Picture Books

							Picture Books
What is Orbis Pictus?
Questions
• What is a picture book?
• What types of picture
  books are there?
• What are the
  characteristics of good
  picture books?
• How will we use picture
  books for instruction?
What are they?
• Product of the twentieth
  century
• Support early learning
• “profusely illustrated in
  which words and
  illustrations contribute to
  the story’s meaning”
• Different than illustrated
  books
What are they?
• Tale told in two media
• An integration of visual
  and verbal art
• Illustrations add plot or
  concept information
• Illustrations add clues to
  character traits, settings,
  and moods
Review a picture book
• Use the criteria on p. 91 to
  discuss the characteristics
  of a book with your
  neighbor
• Will the book provide
  balance between what
  the child enjoys and what
  you want to lead them to
  enjoy?
History of Picture Books
• Rare and expensive-very few
  written for children
• Viewed as tools for educating
  and saving the soul (not for
  enjoyment)
• Color printing made books
  more affordable
• Children no longer viewed as
  little adults who had to behave
  and work accordingly
Picture Books Today
• Well established genre
• High levels of conceptual
  difficulty and artistic
  sophistication for middle
  level and junior high
  students
• Bilingual texts
• Books that emit sounds or
  talk
• Interactive CD Rom books
Baby/Board Books
• Simple design
• Brightly illustrated
• For children 0-2
Interactive Books
• Stimulate verbal or physical
  interaction
• Asks direct questions or
  invites recitation
• Encourages clapping or
  movement to the rhythm
• Asks the child to touch or
  manipulate items
• Ages 2-6
Toy Books
• Engineered or mechanical
  books
• Pop-ups, moveable,
  changeable, or three-
  dimensional illustrations
• Fragile or elaborate pop-
  ups are appropriate for
  older students or adults
Wordless Books
• No text or very little text
• Illustrations must be very
  narrative
• Ages 4-6
• Children read the
  illustrations in their own
  words
Alphabet Books
• Presents alphabet letters,
  names, and or sounds
• Consider the
  appropriateness of the
  theme, use of uppercase
  and lowercase letters,
  appropriate font and
  readable text
Counting Books
• Numbers 1-10 are
  introduced along with
  shape and name, quantity
  represented, and counting
  sequence
• Interesting items to count
  are illustrated
Concept Books
• Picture books that explore
  or explain an idea or
  concept
• Do not tell a story
• No plot but repeated
  elements throughout the
  book
• Naming books present
  simple pictures with labels
Pattern Books
• Predictable books that
  rhyme, repetition, and
  illustration clues to support
  the reader
• Natural sounding familiar
  language
Picture Storybooks
• Illustrations and text are equally
  important in telling the story
• Intended to be read aloud
• Ages 4-7 and 8 and up
• Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
  was the first picture storybook
  (1928)
• Peter Rabbit (1902) by Beatrix
  Potter in England was the first
  modern picture storybook
Easy-to-Read Books
• Limited text on each page
• Large print, double spacing,
  and short sentences
• Lots of illustrations
• Usually controlled vocabulary
• To be read independently
  (unlike picture storybooks)
• May be divided into short
  chapters
Picture Books for Older Readers
• More sophisticated,
  abstract, and complex
  theme, story, and
  illustrations
• May include picture
  storybooks, wordless books,
  toy books, and
  informational picture books
Transitional/Chapter Books
• For children who can read
  but are not yet fluent
  readers
• Between picture books
  and full length novels
• Uncomplicated writing
  style and vocabulary
• Illustrations on every third
  page
Caldecotts
The most distinguished
  picture book for children
  published in the previous
  year. Established in 1938.
  Given to a U.S. illustrator.
Developing Visual Literacy
• Ability to sort through images
  and develop a sense of
  discretionary viewing and
  judgment
• Develop a sense of personal
  taste in illustrations
• Become aware of illustrations
  and become sensitive to
  discriminating
• Teachers must learn about
  style, medium, design, and
  illustrators
Overall Book Design
• Size and shape
• Book jacket
• End papers
• Front matter
• Lettering
• Placement of art and text
  on the page
• Blend of text and
  illustrations
Visual Elements
•   Line
•   Color
•   Shape
•   Texture
•   Composition
Artistic Styles
•   Realistic art
•   Impressionistic art
•   Expressionistic
•   Abstract
•   Surrealistic art
•   Primitive
•   Cartoon
•   Woodcut
Visual Elements
• In children’s books the story
  is told through both text
  and pictures.

• Visual elements include:
  –   Line
  –   Color
  –   Shape
  –   Texture
  –   Composition
Artistic Media
• Materials and the
  technical means used by
  artists to create pictures:
  –   Drawings
  –   Collage
  –   Print making
  –   Photography
  –   Painting
How do illustrations contribute
to picture book stories?
•   Literary elements
•   Visual elements
•   Artistic styles
•   Artistic media
Questions
• What is a picture book?
• What types of picture
  books are there?
• What are the
  characteristics of good
  picture books?
• How will we use picture
  books for instruction?
High Five Strategy