Today's children are bombarded by a constant stream of visual images from their earliest consciousness. In this environment, picture books are often a child's first introduction to fine art as well as to popular culture. For many years, modern realistic fiction has been considered the most popular genre among young readers, perhaps because it was closer to the lives they know and, therefore, easier to read. If horror is overtaking realism in popularity, we certainly need to consider the causes for this change. Regional and Historical Fiction Regional and historical fiction provides opportunities for young people to live vicariously in times and places they cannot experience any other way.
All children have a right to poetry in their lives.