Picture books, like all art forms, are subject to shifts in theme, style, and format. While I’ve been voraciously reading children’s books lately, I’ve become aware of several interesting trends.
Once upon a time, there was a world in which a picture book could be as long as 1,500 words. It seems we do not live in this world anymore. The text in picture books is getting shorter and shorter, now averaging between 300-750 words. This could be for a variety of reasons, including shorter attention spans, different design options to present a narrative, and a rise in first- and second-person narration, a style that is more informal, straightforward, and requires less description.
Books that depict diversity in all its forms are also becoming more mainstream, though we still have a long way to go. It is vital for children to be able to relate to characters and situations that are familiar to them. The need to be seen and accepted is critical for readers of all ages. A lack of diversity in children’s literature is devastating for children as readers, many of whom rarely see their lives and cultural identities within a book. Children who are missing and underrepresented may adopt negative societal notions of their culture or reject literacy as relevant to their lives.
Another positive trend is an increase in books representing a wider range of children’s experiences as they explore societal expectations of gender identity and expression. Books depicting children who face physical, emotional, mental, and behavioral challenges have moved away from “problem-focused” books, in which the plot centers around how the character deals with a disability, to characters for whom this challenge is part of who they are, even if it is not the major plot line.
While reading Earth Day-themed kids’ books in April, I found an amazing range of fantastic titles about nature, climate change, environmental stewardship, biodiversity, and more. This trend seems to be growing with many publishers investing in books about science, nature, and environmental stewardship.
This is a fascinating topic, and I’ll offer more insights as I continue reading and researching!
