My eight-year-old has been turned off reading by the lack of pictures in the books that he is now given. He grew up on beautiful picture books and he would like to return to books like that. What can he read?
The lack of pictures in chapter books for newly fluent readers is an issue that comes up frequently. Too much text with nothing to help the reader get into it the story can make an eager independent reader feel daunted. While they are initially pleased to have graduated to chapter books they soon pine for the wonderful illustrations which they enjoyed in earlier stages of learning to read.
Fortunately, although illustrations had been missing from fiction for this age group for many years, it has now made a come back. Authors and illustrators are working together to tell stories that encourage “reading” pictures just as much as reading the words.
One author/ illustrator who has just created a book especially for readers like your son is Judith Kerr. When Judith Kerr’s own son was nine he went through exactly the same experience as your son. So, many years later – just this year, in fact – she decided to do something about it and wrote Mister Cleghorn’s Seal, a delightful story based on a true story that her father told her about something that happened in his lifetime, which has illustrations on every page.
Mister Cleghorn’s Seal tells about how a rather lonely man rescues a seal pup after its mother has been shot. Looking after Charlie, as he calls his seal pup, is not an easy thing to do. Finding the little pup water is not too hard as long as it can fit in the bath – but the pup is also a very sociable companion and keeping it hidden in a flat with a “No Pets” rule is a challenge! Mister Cleghorn needs to find Charlie a new home but who will take his new friend in? Newly confident readers will feel well supported by the illustrations as they read this touching and funny story.
Author and illustrator team Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre are also passionate about the need for pictures in stories for older readers. Together, they have just completed Pugs of the Frozen North, their third madcap adventure following prize-winning Oliver and the Seawigs and Cakes in Space.
When the good ship Lucky Star suddenly sets sail to escape from the freezing ice, cabin boy Shen is left behind with 66 pugs and 2000 hand-knitted jumpers. His first job is to get the pugs into the jumpers and his second is to find help for them all. When Shen reaches a village he meets Sika who offers Shen food for the pugs and shelter in return for their dog power! The Race to the Top of the World which grants the winner the irresistible prize of your heart’s desire only comes round once in a lifetime and Shika and Shen are determined to win it! The competition for this deadly dangerous race is ferocious but, despite all the airs and graces of the other contestants and their capacity for playing mean tricks, Shika and Shen are optimistic about their chances. After all, they have 66 pugs to help them and that means they have a 264 paw-powered sledge! As the story dashes along so, too, do the illustrations, which are a delight on every page.
Alex T Smith also uses words and pictures to tell the stories of his rather special dog, Claude. Claude, who is already the star of several titles including Claude on Holiday and Claude at the Circus, lives with his best friend Sir Bobblysock and Mr and Mrs Shinyshoes. In the latest of his adventures, Claude Lights! Camera! Action!, Claude finds himself on a film set with Alan, an enormous gorilla, who is the star of the show. Somehow Claude seems to cause chaos wherever he goes but in the end he saves the day – and even gets invited to go to Hollywood!
Comedian Julian Clary’s first book The Bolds is full of illustrations by prize-winning David Roberts. The Bolds is a riotous story about an apparently ordinary family – Mr and Mrs and their two children Bobby and Betty - who live in a very ordinary house in a very ordinary street in Teddington. But, there is something very, very different about them! And the Bolds have to do everything in their power to stop anyone discovering their secret.
Eight-year-old readers who like pictures but also have reading stamina could embark on journey of a lifetime with Cressida Cowell’s How to Train Your Dragon the first of a vibrant, funny and hugely imaginative whole-world Viking adventure series which has just been brought to a triumphant close with How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is a much respected dragon-whisperer and deadly sword fighter but, when the series begins when he is just a little boy learning his hero skills. Hiccup’s many adventures now fill 12 volumes in titles such as How to Speak Dragonese, How to Ride a Dragon’s Storm and How to Betray a Dragon’s Hero, each of which is an wonderful adventure in its own right.
Of course there’s a whole wonderful world of picture-led stories in graphic novels. A great and beautiful start is Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights, The Graphic Novel, Volume One, adapted as a graphic novel by Stéphane Melchoir and Clément Oubrerie (in French) and then translated back into English by Anne Eaton.
Got any great picture-led or illustration-heavy books for older children to recommend? Do tell us by email childrens.books@theguardian.com or on Twitter @GdnChildrensBks and we’ll add them to this blog. You can also ask the Book Doctor a question on Twitter or email using #BookDoctor.
@GdnChildrensBks Luke Pearson’s “Hilda” series - perfect for 8 yr olds. See also the stunning “Lumberjanes”
— ReadItDaddy (@Readitdaddy) September 28, 2015
Mom of a reluctant reader
My son loves The Offenders: Saving the World While Serving Detention! Although it’s 200 pages, he actually read the whole thing! A first. It has plenty of pictures including a few comic book pages PLUS it’s got a flipbook at the bottom. What a great idea!
@GuardianBooks @GdnChildrensBks William Grill's beautiful book 'Shackleton's Journey' http://t.co/D6nmZgxDjY @williamgrill
— Galway Arts Centre (@GalwayArtsCentr) September 28, 2015
Tech-it-fwd
We wanted to let you know that we are an independent non-profit doing just that! We are launching WIRED STORIES on 1 October which features influential women in Computer Science in picture book form. WIRED STORIES introduces young readers (8yrs +) to WIRED heroines - with the intent to inspire the next generation.
@GdnChildrensBks Timmy Failure by @stephanpastis and Stop Those Monsters by @SteveColeBooks, illustrated by @_JimField are both hilarious!
— Beth Bottery (@betbott) September 28, 2015
Jonathan
There are some great picture books for older kids among the shortlists for the Hampshire Illustrated Book Award, which is voted for by year 5 children in Hampshire schools. The award focuses on conventional picture books (large formats with full colour art on every page) rather than the illustrated fiction highlighted in your article.
@GdnChildrensBks I'm a big fan of 'visual' reading, and I'm 33! Brian Selznick's books: Have you seen 'The Marvels'? pic.twitter.com/dTrvYHoAoH
— Leilah Skelton (@Leilah_Makes) September 28, 2015
Jane
Respect for wild life can be fostered with the Nature Story picture books. Lovely artwork and factual information cleverly designed together on each page.
One which would appeal to any child, I think: http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/book/9780744578966/isbn/Big-Blue-Whale-by-Nicola-Davies.html
@GdnChildrensBks The Dixie O'Day stories by Shirley Hughes and @ClaraVulliamy - fun stories with great illustrations.
— Catherine Friess (@cjfriess) September 28, 2015
Jane, via email
Fox - Margaret Wild, illustrated by Ron Brooks: a brilliant story of friendship, betrayal and hope.
All the Shaun Tan books really…
Woolvs in the Sitee – also by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Anne Spudvilas: haunting and strange.
@GdnChildrensBks Also the classic Church Mice books by Graham Oakley - very funny, wonderful detail.
— Emma Barnes (@EmmaBarnesWrite) September 28, 2015
@GdnChildrensBks The Grimstones from Apsyhxia are truly wonderful & totally unique. Gothic fairy tales. There are four books in the series.
— Emma (@mybookcorner) September 28, 2015
@GdnChildrensBks So far the students @SwanshurstLib have nominated 'A Monster Calls' by @Patrick_Ness & 'Tinder' by @TheSallyGardner
— Swanshurst Library (@SwanshurstLib) September 28, 2015
@GdnChildrensBks My daughter loves Zita the Spacegirl series from Ben Hatke and Amulet series from Kazu Kibuishi. Loads of graphic novels!
— Darren Jones (@darrenmjones) September 28, 2015
@GdnChildrensBks Also, keep an eye on @CarterHiggins fantastic blog. She covers picture books for all ages. http://t.co/uqyj2PNRjt
— Darren Jones (@darrenmjones) September 28, 2015
@GdnChildrensBks ALWAYS How Tom Beat Captain Najork and his Hired Sportsmen @russellhobanorg
— Lou Kuenzler (@LouKuenzler) September 28, 2015
@GdnChildrensBks also some lovely collections such as Morpurgo with @emmachichesterc Aesop's Fabels @orchardbooks
— Lou Kuenzler (@LouKuenzler) September 28, 2015
On email from Katherine:
My daughter and niece both loved Brian Selznick and he has a new one out now. Also Chris Riddell’s Goth Girl books are very clever, and the illustrations are witty and funny, with an extra tiny illustrated book tucked in at the back as a bonus! Some of the jokes are likely to be appreciated most by bookish adults, I suspect, but the stories are fun.
@GdnChildrensBks not forgetting the highly illustrated series of #TomGates by @LizPichon un-put-downable apparently pic.twitter.com/iA9lY8jhis
— picturebooksblogger (@pbooksblogger) September 28, 2015
@GdnChildrensBks #DarcyBurdock by the wonderful @LauraDockrill All of them had my 8 yo hooked pic.twitter.com/4NWKoy8a4f
— picturebooksblogger (@pbooksblogger) September 28, 2015
