Speaking to Their Hearts: Using Picture Books in the History Classroom.

Picture books; History education; Teachers; Students; Books; Illustrated books

This article discusses the significance of picture books in the history classroom. The power of a single picture book to create interest in a topic is immense. Picture books are short books, usually 32 to 48 pages long, in which the illustrations and text work together to tell a story or provide information. Adults have long had the perception that picture books are only for the young. While that is certainly true for some books, many picture books speak to the older reader as well. The article author has found that many picture books are more suited for use with older students. Historical picture books can be used in a variety of ways. A simple reading of one of these books, followed by student questions and discussion, may spark interest in the topic by making the history more real to the student. Facts are less boring when students perceive the human emotion, sacrifices made, and life-changing impact historical events had on everyday life. In addition, many of these stories show a small piece of the bigger picture, leaving many questions in the student's mind. When students have an emotional connection to history, research becomes passionate, rather than just another teacher driven report.