Leda Schubert * Writer of Picture Books

Oct 30, 2010 6:28 AM EDT

You can rest easy. We stopped trying to track you two down when the statute of limitations ran out on your over-aged trick-or-treating.

- The Halloween Police

Oct 30, 2010 7:01 AM EDT

Thanks! I knew you were out there, and I cannot begin to express my relief.

- Leda Schubert

Aug 20, 2011 4:03 PM EDT

I was easily frightened as a kid (as you might remember, Leda, having known me since I was six) and my father warned me never to read "The Monkey's Paw" if I came across it. I in turn warned my daughter not to read it. So there is my daughter in second or third grade at Somerset School when the teacher announces a special treat: an itinerant storyteller has arrived to tell a story. You can guess which one. It's like the story of Thetis and Achilles, or Frigga and Baldur, coupled with the story of the appoinment in Samarra -- you try your best to protect your kid, and you get tripped up anyway. But how thoughtless can you be, to inflict "The Monkey's Paw," of all things, on a bunch of little children, when the world is full of stories as wonderful as "Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep"?

- Peter from Camp Lakeside

Oct 11, 2010 7:08 AM EDT

Right on. Picture books do matter. I kept several picture books in my junior high classroom. The kids were slightly amused at first, but when they realized no one would judge them for reading them, they started pulling the PBs out during reading time. I think the students found comfort in the language and themes of the PBs, as well as respite from the hectic pace of their lives -- being allowed to really digest every page. And it showed them, I hope, that all literature is valuable.

I hate the idea of "graduating" from picture books, like reading is some kind of series of exams ending with a big black belt ceremony when you've finished ULYSSES. My mom gave me a picture book this summer, THE FISH HOUSE DOOR -- signed by the author! :)

Thanks for sharing, Leda!

- Adi

Oct 12, 2010 12:02 PM EDT

I like your blog. And owing to your endorsement, I'll try Franzen. Never read him. But I'm OK with being trendy sometimes. (I do miss breakfast.)

- Bryan Pfeiffer

Oct 12, 2010 12:08 PM EDT

Thanks, Adi and Bryan. Bryan--as soon as winter hits, let's see what we can do about breakfast!

- Leda Schubert

Oct 13, 2010 2:52 AM EDT

Leda, count me in on your national campaign to defend picture books. Count Readerkidz in, too. We hope to run some Opinion Pieces by educators, etc., extolling their value. Heck, we'll tie them directly to test scores, if need be. The number of kids who learn to read because picture books were read to them is beyond counting. I walked into my son's kindergarten class one day to pick him up, and his teaher said, "Have you heard Oliver?" and there he was, reading to a small group of children. All we'd ever done at home was read picture books to him.

We need to approach this from where it matters most to parents: will their child learn to read if they stick with picture books? You bet, and learn to love it at the same time.

- Stephanie Greene

Oct 13, 2010 6:05 PM EDT

Glad your reunion was a success. And I was hoping to find a comment on the THE New York Times piece here, so thank you. Maybe the idea of developmental readiness for reading needs to be reintroduced? It just might sound pompous enough to persuade parents to stop pushing middle grade novels on 6-year-olds. (I love the idea of pbs in junior high.) Glad you liked Franzen--it's sitting on my night table waiting for me to finish A Super Sad True Love Story (or something like that). Please don't stop blogging--occasionally!

- Deborah

Oct 14, 2010 6:31 AM EDT

Stephanie and Deborah--thanks for stopping by. I love all the percolating ideas, and yes, we definitely need to reach parents.

- Leda Schubert

Aug 08, 2011 8:52 AM EDT

Hello,
Right you are. Sometimes there would be some people to cherish somewhat
different point of view of this. But you made it clear by your detail discussion.
I think you found them by your deep observation through updating knowledge day by day.
I agree with you and wish more knowledge will be fetched through checking out some more sites or blogs like this

- Farhad