Why Picture Book Creations?
The inspiration for PBC stems from two things: my career as a Primary school teacher and all of the children I had the pleasure to work with over the past 25 years. This time has shown me all that children love to do and what they need to thrive. Children love books; they love stories and they love to be read to. Children love to make and do, cut and stick, build and create. They also love make-believe, fantasy and imaginative play. Finally, they love to move, dance, make a noise and express themselves. These are all creative experiences. Throughout many wonderful years working with children, I have always believed wholeheartedly in the power of creative activity for children and used it to help them experiment, develop confidence and express themselves.
I founded PBC to help parents nurture a creative confidence in their children at home. Each gift box or Creative Book Bag provides a beautiful picture book plus activity ideas to spark imagination and all the resources you will need, making creativity at home simple and fun!
Is CREATIVITY important to you for your children?
When children learn in a creative way, they are not just passively listening, but are experimenting, discovering and communicating. Creative activity is joyful! It builds confidence, presents challenges and teaches children how to problem solve and overcome difficulties. These are all valuable life skills and nurture great learners and young people for the future.
The Value Of Picture Books
I have always loved Picture Books. When my children were young, books were a big part of our daily routine. Just like any family, we had our favourites that were read over and over until words rolled off our tongue and were chanted in unison with rhythm and expression, rendering the words on the page redundant. These shared experiences of reading together were precious and still evoke special memories. With much affection, I can recall the times we flew in a spaceship with Baby Bear for a picnic on the moon after a rather long fixation with Jill Murphey’s ‘Whatever Next’. The new hoover box had a creative makeover, (involving a lot of tin foil), and along with Special Ted, a few snacks and a bucket load of imagination, we were off!
What’s so special about Picture Books?
There are so many reasons why Picture Book Creations believe in the benefits of the child’s picture book. The pictures in a book often capture the child’s attention and promote a positive association with books from a young age, but what happens as your child develops early reading skills and begins to move away from listening to stories from these beloved picture books? All of the rich text filled with rhythm and rhyme, all of the vibrant images of faraway lands, different cultures and imaginative worlds gets left on the shelf.
Picture books can most certainly be relevant for older readers. They often focus on sensitive topics such as bereavement, self-esteem or conflict, but make it feel safe to explore whilst prompting gentle discussions.
Comprehension skills for the older reader can be well supported through picture books. They may encourage discussions about plot, characters or themes. The illustrations will certainly help more reluctant readers to engage with the book and remain focused. They also encourage the child to predict, infer and change opinions as the story progresses.
Have you ever noticed the brilliance of the illustrations in picture books?
Over the years I have become increasingly aware of many incredible illustrators whose work in children’s picture books is highly regarded. These illustrators use a range of mediums when working, such as watercolour, gouache, acrylic, ink, pencil, pastels and digital tools. Their illustrations teach us so much about the art techniques and skills they employ to create a specific effect. We can learn much about perspective, tone and texture through collage, sketching, printing and painting. With this in mind, PBC use their expertise to select high quality picture books and then curate appropriate activities that nurture creativity in children.