For the Love of Books

Picture books hold a special kind of magic.

Sally Robertson (mum of three ‘not so little’ boys and Speech Language Therapist in Nelson, New Zealand) shares the joy and benefits of sharing picture books as a family.

I still remember with joy some of the books that were read to me as a child. The likes of Judith Kerr’s ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’ and her
delightful ‘Mog’ stories, along with ‘The Lion in the Meadow’ by Margaret Mahy. The rhythm of the words, the imaginative stories and special time shared with my mother and I.

What makes picture books truly powerful is that they can be used for much more than simply reading the story word for word. Adults can pause to talk about interesting words, ask questions about the characters or plot, or encourage children to describe what they see in the illustrations. The story can be linked to the child’s real-life experiences (“Do you remember when we saw the fantails at the park?”). Questions such as “What do you think
might happen next’ build inferencing skills. Pausing to let the child complete sentences in a book can develop, for example, knowledge of rhyme. “Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s_____”.

Books don’t need to be kept for just bedtime. I remember sitting outside in the summertime on a rug under the shade of a tree with my own children with a huge, delicious pile of books!
Library visits were part of our routine and often included more story reading during the visit and at times enjoying the librarian led ‘Storytime’ when it was on offer.

Of course, as parents and significant others, expect to reread your child’s favourite books ten, twenty, one hundred (!?) times over. I can still recite word for word parts of ‘The Little Yellow Digger’ (Betty and Alan Gilderdale) and Eric Carle’s ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’.

In a world filled with screens and busy schedules, picture books remain a simple but powerful gift. They spark imagination, nurture language, and can strengthen the bond between adults and children. Whether it is a beloved classic from childhood or a brand-new story discovered at the library, opening a picture book together is never just about reading words on a page. It is about sharing stories, laughter, and memories that can last a lifetime.