The Power of Picture Books

How come pictures are looked upon as childish? In my opinion, pictures can offer more than just an image. Pictures give individuals freedom because they allow for multiple interpretations. I think when pictures and words are put together, they make a book more powerful and meaningful compared to the imageless books looked upon as “mature”. Many may disagree with that statement because pictures may give them a flashback to their childhood. Specifically, when you think of a picture book, you think of when you were learning to read. First, you start with books like “Pinkalicious” which serve you with a picture every page. Then, you migrate to small chapter books like “Junie B Jones” which give you a small picture maybe every twenty pages. Yet finally, you’re reading books like “Harry Potter” that offer no pictures throughout the eight-hundred pages. Now, once you’re through all the “stages”, you look back at books like “Pinkalicious” as very immature and childish because of its pictures. What if those pictures offer more than just an add on to the given words? The people known as authors behind these books all write with a purpose no matter how long or short, or how many picture the book may contain. As we read Scott McCloud’s piece “Show and Tell”, we can see his viewpoint and how it almost identically aligns with my own.“Words and pictures have great power to tell stories when creators fully exploit them both,” (McCloud 152). Pictures and words are interchangeable. In other words, the two are equal. The combination of pictures and words are like a Christmas tree. The lights and ornaments are both beautiful alone on a tree, but when put together they serve as more than just beautiful. Next time when you’re looking back at your childhood, don’t put down the books you read because they may be better than the picture-less books you’re reading now.