Comparing and Contrasting

Picture Books and Easy Readers

Jemielleann Quero
English 116B | Professor Cordova
Picture Books
● Picture books are books that are meant to be read aloud for
children while the children follow along by viewing the illustrations
● They are a combination of short text and illustrations working
together to create a unique art form
● They appeal to both the child and the adult who reads to the child
and functions as a shared experience between a pre-reader and a
fluent reader, creating a symbiotic relationship
 We can examine the
elements of a picture book
using the book If You Give a
Mouse a Cookie by Laura
Numeroff...
Because picture books are meant to be read aloud to children, they are
written at reading levels much higher than a beginning reading level. The
books will contain words a pre-reader would not be able to decipher.
Picture books usually...
● Are 32 pages long
● Are covered
dominantly with
illustrations
● Do not include lengthy
descriptions
● Have short and concise
text
 Picture books
have short and
concise text
because young
children have a
shorter
attention span
and are likely
to lose interest
if they are
listening to a
longer amount
of text.
Picture books consist of patterned language
Elements of patterned language include:

● Rhythm
○ The way the words of the text flow, used to maintain the children’s attentions
● Rhyme
○ Using rhyming words makes it easier for children to listen, they are able to follow along
and predict what comes/happens next
● Repetition
○ Using repeating words/phrases enables children to become familiar with the text
○ Also promotes predictability so children stay active and engaged with the text
● Questions
○ Invite the children to think about what they are listening to and to get them to be more
involved with the story
 1
Throughout the story, every event the mouse
experiences is told using three lines. The three lines
are all similar. They tell what is happening, what might
happen, and what might happen as a result of that. This
contributes to the rhythm, or the flow, of the story. The
listener is able to follow along with the story easily.
2

1
3
2
Predictability

Beginning of book
The elements of patterned
language, such as repetition or
rhyming words, promote
predictability in ways where the
listener starts to catch on and is
able to predict what
comes/happens next. For example:
In the beginning of the book, the

End of book
mouse is given a cookie and asks
for milk. At the end of the story, the
mouse asks for milk. The listener is
able to predict that the mouse is
going to want a cookie to go with it.
Pace
Since picture books are typically 32 pages long, the story
needs to be evenly spaced out to fit all the pages with
both text and illustrations. The text should be broken up
into meaningful sentences or phrases so that they appeal
to the listener’s sense. As a result, this will heighten the
anticipation to find out what happens next. This
technique is called “the drama of turning the page”.
On both these pages, the text ends with dependent phrases which means the
listener will have to wait until the reader gets to the next page to find out
what happens next. This is an example of “the drama of turning the page”.
Easy Readers
● Easy readers are books written for children who are learning to
read
● These books use simple vocabulary, large typeface, and short
sentences
● They can be described as picture books that are easy enough to
read for a child who is just learning how to read
● Easy readers are developed by carefully incorporating content and
design
 We can examine the
elements of an easy
reader using the book
Green Eggs and Ham by
Dr. Seuss...
Content
● Vocabulary
○ Sight words are short words that
are easy to comprehend are used
in easy readers, as well as
compound words made up of
sight words
○ These words become familiar to
learners
● Sentence length
○ Sentences are short and
declarative so the reader is still
able to understand what is being
read
Content (cont.)
● Plot
○ First few pages establish
context and builds The first two
interest pages
introduces
○ Consists of a maximum
the main
of three main characters characters
○ Plot is clear and has of the story.
direct action

In this story, there are two main

characters with a simple plot. The
main character claims to not like
green eggs and ham until he finally
tries them.
Content (cont.)
● Illustrations
○ Appear on every page in
various sizes
○ Supplement the reader by
giving clues that may help the
reader decode words
Design
● Size of typeface

Under 15 lines
○ 18 pt font is standard for beginning readers
● Line Length
○ Should be around 2-10 words per line
● Space between words
○ Should be wide and distinct so the reader
knows when one word ends and another
word starts
● Space between lines
○ The amount of space in between lines should Less than 10 words
be the same as the size of the typeface per line

● Number of lines per page

○ Should not exceed 15 lines per page
Design (cont.)
● Amount of white space per
page
○ Easy readers should have a lot of
white space around the text so the
readers can rest their eyes from
concentrating on the words
● Placement of Illustrations
○ Illustrations complement the text,
not compete with the text
○ Provide essential clues for the
reader
○ Provide breaks for the reader’s
eyes
Levels
Easy readers are categorized by three levels:

● Level 1
○ Written at a first grade level
○ Size of typeface is from 17pt to 20pt type
○ 5 words per line, 5-7 words per sentence
○ Consists of sight words or one-syllable words of no more than 5 letters
○ 2-7 lines per page with two-thirds of each page filled with illustrations and white space
● Level 2
○ Written at a second grade level
○ Uses slightly more complex sentences as well as short simple sentences
○ Consists of sight words as well as occasional multisyllabic words
Levels (cont.)
● Level 2 (cont.)
○ No more than 5 words per line, may consist of longer sentences
○ 4-15 lines per page
○ Amount of text is balanced with illustrations and/or white space
● Level 3
○ Written for readers beginning the third grade
○ Uses more difficult vocabulary words
○ Contains a combination of compound and complex sentences, more natural sounding
language
○ Fewer than 8 words per line, no more than 15 lines per page
○ Text takes up three quarters of the page, while illustrations may be on alternating pages
Conclusion
In conclusion, picture books and easy readers have both similarities and
differences. Picture books and easy readers are both targeted for young
children. They both have simple plots and texts that have illustrations to
support the text. Picture books and easy readers are both designed and
structured carefully so that the text and illustrations are incorporated to tell a
story in a unique way. However, picture books are books that are meant to be
read aloud for young children; they are meant for both the adult and the child
to enjoy. Meanwhile, easy readers are meant for young children who are just
learning how to read and act as starter books or stepping stones to their
progress towards literacy.