Looking for the Best? Look for the Bear!

Why are we passionate about this genre? Picture books by nature are performances, and all participants have an essential role. There’s the author and illustrator (sometimes the same person playing different parts). There are editors and designers working hard behind the scenes to make sure their efforts are invisible. There’s the reader and listener, maybe a parent encircling a child with the book on her lap, or a teacher holding a spread aloft. Then there’s the book itself, a still object that spurs the child to action: pacing the page-turns, “reading” the pictures, voicing a soundtrack, acting out scenes, and especially, using the power of imagination to fill in the spaces. Picture books live on, in the physical world and in our psyche, ever ready to be performed again. And that is a joyful thing. – Candlewick Press

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Dr. Susan Bennett-Armistead discusses the value of picture books #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Vampire Baby by Kelly Bennett #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Nikolas reads a picture book #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Nikolas discusses the importance of picture books #webelieveinpicturebooks

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John Henry and Ravelle read a picture book #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Kat talks about why she loves picture books #webelieveinpicturebooks

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A shark discusses the joy of seeing yourself reflected in a book #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Roberto, Catalina, and Camilla read a picture book in English and Spanish #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Esmé shares why she loves picture books #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Tommy shares one of his favorite picture books #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Megan talks about the importance of picture books #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Nicolle reads a picture book #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Megan discusses why picture books are important #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Regan reads a picture book #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Author Jessie Haas talks about creating picture books #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Nancy talks about what picture books mean to her #webelieveinpicturebooks

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Nina discusses the importance of picture books #webelieveinpicturebooks