[bksvol-discuss] Re: Describing Pictures In Children's Books
- From: "Estelnalissi" <airadil@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:40:54 -0500
Dear Monica,
Your observations on picture descriptions are insightful. When I write them, I
try and match the vocabulary I use to the book's reading level. For books
intended to be read aloud, particularly picture and storybooks for
preschoolers,and Kindergarteners, I try and match my descriptive language to
the author's tone.
When I was teaching children who found reading difficult, I gave them the
option of skipping picture descriptions which could make the book
discouragingly longer for them. I also try to gauge the quantity of detail so
I'm not describing more than a child would be interested in hearing, or details
which would have little meaning or pertinence to the story.
I place the description within brackets and preface it with picture:. When kids
see left bracket picture, they either read it or slide their finger down to the
next section of text and continue reading from there.
To make this easier for children, I always place the description, if it is on
the same page with text, at the top or bottom, never with text on the same page
above and below my insert.
I agree with you completely that picture descriptions flow nicely and easily
for any child who is listening to a book. I also feel these descriptions are a
tremendous help to blind parents reading to children, and to sighted adults who
generally aren't used to pausing to describe pictures for children who can't
see them. And, though we are providing a meaningful service by taking time to
compose picture descriptions, adults and children reading braille and print
have the option of reading them or not, the wonderful luxury of choice.
Your instincts are solid, Monica, so I'm not sure if I've said anything you
hadn't already intuited.
Always with love,
Lissi
----- Original Message -----
From: Monica Willyard
To: Bookshare Volunteers
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 7:55 AM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Describing Pictures In Children's Books
I've been thinking about how I'm doing some children's books and am wondering
about something. With the education grant, we'll have more young readers soon.
How much detail should be put into describing the pictures in the books for
young readers? I guess I don't know if young children will read these books or
if blind parents will be reading these books to their young children. What I'm
thinking is that my picture descriptions may end up using words that are more
complicated than the text, and that might confuse young children who are
learning to read in Braille. On the other hand, children who are listening to
the books would understand the descriptions, and I could be more detailed. I
could use some feedback from those of you who work on children's books or from
our teachers who are on the list. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Monica Willyard
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