Using Picture Books with Older Students

I am working on book for teachers of older students, ESL students and more. I'd love to get your feedback if you teach higher grades. Would you use a book showing how to use picture books effectively throughout the curriculum?
I believe that many picture books are not specifically for little children but can be effectively used with older students. Text is not intimidating, art is intriguing and topics are often of high interest.
My book will list the best of the best titles, give you lots of ideas for using these books in classroom discussions, writing activities, even math and science with older students, ESL students, etc. Topics will include environmental awareness, social issues etc.
Would love to hear your feedback.
Thanks!

Highlights

My Highlight this week is the fact that Highlights for Children arrived in the mail with my short story in it. It's a silly joke about a chicken who asks a librarian for a "book-book-book!" Hope you will have a chance to read the current issue of this largest magazine for children in the world.

Listen to J.K. Rowling

Here is a link to J.K. Rowling's commencement address at Harvard, 2008.
It is great for anyone who is a writer, a reader, a parent or simply.. a person!
Enjoy listening to it:

http://www.ted.com/talks/jk_rowling_the_fringe_benefits_of_failure.html

Related Links

Here are some book related websites you might enjoy checking out and using.

Check out my favourite books here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1024100?shelf=%23ALL%23

Check out Red Room, Where the Writers Are:
http://www.redroom.com/author/margriet-ruurs

For Skype Author Visits, check out:
http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/page/Margriet+Ruurs

Reading Magic

Mem Fox, in her book Reading Magic says "If parents understood the huge educational benefits and intense happiness brought about by reading aloud to their children, and if every parent - and every adult caring for a child - read aloud a minimum of three stories a day to the children in their lives, we could probably wipe out illiteracy within one generation."

Thanks goodness I understand the benefits and the happiness of reading aloud! I will be reading to my brand new grandson Nico, as will his parents. And not just when he's older but starting right now. I will share with him the fun of Pooh Bear, the excitement of Curious George, the silliness of Dr. Seuss. And of course my own stories of Emma and Henry, since we have chickens running around our farm.

Give a copy of Mem Fox's Reading Magic to every new parent you know and we can work toward sharing the happiness and benefits of reading aloud!