First-rate children's literature offers the same benefits that any high quality literature or art offers. Multicultural texts for a diversity of students can be used to build awareness of other perspectives. But I am supposed to teach science, social studies, reading and writing skills. Some teachers take reading time for children's literature. But many books are available in the subjects you teach, and children's informational books are a wonderful way to introduce concepts, demonstrate a point, or provide information to supplement textbooks.
Picture books can rekindle scientific curiosity.
There are dozens of ways to introduce books into the curriculum. Some teachers begin every class by reading a poem or a picture book aloud, simply for the enjoyment of the literature. Picture books and short novels make wonderful writing prompts and can provoke good journal writing. Picture book and young adult biographies often offer good writing models. Teachers may ask students to inverview each other, write short biographies of their classmates, and share them with the class.