Long before children can read a sentence or recognize a letter, they understand stories through pictures. An image can make them laugh, feel safe, feel brave, or feel curious without a single word being spoken. In children’s books, illustrations are not decorations added after the fact. They are language. They are emotion. They are often the very first way a child learns how stories work. Art that speaks without words holds a special kind of magic. It reaches children wher

Children may have small voices, but the feelings behind their words are anything but small. Long before kids can explain their emotions clearly, they express them through simple words, gestures, and stories. Storytime plays a powerful role in this process. It gives children language for what they feel, reassurance that their emotions are normal, and a safe space to explore big ideas in gentle ways. Through stories, children learn that words are more than sounds on a page. Wo