Picture books have the ability to transform a homeschool into a place of imagination, wonder and character skills. We discuss all of this with Cheryl Bastian in Episode #182 of Roadschool Moms Radio.  The replay is a live recording by the Roadschool Moms team from the back porch and behind the wheel. Holly Giles, the creator of The Giles Frontier, broadcasts from central Florida.  This week, Mary Beth Goff, the Road Trip Teacher is behind the wheel from a SouthWest Florida location. 

What is a picture book?
A picture book is a work which combines literary eloquence with artistic merit--words and illustrations--working together to tell a story. Generally, picture books are written with 200-800 words (depending on the age of the targeted audience) on 28-32 pages. Historically, picture books have been written to the preschool through mid-elementary audience, yet these masterfully crafted gems speak to the hearts of readers of all ages.
Wordless picture books
Wordless picture books are just that, a book without words. The illustrations alone tell the story, unless, of course, the person holding the book chooses to imagine and craft the text. One of the Bastian's favorite wordless picture books is Jerry Pinkney's extraordinary The Lion and the Mouse, a retelling of Aesop's classic tale. This treasure won the 2010 Caldecott Medal for its illustrative excellence.

These are words taken from Cheryl Bastian's post on picture books. Cheryl joins us for a look at how picture books can make an impact on our home through high school years. Cheryl's insight into how you can take one book and move it through different perspectives, art modalities and comparisons with other literature will make you look at those little books in a whole new way.
Fostering Memories
We each shared a few stories of memories we had around a picture book. Books can become part of the fabric of your family. Cheryl shared her memories as a child at the library hearing Blueberries for Sal. She connected with Sal in a way that helped her to learn empathy.

Holly shares fond memories of bonding with her boys over picture books and a child's way of wanting to hear them over and over again!

“Every child ought to know the pleasure of words so well chosen that they awaken sensibility, great emotions, and understanding of truth. ”
— Gladys Hunt, Honey for a Child’s Heart, Zondervan, 2002, p. 18

What is a picture book?
Books invites readers into learning and into the stories of others, gently, peacefully, and purposefully. There will be pondering.  A heart-changing impact, sometimes so subtly it will go unnoticed for a bit of time.

Cheryl's post can be found at Cherylbastian.com 

Cheryl invites you to visit that link for a list of picture books and other ideas to bring into your home.

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