A Whole Book Approach Story Time

The Whole Book Approach is a tool developed by Megan Dowd Lambert that evaluates the picture book as the sum of its parts in order to understand how text, art, and design work together to form an artistic whole. This critical engagement with the picture book establishes a foundation to then create interactive picture book reading experiences with children that emerges as facilitated discussions rather than traditional read aloud times.

Ultimately, The Whole Book Approach acknowledges that while the adult reads text aloud, children are reading pictures and design. It gives children the time, space, and vocabulary needed to articulate their visual readings and bring them into dialog with the oral text.

Here's how the class works: twice a week a picture book will be introduced with an age-appropriate focus on its aesthetic or creative merits. When the teacher reads the book, children will have opportunities to answer/ask questions and comment about what they hear and see. Book reading and discussion will be followed by a review where we will revisit observations found at the start of the session.

So join us as we shake up story time, because welcoming children to talk about art and design affirms that we care about what they have to say, which empowers them to take risks in their learning.