Rating: 
Summary: Looking into picture books
Review: I had mixed reactions from reading "Inside Picture Books" by Ellen Handler Spitz. On one hand, she did a wonderful job of examining some picture books and perfectly capturing memories we have from childhood. Her analyze was insightful at times, and she reminded us of the large impact books have on children. I liked that Spitz had a few personal stories in the book; this helps the reader connect with the topic Spitz is discussing. One the other hand, there were a few things that could have been improved or left out completely. The beginning of the book was very dry, and if I had not needed to read the book, I would have probably not read farther. Spitz also liked to compare books to each other, and her meaning was sometimes lost on me when I had not read the books involved. I think if Spitz had focused on fewer books, I would have learned more. With the high number of books involved, I often had to reread sections a number of times just so I could remember what topic Spitz was discussing. The book achieved its purpose of helping us understand picture books better, but I think it would have been more effective if it had been more concise. I would recommend this book to someone, not because it is exceptionally well written, more so because there are not many other options available.
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Summary: Psychology Today and Yesterday
Review: Imagine taking your favorite childhood toy and dissecting it just to see how it works. "Inside Picture Books" by Ellen Handler Spitz does just that with our favorite children's stories. In this manuscript Spitz takes a psychological look at some of the best-loved tales of all times. We are not only draw in with the words remembered from youth but we are also shown how the art in each story is directly intertwined with the text. It is a very interesting book for educators, educational students and parents to read. Each story and its corresponding illustrations are excruciatingly detailed and discussed by Spitz. She delves into the psyche of both the author and illustrator in an attempt to explain why some books have become classics and some have not.
A broad spectrum of issues is covered by the included stories and Spitz attempts to cover each issue in her book. It is a very comprehensive study of these stories but I wonder if the subject would have been better served by dealing with fewer stories and including some of the illustrations which she talks about in depth. The psychological aspect is very thorough and interesting to think about. The question comes to mind though; is there really as much psychological meaning put into these stories and pictures as Spitz pulls out of them? Do we all mentally process all of the information in all of the books in all of the same ways? Did we all subconsciously realize that when Max sailed home in "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak that because we could not see the name of his boat we knew he did not need the "privacy" of his fantasy anymore?
The psychological examination, while interesting, is vastly overdone. Even Sigmund Freud is attributed with the quote "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar". I think most of the longevity of the stories in Spitz' is due to the fact that parents were entertained by these tales as children so they share their time and read them with their own children.
Education Student - CP
UW-Oshkosh
Rating:
Summary: Warning: Dictonary Needed
Review: In reading Inside Picture Books, I found that Spitz used some interesting tactics to review children's books. In my opinion, some great tactics and some not so great. Spitz starts off her book without a hook which lead my motivation to drop hook- line and sinker. Her intro leads me to focus more so on figuring out all the technical terms and less on her motives. Hence, my Webster Dictionary got a lot of play here. I thought that her purpose was to inform us about the different types of picture books not of her intellectual wordiness. Not a good start!
Further into Spitz's book I did find Spitz to be rather informative on making the audience aware of the power of picture books and how they affect children positively and negatively. Although, I did not agree with some of her negative comments towards my favorite children's books, I did find her very descriptive in her interpretations. Spitz analysis of the pictures, although in my opinion sometimes false, gave a good depiction on the stories themes and messages. All in all I would say that if you are looking for some good analysis of children's picture books you would be better off doing it yourself!
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Summary: Interesting Book about Picture Books
Review: Inside Picture Books by Ellen Handler Spitz is a great book for parents, teachers, grandparents and anyone who reads to children. The author has excellent insights on the picture books and how children may react to the books. I enjoyed how Spitz explored the themes and the significance of the pictures in my favorite picture books. In her analysis of Good Night Moon Spitz describes how the rhythm of the words and pictures of the book help children fall asleep. The analysis of Good Night Moon is one example of how Spitz's analysis of a story helps the reader to understand how children understand the story. I believe that in her psychoanalysis of some of the picture books Spitz goes too in depth. In the stories Willy the Wimp and The Tenth Good Thing About Barney Spitz analyses every little detail in the story. This type of analysis ruins my enjoyment of the picture book. Overall I think that Inside Picture Books is an interesting informational book about the different types of picture books and how children react to them.
KM
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Summary: A Deep Dive into Children's Lit.
Review: Inside Picture Books by Ellen Handler Spitz, takes the reader on a deep dive into many favorite stories from your childhood. When you're finished with this book many of the stories take on a new light and may not be as they originally seemed. With each story Ellen Handler Spitz dissects the story and uses the illustrations to explain the story even more. For example when she is sharing with us the book, The Accident by Carol Carrick, she shows us symbolism in the pictures. The day after Christopher's dog dies she tells us in the illustrations that the dogs' bowls are gone. This is a physical example for children to understand that Bodger is really gone. Ellen Handler Spitz also showed us the how gender roles are portrayed for children. In Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban, Ellen Handler Spitz talks about the gender roles for Frances in comparing her with Max in Where the Wild Things are. France does not want to go to bed but she is quiet about it. However Max, as a little boy is allowed to yell and holler. Ellen Handler Spitz's question it should these gender roles be introduced to our children as the way for them to behave? Ellen Handler Spitz takes you so far into the book you almost forget the story. If you are a person who likes to look deep into things then this is a book for you.
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Summary: Inside Picture Books focuses on analysis
Review: Inside Picture Books is a book written by Ellen Handler Spitz. (1999,Yale University Press). This nonfiction book analyzed different picture books and discussed themes throughout. There are many positives and negatives in the book. She focuses on many aspects of books and how they help children develop language and how to interpret the pictures. Spitz helps us realize that there are many different kinds of readers. At one point in the book, Spitz discusses gender differences. She says, "Little girls turn anger against themselves, whereas little boys send it outward." She says this comment as she is talking about the picture book, In the Night Kitchen. Spitz shows an enormous amount of warmth and commitment to the learning of picture books.
I liked the book, but it definitely had its boring parts. The introduction was extremely long and had some invalid points. It could have been summed up in a much shorter way. She had a lot of good things to say, but could have said in a shorter, different way. The book started to get much better in the second chapter when she broke it down into the analysis of different picture books. There were a lot of books that I recognized and a lot of books that I did not recognize. She told about some books with positive tones. The positive ones were Good Night Moon, which I really liked, Runaway Bunny, and Where the Wild Things Are.
I had a few more expectations for the book, like more narrative and informational, and I would have liked to see more of the pictures that she was describing. I do agree that Spitz had a purpose for this book and that was to have us as readers understand the significance a picture book can have and the different interpretations from a child or adult.
Overall, Inside Picture Books and Spitz draws attention to the feelings and understandings of picture books and what goes through the mind of children as they are reading it. She guides children to help them find out their inner possibilities and I think that is what learning is about.
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Summary: An overwhelming pshchoanalysis of children's literature
Review: Inside Picture Books provides a sometimes-insightful reflection and interpretation of children's picture books. In the beginning, my interpretation of the authors purpose was to investigate the power of children's literature and delve into the underlying themes to understand why children love the books they do. Ms. Spitz discusses many examples of adults who reflected on their favorite books from childhood and the impact these books had later in life. Many of the books mentioned I had never read but her description of these books sparked my curiosity enough to read some. However, during the progression of Inside Picture Books, the author seems to change her ultimate purpose and begins an overwhelming psychoanalysis of children's literature. In doing so, she lost my interest. Ms Spitz discusses how children interpret what they read and how their perspective may change based on their stage of development. While I agree that this is true, children read for the enjoyment of the story. It transcends them into a world of imagination where all things seem possible. Sometimes stories capture the hearts of children because of the way the words dance across the pages or the pictures captivate them. I believe the author spent far too much time analyzing the "real" meaning of children's books when in fact many are simply just a story to be enjoyed. The author's interpretation of Madeline, one of my favorite children's books, is nothing short of ridiculous. Madeline, lying in a hospital bed after having her appendix removed, is surrounded by gifts from her papa. According to Spitz, this clearly refers to the trophies she will receive later in life from male admirers for assuming her designated gender role. In my opinion, Spitz did a remarkable job of squelching the enjoyment out of a simple story. RC
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Summary: Too much psychology and not enough reviewing!
Review: Inside Picture Books was an in-depth look into the author and illustrator psyches. Growing up, I had many favorite books that I would read each and every night. However, Ellen Spitz seemed to do what her last name displays - she spit on them all. Okay, so she did like some of the books that she reviewed, but she went and ruined one of my favorite children's books. The purpose that the author had was to inform the audience about different types of picture books and that they should be aware of some of the hidden meanings that are including in the pictures and words. However, the author took this purpose one step further and did a little too much psychoanalysis. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading her summaries and her first thoughts on whether she liked or disliked the books. I also enjoyed learning about new picture books that I had never heard of and became interested in. However, I don't appreciate how Miss Spitz really dug deep into some well-known and thoroughly-enjoyed classical children's books. I was happy to hear about her enjoyment of Where the Wild Things Are. However, I was displeased to see how much she disliked There's a Nightmare in My Closet. This is one of my favorite all-time books and the author took that and threw it out the window for me. I thought that this was supposed to be a book about children's book reviews, not a psychoanalytical dribble as to why she thinks a color was chosen or a characteristic was given.
Overall, I enjoyed the book to a point. Even so, I thought that Miss Spitz had a narrow-minded focus on life. Also, she talks about too many books at one time. When she is focusing on one book, she then throws in three other books that vaguely relate to the original one. It can confuse the audience very easily. Sure, she did achieve her purpose about informing the audience about these books, but at what price? Now many adults cannot look at their favorite books the same anymore. Where a mother or father had planned on giving their child the same enjoyment that they had as children, they now may not feel like reading it to their child because they don't have the same mind-set toward it anymore. We can all thank Miss Spitz for that.
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Summary: Spitz...too much?
Review: Inside Picture Books, written by Ellen Handler Spitz, is a book which serves an informational purpose. It depicts children books through methods of psychology, aesthetics, and literacy.
Throughout this book, Spitz focuses on the power of illustration in children's books. She does an excellent job of advocating for the practice of reading aloud to children, as well as sensitizing parents and adults to the variety of other meanings.
After reading a lengthy introduction, Spitz begins to discuss single books which generate interest and relate to our experience as readers. She analyzes books such as Goodnight Moon, and Where the Wild Things Are. Through her analysis, Spitz aims to aware the audience of the affect picture books have on children whether they are negative or positive. She does this in a complicated way. Spitz uses extensive vocabulary that can be confusing at times. Although, while reading, keep in mind that the authors audience consists of several different communities such as teachers, parents, and scholars. I have a hard time following her analyzing without visual aide. It would have been beneficial for the reader if Spitz were to include specific pictures when referring to them. Spitz also made the assumption that her readers were familiar with all of the children's books she discussed. I did find that I enjoyed her analysis more when I was familiar with the picture book, and in comparison, was unable to follow her analysis of picture books I was unfamiliar with.
Overall, Inside Picture Books, was an informational study that describes picture books as fantasies invading reality, and that is so true!
Rating: 
Summary: Inside Picture Books Review
Review: Inside Pictures Books by Ellen Handler Spitz, is an informational narrative that immensely explores and psychoanalytically probes into the power of various picture books. It gives literary, as well as psychoanalytical, critiques and interpretations of numerous pictures and text found in children's picture books. Spitz finds underlying messages in books, not noticed at first glance, which she alerts her readers to. The purpose in writing this book is to make her audience aware that pictures book have the capability to inflict positive and negative affects upon its readers. Due to the vocabulary and topic at hand, this book is best suited for teachers, scholars, and parents.
This book centers on the interpretation of various picture books and the powerful effect of pictorial images in books on the psyche of children. Spitz finds and interprets several commonalities in many bedtime picture books. For example, she explains how books metaphorically use food and the moon to symbolize security and how rhythm is used to ease the transition from an active state to a restful state. She descriptively depicts illustrations and colors, and their aesthetic value and meaning to children. Besides bedtime picture books, Spitz also dissects and reflects on pictures books associated with death and how children cope with devastation and loss. For example, she goes into great depth in covering the story The Accident, by Carol and Donald Carrick. Through this coverage, she reveals the possibility that readers can mirror their personal responses of the book with the character's responses. However, it seems that the response one exhibits depends on their perspective and ability to empathize with others. In addition, she thoroughly explains how the illustrations set the mood and foreshadow later events in the story. She depicts behavior issues found in children's books and relates them to gender, children's needs and impulses, and human relationships. Spitz also analyzes books that praise uniqueness and implicitly and explicitly dispatch a message to their readers about self acceptance. Other underlying threads incorporated into this book include: how children's books portray gender bias's, race, and incorporate common childhood fears, relationships, curiosities, and displays of emotion like anger, fear, and love.
I find this book to be very insightful in understanding how children view pictures, identify with and find comfort in books, and are affected by the morals and themes intertwined in the text and the pictures of books. It suggests the possibility for books and pictures to contain underlying messages, either implicit or explicit, that have an immense impact in various aspects of a child's life. Although I do not fully agree with all of Spitz's critiques, and sometimes feel that she dove too deep into pictures and text to pull out unrelated and unassociated issues, I respect that they come from her point of view. I am left to wonder if her book interpretations parallel the intent of the different writers and illustrators incorporated into this book.
I enjoyed reading this book because of the memories it brought back of my own childhood with books. I would recommend this book to those interested in learning about the power that picture books have in the lives of children. Overall, this book forced me to consider other interpretations of children's book and to compare them to my own. I closed the book with new insights into various books and ways of analyzing the pictures and text found in those books.
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