Why Are Illustrations and Pictures Important?

Illustrations include any kind of drawing, graph, or photo that accompanies the text of a book and adds information or increases meaning and enjoyment for the reader. Early readers need support as they develop reading strategies. Pictures that illustrate the text help provide that support. Pictures also add to a young reader’s enjoyment and can help stimulate a child’s interest in reading.

Evaluating how necessary illustrations are to a reader’s understanding of a book is one of the ten text factors used by the F&P Text Level Gradient™  when evaluating and leveling books for young readers.

Sources:

Fountas, Irene C. and Pinnell, Gay Su. Guided Reading- Good First Teaching for All Children. Heinemann, 1996, Mary Cappellini. Balancing Reading & Language Learning: A Resource for Teaching English. Stenhouse Publishers, 2005