanding of the meaning of picture books it also empowers adults to interpret and choose future cultural experiences for their children.

About the Author

Ellen Handler Spitz is a Senior Lecturer in the Humanities Program at Yale University. She writes and lectures widely on the arts, psychology, and culture. She is also the author of Art and Psyche and Museums of the Mind.