[bksvol-discuss] Re: Describing Pictures In Children's Books

  • From: "Shelley L. Rhodes" <juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:09:06 -0500

I use the books in my teaching.  One of the things that young children learn 
to do is draw conclusions from the pictures they see.  As a blind teacher, 
if I can ask the students, "what do you see, do you see, that say Aurthor is 
going into the Girls room" then the students can draw conclusions.

That is what I use the books for, or to share in a read a loud with my 
students or  my niece.  A lot of the kids love being the print book page 
turner, smile.  so it works.

I like the descriptions and am happy when the people include them.

Shelley L. Rhodes M.A., VRT, CTVI
and Guinevere, Golden lady Guide
juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc.
Graduate Alumni Association Board
www.guidedogs.com

More than Any other time, When i hold a beloved book in my hand, my 
limitations fall from me, my spirit is free.
- Helen Keller

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jill O'Connell" <jillocon@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 7:45 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Describing Pictures In Children's Books


For what it's worth, I think books for very young children would have to be 
read by blind parents because the books would be in grade II braille and I 
don't think little ones would appreciate reading in synthetic speech. And if 
I'm right, I don't think really young children who are sighted would 
appreciate a book without pictures, even if there were written descriptions, 
and I doubt if they were blind the written descriptions pictures would mean 
much to them. I know this sounds negative and it is why I have never been 
enthusiastic about children's books where pictures are so important. I know 
of at least two sources where books have both braille, print and the 
pictures with their descriptions which I consider to be far more appropriate 
for young children. Bookshare doesn't need to try to fill every niche in my 
opinion. I'm expecting a lot of opposition to this opinion, however.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jamie Yates, CPhT
  To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 3:07 PM
  Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Describing Pictures In Children's Books


  And sometimes, too, Cindy, you don't know a person's ethnicity just from 
their color. Not all people who are black are "African-American".

  I ask myself the same questions all of the time when I have a children's 
book, Cindy. I could easily spend more time describing pictures than 
scanning or proofing the rest of the book. How much is enough? How much is 
too much? I don't think I've ever stated the color of the people in a 
picture before because I usually feel like it's not important. But Ann (I 
think it was Ann) made a good point about that being important information.

  And Lissi made a good point about the descriptions being at the same 
reading level as the book. I've never considered that before.


  Jamie in Michigan
  Currently Reading - Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by 
Irene Spencer
  With Skype you can make free calls over the Internet. Skype - the whole 
world can talk for free


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