Chapter 3 Picture books: A unique format in Childrens Literature

Picture books allow the illustrations and the words to work together in order
to convey meaning.
Brief History of Picture books

Randolph Caldecott invented picture books in the 1870s. He invented a

form in which both words and pictures were equally important and
necessary to tell the story.
Quality of Picture books
All Picture books
o Language is rich
o Illustrations are artistically excellent
o Size, shape, and overall design of the book are appropriate to the
subject or story
Picture Storybooks
o Text and Illustrations make the mood, setting, characters, and
theme of the story
o Illustrations expand story
o Layout and design are virtually appealing
Nonfiction
o Text and illustration are accurate.
o Text and illustrations are organization appropriately
o Text and illustrations are attractive, and show style
Focus of Illustration: Artistic Quality

Elements of visual art

o Line, Color, Shape, Texture, Design, Media and Technique
Line: use the angle, width, length, and motion of the line to
express the meaning they want to convey
Color and Shape
Use color to express character, mood and emotion
Share is used to direct the viewers eye and suggests
feelings and ideas
Texture and Design
Conveys sense of reality
Media and Technique
Media refers to materials used in the production of
an illustration
Styles of Art
o Representational, Surrealistic, Impressionistic, Folk, outline style
emphasizes line, Combining styles
 Elementary of Picture books from cover to cover
o Brevity
o Elements surrounding the story
o Relationship of words and pics
o Size and shape of book and illustrations
o Illustration sequence
o Page turns
o Gutter dilemma
Narrative elements in picture storybooks
o Setting
o Characterization
o Plot
o Theme
o Style
Picture books from nursery through adolescence
o Storybooks for young children
o Storybooks for primary grade readers
o Wordless storybooks
o Picture books and graphic novels for older readers
Picture books of poetry and song
o Portrays artists interpretation of song, poem, or verse
Nonfiction picture books
o Concept books
o Nonfiction for pre-school and primary grade teachers
o Picture biographies
o Alphabet books/ number books
Studying picture book art in classroom
o Use trade edition
o Other editions lack elements
o Brings discussion both text and illustration presented.