Inside Picture Books

This book is a refreshing contrast to much advice about books for children. Spitz shares a lively, thorough, engaging, and provocative look at so many of everybody's favorites. Other reviewers accurately remark on the complex writing and challenging vocabulary required for a nuanced discussion. This is a serious topic that deserves a serious discussion. Ms. Spitzer not only delivers, she leaves her readers with the same sense of satisfaction a child feels having finished reading their first book. In addition to the parents and educators for whom the book is intended, the close reading offers insight for writers for children. Spitz's pairing of psychological and educational issues together with aesthetic concerns of text and visual presentation make this one of the most informative and comprehensive discussions of what makes a book a great. If you want to write for kids, start here.

This book is a refreshing contrast to much advice about books for children. Spitz shares a lively, thorough, engaging, and provocative look at so many of everybody's favorites. Other reviewers accurately yet critically remark on the complex writing and challenging vocabulary required for a nuanced discussion. This is a serious topic that deserves a serious discussion. Ms. Spitzer not only delivers, she leaves her readers with the same sense of satisfaction a child feels having finished reading their first book. In addition to parents and educators, the close reading offers insight valuable for writers. Spitz's pairing of psychological and educational issues together with aesthetic concerns of text and visual presentation make this one of the most informative and comprehensive discussions of what makes a book great.

This isn't a survey of classic picture books but an exploration of the impact of reading to children. Well-known picture books are included in the analysis, but the heart of the title lies in its discussions of how adults build connections to children and childhood through such books. An involving discussion.

Thinking that a book on children's books might be too cute, I found myself instead thrust into a dramatic world of violence, retribution, heroism, fear, sadness, humiliation, gender-roles and tenderness startingly revealed in Spitz's analysis. Combining commonsense, personal experiences, biblical reference and psychological sensibilities, Spitz taught me something about my own psychology. It is not only parents who will enjoy this must-read book.

Ellen Handler Spitz has a way of explaining the enchantment of children's favorite picture books that no one will want to miss. Grandparents, parents, and caregivers who buy this book will find themselves enriched and intrigued with every insight. Ms. Spitz is not only an expert in art and literature; she also knows children. Absolutely everything she wrote rang true to my experience as a mother of two young boys. If you want to understand more fully how words and text make lasting impressions on children, you'll want to have a copy of Inside Picture Books. I've recommended this book to all of my friends, as well as to grandparent visitors to Grandloving.com, my monthly website for caring grandparents.