A Lasting Imprint
All the feels. That’s what a picture book can do. Make you feel all
the feels. Joy. Loss. Fear. Hope. Heart. Picture books teach, inspire, and
connect us. With such eloquent brevity and beautiful illustrations, they make a
lasting imprint on our hearts. And in that, is their true magic.
These powerful pages hold the reader close and whisper in her ear. They
show her that she is not alone, she is loved, she matters. They introduce her
to new worlds and the magic of the imagined.
When my sons were little, we read The
Secret Shortcut by Mark Teague. Over and over and over again. They relished
in the characters’ adventures and outlandish tales of alligators and rickety
bridges and pirates. Laughter and imagination bound us as we shared this story.
Years later, with my sons now in their twenties, I’m still in love
with picture books and the forever stamp they have on my heart.
In I Wish You More by Amy
Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld, we learn to wish big and love deep. We
learn the world is big and our hearts even bigger. My favorite line: “I wish
you more we than me.”
This idea that we are all truly connected is highlighted in the pages of
another of my favorites, Dear Dragon
by Josh Funk. With each page the world gets a little smaller. We realize we are
more alike than different. Understanding brings connection. It teaches us that
we are not so different from each other. The heart is the same, no matter
dragon or boy.
And in Beekle, by Dan
Santat, we learn to go after our dreams.
To be brave. To step beyond
what’s known and understood. To venture further. To find our person.
Courage is also brilliantly tucked into the beautiful illustrations
and text of Radiant Child, by Javaka
Steptoe. In those pages, we learn about a boy with a dream. A big, wonderful dream. A dream that shows him the beauty in art. And
the power of believing in oneself.
And in What Makes A Monster
by Jess Keating, we learn how knowledge quells fear. Information makes the
monsters less scary. A lesson that goes far beyond the pages of any book.
The messages tucked into the words and illustrations of a picture book
extend well past the story. They help, comfort, guide. They inspire. And
connect.
Picture books are a gift. A lasting, loving, gift filled with all the
emotions. So to all the picture book authors and illustrators, and the educators
who read them to their students, I say thank you! Thank you for sharing your
heart, fears, hopes and dreams.
You have made a difference.
A lasting imprint.
******
Elly Swartz loves writing for kids, Twizzlers, and anything with her family. Her debut novel, FINDING PERFECT (FSG 2016) is about a twelve-year-old girl named Molly, friendship, family, OCD, and a slam poetry competition that will determine everything. In her second book, SMART COOKIE (Scholastic, 2018), you meet the spunky and big-hearted Frankie. Frankie’s all about family with a dash of mischief and mystery! And then in 2019, say hello to Maggie in GIVE AND TAKE (FSG). If you want to connect with Elly, you can find her at www.ellyswartz.com or on Twitter @ellyswartz.
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