5 Reasons to Read Picture Books to Older Readers

I feel that picture books are one of the most powerful tools that have as reading and writing teachers. In this video, I share 5 reasons why I think all kids should have picture books read aloud to them.

Check out my list of AWESOME 2020 books:

Check out the list of books I have read my students during the 2020-2021 school year.


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[caroljohnson]

I am a middle school teacher in the Bronx. I know from experience that picture books are necessary for older students also. Reason 6: It promotes fluency. Reason 7: It makes learning a skill fun. Reason 8: It may be the only time they are read to. Reason 9: It gives students voice.

[carolynsharpe]

Picture books are filled with incredible vocabulary. They are an excellent tool for teaching literary devices and elements. They foster a sense of community and elicit emotions. They are concise wonders. They truly are essential works of art & heart! Thank you for starting the conversation, Colby! * My profile picture is a shot of me reading a picture book to 5th graders.

[maidenmoda]

Yes! And so many older kids are visual learners! This can inspire so many kids who are weary of writing

[dr.krismcgee]

Thank you, Colby! You know I read aloud to my adult pre-service and inservice teachers. At first, some of them think it is a “waste of class time, ” but then when they embrace the books and the overall experience, they become “addicted.” It doesn’t take long for them to fall back in love with being read to and they they crave it and want to share that love of reading aloud in their internship and their own classrooms. Sadly, some of them are met with resistance in their placements, usually from the administration- not their mentor teachers or teammates. They have been told there is not enough time in the day to read aloud. There is too much “important work” to be done. This has been said to interns in primary grades as well as in intermediate grades. Together we are all heartbroken by this... but I am proud to say our future teachers work hard to find a way to incorporate reading aloud into their lessons and units they prepare for class. If they ever need to, they know I am always happy to “take the blame” and say it is a “requirement” in my class to include a read aloud in their lesson plans they are teaching. I am happy to “take one for the team.” #ReadAloud #KidsOfAllAgesDeserveIt As always, thank you for sharing your passion for books with the world. I will be sharing your video with future classes and inviting them to share this with those who may have forgotten the power of a read aloud! #ReadOnLeadOn Kris

[michelleg]

Excellent! So important to defend our teacher practice. Picture books are incredible vehicles for learning.

[libbylum]

thank you thank you. You are saying how I felt working in the library and sharing books.

[patriciabecker]

Mr. Sharp, A graduate student in my language, literacy, and learning course just sent me the link to your timely video. One of our online discussion questions last week was, "If a colleague, administrator, family or community member questioned why time should be allotted to read aloud in a K-2nd grade classroom, how would you respond?" In class, we also talked about the value of read alouds and picture books for older elementary and adolescent students. I am embedding your video and website in our PPT this week to affirm their responses!

[robencloss]

Thanks Colby! I am using a couple of picture books with my BeTween Book and Movie Club for 4th - 6th graders this year. I think the kids will love it!

[eeslibrary]

Thank you for this! I have very few people question my choice to read picture books (daily) to my older students but I still agree with all of your reasons. I love watching their faces and bodies as I open the book each day. They literally sink in their chairs and just relax completely.

[sarahblack]

Best way to start the day~ pictures books ROCK! Thanks for sharing your classroom & your energy!

[AuthorLynnPlourde]

YES! Picture books for all ages. Thank you, Colby! So many reasons . . . the illustrations--it's like taking an art museum tour . . . Making predictions (so much easier and quicker than in chapter books & novels) . . . Beginnings-read a stack of PB beginnings--How did they hook us? What job do they serve (i.e.. intro character, setting, problem)? Do the beginnings make a promise to us as readers? What do you know about the upcoming story after only hearing the beginning? . . . Endings-read a stack of endings-What kind of ending is each one (i.e. solve-a-problem ending, uh-oh here-we-go-again ending, celebration ending, learn-a-lesson moral ending)? Did the ending surprise you--why or why not? (Did you predict it?) . . . learning read-aloud skills (i.e. controlling volume, inflection, using different voices for different characters, the power of a pause) . . . learning humor-humor is a sophisticated language skill (both verbal and nonverbal) plus it's fun to laugh together . . . easily digestible nonfiction bites that can lead to students reading longer nonfiction texts on topics that interest them . . . similar to previous nonfiction point--picture books are a gateway drug to other reading (reading is one of the best addictions a person can have) . . . critical thinking skills-How would you rate this PB? What worked for you in it? What didn't work? Do you think we all have the same "favorites" when it comes to books (foods, friends)? . . . to visit new places (a setting some students may never visit) . . . to understand and empathize with "others" and make "others" less different/threatening/scary and to find our common humanity (i.e. reading about experiences of Blacks, Native Americans, Latinas, Muslims, Jews, city-dwellers, people from another country, truck drivers, prisoners, people with different genders & gender-identities) . . . for Inspiration-there are many picture book biographies of heroes, including kid heroes-you don't have to wait until you are a grown-up to make a difference in this world . . . Finally, I'd love to see a post/video from you, Colby, on your students POVs. If you say to them, "I've heard from some teachers, parents that you are too old for picture books. Should I stop reading them to you? Why or why not?" What do THEY say? . . . Thank you again for all you do, Colby! ❤️

[lorisilveira]

You are my #1 teacher coach. Bar none.

[melissahubbell]

Now do a video on the importance of Graphic Novels. ;)

[lisablount]

I think picture books are full of beautiful, universal life stories, humor and rich language. I am a librarian and try to promote picture books to all of my students. However, some teachers want kids to move to chapter books in 3rd and 4th grade as if picture books are for only little kids. Thank you for promoting and supporting the reading of picture books.

[brittanyarmitage]

As a bookseller, I love picture books and they are some of my favorite things to reccomend. If adults want kids to branch out from picture books they should use the theme or subject of the child's favorite picture to help them find a chapter book with a similar theme or subject.

I love We Don't Eat Our Classmates!

[strangementalitypaperYT]

"Don't read short stories to older kids." -- no one ever