Imagine reading "Where the Wild Things Are" without seeing the wild things or "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" without viewing his colorful transformation. Illustrations can provide a better understanding of a book. This lesson will help students understand the importance of illustrations.
Explain how specific aspects of a text’s illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting).
Access to books in the school library, classroom library or home library.
Sampling of Caldecott winners (see list below)
Say, “Before you read words in books you were ‘reading’ the pictures. Illustrations help you understand the emotions and traits of the character, the setting and the mood of the story. Did you know that there is an important award given to illustrators of picture books? It is called the Caldecott Medal and was first given about 80 years ago. You are probably familiar with some of the books that have won this award."
(Show the samples that you have.)
Read Kamishibai Man by Allen Say
Say, “This is not a Caldecott winner but the author/illustrator has won the award for Grandfather’s Journey. In Kamishibai Man, the illustrations are good examples of the setting and culture of Japan and the emotions of the main character. In addition, the main character uses his own illustrations to tell a story."
After reading, ask:
- By looking at the illustrations, how would you describe the main character?
- Can you tell how he was feeling on page 5, 14 and 21?
- Without seeing his face, can you tell how he is feeling by looking at the faces of people in the crowd?
- How are some of the Japanese cultures illustrated?
- Use the school library or classroom library and instruct the students to find a book with interesting and powerful illustrations.
- Place students in small groups of three or four children. Take turns sharing the books each student has chosen.
- Discuss these questions:
- Why do you like these illustrations?
- Did the illustrations help you understand the setting?
- Could you see the emotions of the characters in the illustrations?
- What features did you especially like (color, brightness, humor, action, simple, intricate, etc.)?
- Each group will then present the books to the class and summarizes what they discovered in the illustrations.
Choose a favorite picture book from home or the public library and share with the class.