Child's-eye view
Children's book author Anthony Browne says pictures are as important as words for stirring youngsters' imaginations, writes Mabel Sieh
Anthony Browne is a great advocate of picture books, but that's not just because he creates them. He believes picture books are a crucial platform for stirring children's imaginations.
"We see images before we understand words. Images are everywhere; they are direct and universal ... Pictures are very good in conveying feelings and emotions. They can tell what words don't," says Browne, a multi-award-winning author and illustrator of children's books and the British Children's Laureate for 2009 and 2011.
That's not to say he thinks words are not important. Picture books are an integral stage, not only in developing children's reading skills but also in cultivating a passion for reading.
"I love the balance between words and pictures. I think losing either one will lose the excitement. Words tell some parts of the story and pictures tell more of it," he says. "Picture books are an art form unlike any other books. They help to develop creativity in children, who are fascinated by everything they see."
He thinks that picture books are generally undervalued and marginalised, often by parents so intent on pushing their children up the educational ladder, it can even have an opposite effect on the aim cultivating interest in reading.
"The big problem today, in Britain anyway, is that we drag our children out of picture books too early. We want them to read a 'proper' book with lengthy text and difficult words when they're not ready. So reading becomes too hard and not exciting for them.
