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Texas Family Literacy Resource Center Text Only Version
 Parent Education
 
 

Personal Picture Books

Picture book reading provides children with many of the skills that are necessary for school readiness: vocabulary, sound structure, the meaning of print, the structure of stories and language, sustained attention, the pleasure of learning, and on and on. Preschoolers need food, shelter, love; they also need the nourishment of books. By nine months of age, infants can appreciate books that are interesting to touch or that make sounds.

Creating personalized picture books is a great activity that parents can do for or with their infants and pre-schoolers. These books can be created by using personal photographs with or without text. Parents can use simple materials such as paper, markers, tape or glue, and staplers to create "low-tech" versions. However, parents can learn and practice technology skills when they create personal picture books using Microsoft Word or Microsoft Publisher templates!

Below are links to Picture Book Examples created in Word or in Publisher. Use these as examples, but then have parents create their own. To download this to your computer, right click on the "Word" or "Publisher" link and choose Save Target.

Examples

  • Samuel's Picture Book

Word

Publisher

  • Samuel's School Book

Word

Publisher

  • Samuel's Things I Can D0

Word

Publisher

  • Samuel's Things I Like To Do

Word

Publisher

Use the following materials to help parents create their personal picture books:

Instructions

Computer Skills

Storyboards

Blank Storyboards - Print out these blueprints to help your students:

Save Resources - Students can make their own storyboards!

Computer Page Order - Prepare your storyboard for computer entry:

Computer Templates - Type your storyboards on the computer using these files:

A Note About RealEBooks

You can also view personal picture books created by others online through www.realebooks.com. There is a free program, Realewriter, that you can download to create your own picture books or even share them via email. However, the free version limits the size and styles of the picture books. If your program or school chooses to purchase the realebook program, you will find many options available for the picture book sizes and styles.