-Why does illustration study matter to the development of young writers?

Illustrators make decisions about how to convey meaning much like authors. Young writers can be guided to make connections between reading and writing through illustration studies. Guiding students to make intentional decisions about their own illustrations can support a writer’s ability to communicate more sophisticated ideas. Illustration studies foster the ability to read like a writer, to critique and analyze literature, including personal works. Teachers can reread IRA’s with the intention of noticing writing and illustrating craft, model using the technique, and encourage students to do the same in their own writing. Students are given the opportunity to independently write whole books about self-selected topics at their own pace. Teachers guide writers through mini-lessons, conferring and sharing of student work. This focus allows students to fully experience the process of creating an entire piece of writing.

Essential Questions:What decisions do authors and illustrators make to express meaning? How can I make decisions in my own writing and illustrating to convey meaning to my reader?

Writing/Illustrating Craft Mini-Lessonso Crafting with distance perspective:

A central image may be pictured as far away, close up, or any distance in between. (zooming in or out on a character or object)-The Emperor’s Egg-Martin Jenkins-The Kissing Hand-Audrey Penn-It’s Pumpkin Time-Zoe Hall-No, David!-David Shannon

o Crafting with positioning perspective:A central image can be pictured from the front, back, side, above, or below.-How to Heal a Broken Wing-Bob Graham-A Bad Case of Stripes- David Shannon-Owl Moon-Jane Yolen-Hey, Little Ant-Phillip and Hannah Hoose

o Crafting the BackgroundThe central image in an illustration may have lots of background behind it, just a little, or hardly any at all.-Bark, George-Jules Feiffer-Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten-Joseph Slate-Owl Moon-Jane Yolen

o Using segmented scenes to convey meaning:Small, separate scenes can capture what happens over time, show growth, or act as a list.-Chrysanthemum-Kevin Henkes-Wemberly Worried-Kenvin Henkes-Julius: Baby of the World-Kevin Henkes

-Everybody Works-Shelley Rotner and Ken Kreisler-Owls-Gail Gibbons-Red-Eyed Tree Frog-Joy Cowley

o Using speech/thought bubbles to convey character thoughts and feelings

-Wemberly Worried-Kenvin Henkes-Julius: Baby of the World-Kevin Henkes-Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus-Mo Willems

o Showing meaning through text size/placement, and text features such as labels and diagrams

-Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late-Mo Willems-Wemberly Worried-Kevin Henkes -Kangaroos-Sara Louise Kras-Penguins-Gail Gibbons-Stranger in the Woods-Carl R. Sams-Be a Friend to Trees-Patricia Lauber-From Seed to Plant-Gail Gibbons

o Showing Movement -Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten- Joseph Slate-Bee Bim Bop-Linda Sue Park

o Details bring authenticity to a text and can provide meaning within all genres about the setting, movement, feeling, sounds, backstory, information, etc. The lack of detail also conveys a message.

-Owl Moon-Jane Yolen-The Giving Tree-Shel Silverstein-Goldilocks and the Three Bears-Jan Brett

o Using the space implied outside a picturePictures may extend into the invisible space beyond the natural borders of the page.-My Five Senses-Aliki

o Using Borders-The Mitten-Jan Brett-Goldilocks and the Three Bears-Jan Brett

o Using detail of light and color to show the passage of time or to convey tone or mood.

-The Napping House-Audrey Wood-Raven-Gerald McDermott

o Showing two sides of a physical spaceAn illustrator may show the inside and outside, or above and below something.-Goldilocks and The Three Bears-James Marshall-Penguins-Gail Gibbons-The Nutcracker-Susan Jeffers-Frogs-Gail Gibbons

o Designing a CoverPicture book covers are designed in a variety of ways-Baby Whale’s Journey-Jonathan London-Verdi-Janell Cannon-No, David!-David Shannon

Kid-Friendly Rubrics and Anchor Charts for Writing Workshop

Students can be taught to use “just-right” paper. They can be given options anywhere from blank pages, to pages with multiple lines.

 

Can be modified for writing workshop