The Importance of Picture Books (A non-exhaustive list)

February 14, 2024

Hey, folks!

It can be an easy thing, looking at a picture book and dismissing it as something cute and simple. But that’s often far from the case. Picture books may have simple plots and concepts, but there’s a lot going on under the surface. And those things carry a lot of importance.

Let’s look at six aspects of that importance.

#1: Picture books help kids learn to read

I’ve talked about this before, but when a kid follows along with an adult/bigger kid as they read them a book, they’ll start to pick up on the patterns. They’ll start to recognize the words and say them aloud. They can also learn entirely new words when added properly to a book (proper context, clues in the images, etc.). Depending on the age you’re writing for, your book could be one of the first a child learns to read for themselves.

#2: Picture books teach kids valuable life lessons

Think about how many books there are about making friends, about being kind, about adjusting to changes. There are so many out there, each with a variation on important lessons. The more a child is exposed to these lessons, the more they take them to heart.

It’s not just that, though. Being exposed to these lessons makes them think. When you’re writing a picture book, you want to make sure you never overtly state the lesson. You show it through actions and images. That allows for the child to pick up on the lesson themselves through thinking it over. And then they can figure out how to apply it to their own life (through talking with an adult, or even just mulling it over themselves). Let kids come to the lesson you’re imparting on their own, and see what they do with it.

#3: Picture books introduce kids to other cultures and identities early on

The earlier a child is introduced to people who don’t look or think like them, the sooner they become accepting of those people. Just think of how normalized diversity can be when kids are exposed to it from the get-go. And books are a spectacular place to do this! They can learn about cultures predominantly on the other side of the world, people in communities they may not regularly interact with… and will likely be more accepting as a result as they grow up.

#4: Picture books tell kids they’re worthy and loved

On the flipside of point #3, picture books show kids they’re worthy no matter what. The diversity within picture books now is so much better than when I was a kid. That means that it’s not only easier for kids to find books about other cultures and identities, it’s easier for kids to find books about their cultures and identities. It’s an incredible feeling to see yourself reflected back in a book. It makes you feel seen and understood. It makes you feel normal and accepted and appreciated and loved. Picture books go a long way to helping a child feel more self-confident, and confident in where they come from and in their community.

#5: Picture books tell kids it’s ok to be different

This goes hand in hand with #4, but expands outwards. It’s not just cultures and identities; it’s also personalities, and disabilities, and how they approach the world. Once again, kids have the chance to find characters like them and feel understood.

Different isn’t bad. Different is just different. And even then, there’s bound to be someone else out there like them. They’re never as alone as they may think. And teaching that to a kid is a powerful thing.

#6: Picture books can make them smile

You know the idea that novels are a way to escape the world and your life for a bit? There’s no reason a picture book can’t provide the same comfort to a child. Children face things that are hard – divorces, loss of pets and loved ones, being bullied at school, having a hard time making friends, moving… And they deserve little slices of happy, too.

Your book could be that slice of happy. It could bring children comfort and giggles when they’re feeling lonely or sad. It could show them that even in hard times, there’s always something worth being happy about, even if that thing is a book.

Picture books deserve their due

To anyone who believes picture books are simply something cute, keep these points in mind. They are often cute, but they’re so much more. Some may even mean the world to a kid.

Everyone deserves that sort of book.

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If you’ve written a picture book and are ready for an editor, send me a message! Let’s get that slice of happy or acceptance ready for kids.