Long ago, I attended a conference at which author, illustrator, and storyteller Ashley Bryan talked about illustration and art. I remember he told the large audience gathered that children often ask when he first started creating books.

Proudly, this elegant man described how he wrote, illustrated, published, marketed, and distributed his first book — when he was in kindergarten.

Mr. Bryan, of course, did each of those tasks by himself or with his family, where a love of words and images was shared. (Ashley Bryan spoke at the 2002 National Book Festival and again presented last month at the 2007 Book Festival .)

I was reminded of Ashley Bryan when I read Joanne Meier’s blog about her 5-year old daughter who is creating stories. I have a strong suspicion that Joanne’s daughters are also readers, so the leap to writing is natural. Stories are enticing for people of all ages — whether they hear them or read them.

What better way to celebrate stories than by reading and writing them? You may want to start by taking a look at books by Ashley Bryan. The language sings, the illustrations dance, and together his work tells wonderful stories for readers (and writers) of all ages to share.

About the Author

Maria Salvadore is Reading Rockets’ consultant for children’s literature and literacy. Maria curates our themed booklists and writes the blog, Page by Page, which explores the best ways to use kids’ books both inside and outside of the classroom. She leads parent workshops for Ready To Learn (RTL) at WETA Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. She has also taught children’s literature at the University of Maryland, reviewed books for School Library Journal, and has served on various book award committees, including the Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards, Golden Kite, and the Caldecott Committee.

Publication Date
October 17, 2007
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