by Megan Clark
If I could give one assignment to readers of all abilities it would be to take five or ten minutes each week and read one picture book.
Picture books are an incredible combination of storytelling, art and a magic that we often don’t indulge in past childhood unless we are sharing them with children. Some studies have argued that the unique power of combining stories and images is the best way to learn a language.
Here at the Yellowknife Public Library we have a rich and varied collection of picture books from the North, elsewhere in Canada and around the world.
The last few years have seen a true renaissance in the art of the picture book. Notable artists and authors are experimenting with the medium and producing incredible works that appeal to children ages 1 to 100.
One such example is This Bridge Will Not Be Gray by Dave Eggers with art by Tucker Nichols. Eggers is the celebrated author of the award winner memoir, A Staggering Work of Heartbreaking Genius. He translates his sly humour and love of details to a charming non-fiction picture book about the decision to paint the Golden Gate Bridge orange.
Part history, part introduction to architecture and part celebration of originality and boldness, This Bridge Will Not Be Gray is surprisingly heartwarming. This is a book to remind us that the world is a wonderful and strange place for the curious and with good picture books we can feed the flame of that curiosity throughout our entire lives.