Liam's Secret

In this first of a series of "waiting to be illustrated" picture books, Liam looks forward with excitement to the birth of his baby brother. The blank pages invite children to become the illustrators as they draw pictures of Liam, his mom, and the things that Liam plans to do with his brother. The final pages of the book extend the learning experience through vocabulary-building words and discussion questions. Parents and educators may note that while many students experience difficulties in various areas such as phonics, reading, math, memory and attention, emotional, physical and verbal development, every child exhibits an urgent need to draw. The details and comprehension displayed in these drawings reinforce my belief that drawing is a universal language that transcends emotional, physical, behavioral, and academic limitations. Drawing effectively levels the playing field. This series is being created to provide an academic rationale for drawing, providing permission to students to display learning in a model that is standards-based, informative, enjoyable, productive, and innate to all children. In this series, children are encouraged and invited to bridge the gap between reading and drawing, linking the two in a crucial bond that facilitates learning on a new level. And then, parents and teachers are invited to see the difference this will make in their children's lives.