Picture books provide the individual artist with the ability to produce an amazing array of complex and varied work. This represents a striking change in attitude. Children used to be considered unable to respond in any ways other than the most basic. Today, we realized that children can be thoughtful and enlightened critics and enjoyers of art.

Children are the ideal audience because they come to the process uninhibited by adult perceptions. Enjoyment of visual are begins as a personal response to the way the artist uses color, texture, shape and composition.

Picture books may have no text at all; they then take on the term “wordless.” If text is used, it may be there to supply a mood, a concept or a simple narrative sequence or story. The art and text become so closely intertwined that the text is often not substantial enough to be satisfying alone. Still, in this genre, the illustrations either stand alone or are instrumental in interpreting, illuminating, and extending the text.

"In general, however, in an illustrated book the pictures are clearly subordinate to the text, whereas in a picture book the pictures and text are indissolubly united so that neither can stand without the other." (Saltman, The Riverside Anthology of Children's Literature, p.166)

"Picture books are now being published for children of all ages. Subject areas and writing and graphic styles vary widely enough to appeal to and interest all children - from the preschooler to the high school student and beyond." (Cianciolo, Patricia J. Picture Books for Children, p.)

Thank you to Dr. Linda Marley.

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