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Thanks to all who responded. I am not alone in this thinking. Perhaps some publishers are reading this as well and seeing some possibilities. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see a large number of top-notch primary nonfiction, with photographic illustrations, on SLJ’s Stars page in every issue! Original Post: This has been bothering me for some time and I would be interested in your observations and opinions. I do express this to a publisher whenever I get a chance, but I don't see the change I would like to see. My youngest male patrons (K-2) do love nonfiction as we are all aware, but they really are not interested in a large portion of the quality nonfiction on the market because of the illustrations. My little boys want photographs in their books and they rarely borrow a book if it has "cute" illustrations. Please don't get me wrong, I love many of those "cute" illustrations, but my patrons don't and I must serve them. I wish publishers were more in tune with their intended audience. My boys love Seymour Simon's books and others of that quality and there just aren't enough books like that. I know we have several wonderful authors who write nonfiction of very high quality but my boys won't read the books no matter the topic because it looks too "cute" to them. My teachers use "cute illustrations" books and I will continue to buy them, but not because my boys will read them. I've tried all kinds of books talks, etc. to get the books read, but with limited success. I don't feel that I am serving my youngest boys well at all Have you tried the Capstone books? My little guys like them... ***** I agree wholeheartedly. It's been a pet peeve of mine for many years--especially when I was in an elementary library. It's one reason I liked to preview nonfiction books whenever possible--and I didn't mince words with sales reps when I told them I couldn't choose certain titles because they wouldn't get read because of the illustrations. I don't know whether the reps were unaware, or just feigning ignorance, but they all sounded surprised. ***** I'm the mother of one of those 2nd grade boys who wants "true stuff with photographs." He's into sharks, penguins, dinosaurs, amphibians, monster trucks, motorcycles, etc...... I would have to agree with you that it's not easy to find these kinds of books, on a second grade level, but he actually has found his elementary school library to be a wealth of information in ways you would not expect. Try the Magic Tree House books, for instance. His librarian showed him one and he was hooked. He's read all of them and eagerly awaits the release of the next one. Let them know there is a dinosaur or saber toothed tiger in it and he's reading it. Next, we did the Beverly Cleary Mouse and the Motorcycle series. The mouse rides a toy motorcycle, that's all it takes. Don't sell yourself short, you have lots of materials for these boys. ***** I've noticed the exact same thing - these beautifully illustrated books getting passed over because they're not photographs. I wondered if it was just me - guess not! ***** I agree. I have kids who won't touch a Gail Gibbons book even if it's the ONLY polar bear or wolf or eagle book left on the shelf, because it has illustrations instead of photos. I like the Pebble Books nonfiction from Capstone Press for the beginning readers. Good illustrations and only a line or two per page. I also like an animal series called Pull Ahead Books, which also has good photos. ***** Yes, I agree! My K-2s don't want a car (or motorcycle, shark etc) book with drawings, they want photographs. Especially since so many of the books we have in these topics are not on their reading level (another category I continue to search for). Sometimes I think books are created for the adults buying them instead of the children wanting to read them. ***** I find the same thing- the students really like the computer-generated dinosaur 'pictures' as well. Poor Gail Gibbons, it's a good thing teachers like her because the kids generally won't check her books out at all! Same with the Jim Arnosky books, most of the kids aren't interested because of the illustrations rather than photographs. "Librarian. Genetically predisposed to answer questions and correct misconceptions - whether asked or not." 2 01 2007 blf Barbara Fritz Elementary Librarian Bloomsburg Area School District Bloomsburg PA fritzlibrary@yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! 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