Bright Horizons

I traveled last week to a Boston area Bright Horizons.  I made an evening presentation to early childhood educators about illustrating picture books and how visual literacy and drawing engages children.

I always bring ample materials for discussion! The Riverpark Center’s Lead Teacher in Kindergarten Prep, Julie, helped me set up my table of books, art supplies, and props.

While kids and parents were departing, I checked out the colorful rooms filled with stimulating shapes and textures.

After talking about writing and illustrating Seven Days of Daisy, and answering questions, I invited everyone to draw and write in these booklets. I make these for children to draw and tell their own stories, which they do with gusto.

This teacher dove right into hand lettering with pleasure.

I brought some toys for prompts. Here Donna, a fellow Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators member, used pastel pencils on her octopus.

I’m a devoted advocate of drawing from observation: sharp eyes, sharp pencils! This educator drew exquisite detail in her crab, a toy which I unbelievably found on the beach, no lie.

I love the graphic narrative this educator drew for Monday: iced coffee comes first!

I also shared the days-of-the-week signs I’ve made. It’s a fun activity to get little volunteers to sort themselves in the right order. A big task for preschoolers! Here’s a group from the Portland Bright Horizons, where I’ve been a volunteer reader in my niece’s Kindergarten Prep classroom. You can download posters HERE!

I bow down to early childhood educators who engage children during their most formative chapter in life. As my fellow kidlit advocate, Kirsten Cappy, likes to quote, “A child’s brain is 90% formed by the time they are 5.”

Exposure to caring, new vocabulary, activity, and picturebooks is so important for young learners. Thank you, Bright Horizons, for creating environments full of rich engagement for everyone!