A Book with a View - Picturebooks!

Picturebooks are a format of literature that combines storytelling and the art of illustration. The words can tell things that are not in the pictures and the pictures reveal what the words do not. The illustration are an integral part of the story and provide literary elements like setting, characterization, mood, plot, style of writing, and even theme.  Picturebooks include include these types of genres: folklore, fantasy, contemporary realistic fiction, and historical fiction.

Using picturebooks to teach can help your students develop visual literacy skills. The illustrators use many artistic elements such as line, shape, color, texture, and medium. Teachers can have students examine the title page, front and back covers, and end pages to guess a purpose for the story. The teacher can have students use their critical thinking to understand the type of mood that is created by the use of color. Guiding questions like "Why do you suppose the illustrator..." or "What do you notice about..." are starting points for valid class discussions. Invite your students to notice the techniques that are used within the picturebook. How do they add to the story?

Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan uses artistic elements for this folklore genre. The author/illustrator uses a paper collage medium. The complementary colors of red and yellow elicit excitements, warmth, and happiness. The overlapping of images creates a three-dimensional look. A rhythmic pattern enhances the storytelling and leads to a theme that beauty comes from within. The book is a winner of the Coretta Scott King Award!





Students can explore picturebook formats using technology as shown by the latest apps. One good picturebook app is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from http://activepanda.net/stories/snowwhite.php. The app gives prompts for directions and options include: Read and Play, Read to Me, or Read by Myself. The user has controls to stop the text with audio when desired. A kid-friendly voice with a variety of dialogue is used throughout the book and gives drama to the turning of the page. The tab to scroll scenes allows the user to go forward or backward into the story. The app is easy to navigate, includes activities such as mixing a potion in a cauldron, and even a puzzle to create!