What is a Picture Book?
The following books provide relevant advise for teachers to understand what constitutes a picture book, elements that contribute to the production of illustrations and the relevance of illustrations in relation to the text and to children.
1. Title: Looking at Pictures in Picture Books
Author: Jane Doonan
Background Information:
Jane Doonan is an experienced classroom teacher and critic and is an associate tutor and head of English and Drama at the University of Bath. She has compiled this comprehensive book for the benefit of adults and teachers to understand, appreciate, analyse and apply children's literature within the classroom. Doonan provides the reader with relevant examples to support the theories she mentions and a detailed list of literary terms to analyse and understand illustrations within children's literature.
Strengths of Resource:
This text is invaluable for adults/teachers to understand the elements involved in the production of illustrations. Some attempts have been made to analyse the text/illustration relationship within picture books, however the major focus of this text is the pictures in children's books, as the title suggests.
Doonan explores illustrative techniques from layout and design, to colour, arrangement and scale of images. The information provided allows the reader to make sense of the various techniques and mediums used by illustrators. Images convey meaning to the reader and Doonan notes that illustrative style can influence the meaning the pictures intend to portray.
Weakness of Resource:
Most examples Jane Doonan refers to were produced in the 1980's. There are several books listed before this era, including Alice in Wonderland, but the analysis of picture book illustrations focus on this time. Early illustrators are not mentioned and as this book was produced in 1993 more recent illustrators are obviously not mentioned.
Links to other Resources:
'Looking at Pictures in Picture Books' is an excellent resource to assist adults/teachers to understand the various elements that contribute to the making of illustrations within children's literature. Doonan's practical experience assists the interpretations of Lance Ross, Norman Lindsay and Kilmeny and Deborah Niland's illustrations in their adaptations of Banjo Paterson's poetry.
2. Title: The Challenge of Picture Books:
A Teacher's Guide to the Use of Picture Books with Older Students
Author: Colleen O'Sullivan
Background Information:
Colleen O'Sullivan is is an English and History teacher at Marist Sisters' College in Woolwich. Her experience centers on ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching within schools, however she offers practical advise for all teachers to develop and implement valuable literature curriculums in their own schools.
Strengths of Resource:
This book is divided into two parts and concentrates on the 'Potential' of picture books and 'Annotations' of various text types. It is a valuable resource for teachers as it provides practical information on using picture books with older readers, understanding what appeals to older students, and the place for picture books within the classroom curriculum. The book also includes brief descriptions of poetry and verse and what is meant by the terms.
O'Sullivan explores many picture books for older children and makes specific reference to the works of Banjo Paterson, particularly 'A Bush Christening'. In her review of this picture book O'Sullivan points out that 'A Bush Christening' has the potential within a classroom to stimulate language, involve readers, illustrate literary conventions, explore themes and supplement other studies. I believe this is also applies to Mulga Bill's Bicycle and Waltzing Matilda as children can find significant benefits from reading such material.
Weakness of Resource:
The book does not provide in depth information about why certain books are mentioned and others are not, and provides only a brief review of the books.
Links to other Resources:
This resource specifically refers to the work of Banjo Paterson and the information it provides the reader can be applied to Waltzing Matilda and Mulga Bill's Bicycle. It also outlines the potential such picture books can have in classroom environments.
For more information on picture books, visit 'Picturing Books' website.
Why is Poetry/Verse beneficial for Children?
1. Title: Handbook for English Teachers: 1. Presenting Poetry
General Editor: Thomas Blackburn
Chapter 5: Poetry and Young Children, Author: Leonard Clark.
Background Information:
The information presented in this book is extremely helpful to teachers wanting to explore the use of poetry in the classroom as it discusses what poetry is and how to best present it to children. I have focused on the chapter that directly refers to poetry and the young child, however there is significant information presented by numerous authors covering different aspects of poetry and children. This resource gives numerous examples of poetry written by children also.
Strengths of Resource:
The chapter focuses on the benefits of poetry for children and advocates the use of poetry within classrooms. It supports the notion that reading/writing poetry can assist children develop language and literacy skills, as 'poetry widens the intellectual as well as the imaginative boundaries of living and adds to the stock of ideas' (Clark 1966: 59). This resource also supports the idea that children should be given every opportunity to read/write poetry to develop their own ideas of literature.
Weakness of Resource:
This chapter does not discuss ideas in great depth and I would prefer more information on the benefits of poetry in classrooms.
Links to other Resources:
This resource supports the use of poetry in schools and discusses elements that contribute to good poetry books. Clark believes that poetry books 'should be made attractive by well-drawn illustrations' (Clark 1966: 61), as it is the illustrations that can create immediate interest among students and draw them into the poetry world.
2. Title: Treats and Tricks - bows and balls: poetry books for all seasons and reasons.
Author: Rosemary Chance and Mary Berry.
Copy of full text below.
Full Text :COPYRIGHT 1997 Ken Haycock & Associates, Inc.
WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL, studying poetry meant another look at "The Charge of the Light Brigade" or "Hiawatha" or some other classic. Is it any wonder that many of us did not become lovers of poetry? Force feeding the classics to an audience too young to appreciate their beauty is akin to offering such gastronomical delights as avocados and oysters to children who recoil at their very appearance. Of course, we want children to develop a taste for the finer things in life but how can we whet their appetites for poetry? One simple way is by sharing some of the following tasty new poetry concoctions with them. In the poetry collections reviewed in this column you will find poems about sports, rain, Christmas, dogs and telling lies to name but a few topics. We hope you will take some time to share some of these tempting morsels with your students.
Variations on a Theme:
Poetry Collections
Gone are the drab anthologies of the past. What each of following collections does well is combine the classic and traditional with the contemporary and unorthodox. Collections offer unique opportunities for readers who should pay close attention to the arrangement of the poems within the collection. Veteran collectors and editors such as Bennett and Yolen construct their collections carefully, the underlying idea or concept of one poem building upon that of the preceding selection. Here are some excellent collections to share with teachers and students.
Soccer balls fly, a karate student practices her graceful moves, and a bicyclist laments his sore feet and seat in Opening days: Sports poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. This collection features a variety of sports, including those more solitary ones such as weight lifting and skiing. Artfully arranged, the poems build one upon the other to the final measures of Hopkins' own "Final Score". Scott Medlock's colorful illustrations bring a vibrancy to each poem, providing enough visual stimuli without overwhelming the message conveyed by the magical words of Walt Whitman, Gary Soto, Jane Yolen and the other poets whose works are included.
One way to entice readers to poetry is by tying in music, especially song lyrics. In Sing Noel Jane Yolen selects Christmas carols to share with children. Yolen provides readers with a brief note about the origin of each carol, the year the carol was first introduced and the composer of the song. Luminous watercolor illustrations by Nancy Sippel Carpenter and musical scores accompany each carol making this a perfect book for the music classroom.
Sky scrape/city scape is another collection edited by Jane Yolen. Subtitled Poems of city life, this book contains 25 poems which chronicle and contemplate, lament and laud, ridicule and revel in the pulsing rhythm of a bustling metropolis. Eve Merriam wonders in "A Lazy Thought" if grown-ups do not stop growing simply because they have no time to slow down and enjoy life. As she observes, "It takes a lot of slow to grow" (p.8). Lillian Moore likens pigeons to city dwellers; they are content to live among the buildings of concrete seldom taking risks by taking to the sky. Sidewalk sweepers, subways, taxis and trains: all aspects of city life find voice in this remarkable collection of poems.
Children who are readers of poetry are often writers of poetry. Ten-second rain showers: Poems by young people presents the efforts of 130 youthful poets, ages 8-18. What better models to provide our students for their own writing than poems written by someone their own age? Divided into six sections, here are poems about childhood, home and family, nature, friendship, beauty and love. Poems which describe facing challenges, overcoming obstacles, being alone and finding oneself should offer encouragement to many readers. Sixth-grader Jennifer Edwards, writes of that ubiquitous ability of children to change from angels to hellions simply by setting foot on a playground in "Masters". Such rich language and vivid images are certain to inspire readers and poets lurking in your classrooms.
Hit Singles: Poetry Picture Books
While collections of poetry are valuable assets in a collection, individual poetry picture books can provide for satisfying reading experiences as well. These books showcase the work of a single poet. Sometimes the books contain one poem, others present several works by the same writer. Illustrations are key to the success of these books which just might entice the more reluctant reader to give poetry another try.
Barbara Reid's marvelous plasticine illustrations make Gifts by Jo Ellen Bogart almost three-dimensional. Join Grandma on her whirlwind journeys to exotic ports of call. As she prepares to depart, she asks her granddaughter what she should bring her upon her return. The granddaughter's requests for souvenirs are a bit unusual and provide the lyrical quality of the brief text. From Africa, she begs for a baobab seed and a lion's roar; from Hawaii, a rainbow to wear as a ring; from England, a ride on a garden swing. By the end of the story, the young child is now a woman with a child of her own. Now she and her child are setting forth on their own adventures to bring the story full circle. What a terrific way to introduce a unit on different nations and different cultures. Children will delight in the spry antics of granny who is reminiscent of the grandfather in Song and dance man. They will also probably demand an opportunity to create their own illustrations with this wonderful medium.
The sun is up: A child's year of poems compiled by William Jay Smith and Carol Ra is a collection of poems covering each month of the year. Several were written by Smith and Ra with others by such favorites as Elizabeth Coatsworth, Robert Louis Stevenson, Eileen Fisher and Langston Hughes. The illustrations are done in watercolors and dyes by Jane Chambless Wright and are a tremendous bonus for the book. The expressions on the children's faces add to the dimension of each poem. The myriad of activities for each illustration will keep a child looking for a long time. The first poem about New Year's Day shows a small child blowing a horn. The January poem depicts white fields and each successive poem shows the changing of the seasons ending with New Year's Eve. The end pages begin and end with Happy New Year. Altogether this is a delightful poetry book small children will want to look at many times.
Similar in format to The sun is up: A child's year in poems is Myra Cohn Livingston's Festival which follows the year with poems celebrating festivals observed around the world. She begins with a poem about the Chinese New Year in January, then proceeds with poems depicting the Vietnamese holiday known as Tet, the United States festival of Mardi Gras, the Jewish holiday of Purim, an Iranian festival called Now-Ruz, a Muslim celebration known as Ramadan, a Hindu celebration of Diwali and concludes with a Swahili poem celebrating Kwanzaa in December. Each of these poems contains words which will be unfamiliar to boys and girls; therefore, Livingston has wisely included a glossary in which these words are defined. She also includes interesting information about each holiday or celebration. The illustrations by Leonard Everett Fisher are bright, colorful and very much in keeping with the concept of a festival. Children will enjoy these unusual celebratory poems, and teachers will enjoy this collection of hard-to-find information concerning not-so-well-known holidays from other countries.
Douglas Florian's On the wing gives us an insight into unusual birds in his collection of poems. Far from a run-of-the-mill poetry collection about birds, Florian's poems include such unusual birds as the egret, quetzal, spoonbill and the Andean cock-of-the-rock, as well as better known birds such as the hummingbird, roadrunner and crow. His choice of different font size and letter placement add a special twist to the poems. His illustrations are rendered in watercolor with a humorous style. In these charming illustrations a hummingbird wears a helicopter propeller, a roadrunner has wheels for legs, a spoonbill is using his bill as a spoon and a quetzal with a magnificent long tail is shown as a connect-the-numbers illustration. Children will be delighted with such an intriguing introduction to these unusual birds.
In Mother Hubbard's Christmas John O'Brien has taken the familiar Mother Goose rhyme of Old Mother Hubbard and given it a new twist. The changing of this rhyme to reflect a lively and popular holiday is delightful, and the ending, in which a dog cooks up a holiday feast, will have students wanting to read the book again and again. O'Brien's use of pen and ink, dyes and watercolors, accompanied by his humorous drawing style, add much to the text. This will make a wonderful addition to a library's holiday collection.
Another poetry collection which should be a hit with children is Margaret Hillert's The sky is not so far away, night poems for children. Her poems depict a child's dreams and nighttime adventure and capture a child's feelings going to a circus at night, listening to night sounds, going ice-skating and watching night shadows, fireworks, the night sky and the stars. The illustrator, Thomas Werner, uses watercolors to produce dreamy nighttime illustrations.
Rhyming songs fascinate young children, and preschoolers will love Jim Aylesworth's Wake up, little children. This musical poem shows children waking up to greet the day and all the adventures which await them. The grass is so soft a child will want to walk barefoot on it, and there's a frog to find, a butterfly to chase, a bird nest to see, a fence to hop and a squirrel to watch. Each activity beckons a child to awake and begin the new day. To capture the essence of the waking day, illustrator Walter Lyon Krudop used oil and vinyl paint without losing the clarity of each illustration.
As the title indicates, My Mexico-Mexico mio by Tony Johnston, a collection of poems about Mexico, is written in both English and Spanish. Based on her experience of living 15 years in Mexico, Johnston accurately describes houses, gourds, corn iguanas, people and more in this exquisitely illustrated book. For his illustrations F. John Sierra, a second-generation Mexican-American, used a process of layering colored pencils over a watercolor and airbrushed background, achieving a beautiful effect.
Titles Mentioned
Festival. Myra Cohn Livingston. Leonard Everett Fisher, ill. Holiday House, 1996. $16.95. 0-8234-1217-2.
Gifts. Jo Ellen Bogart. Barbara Reid, ill. Scholastic, 1994. 0-590-55260-0.
Mother Hubbard's Christmas. John O'Brien. Boyds Mills, 1996. $14.95. 1-56397-139-9.
My Mexico-Mexico mio. Tony Johnston. F. John Sierra, ill. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1996. $15.95. 0-399-22275-8.
On the wing. Douglas Florian. Harcourt Brace, 1996. $16.00. 0-15-200497-1.
Opening days: Sports poems. Lee Bennett Hopkins (Ed.). Scott Medlock, ill. Harcourt Brace, 1996. $16.00. 0-15-200270-7.
Sing Noel. Jane Yolen. Nancy Sippel Carpenter, ill. Boyds Mills, 1996. $17.95. 1-56397-420-7.
The sky is not so far away. Margaret Hillert. Thomas Werner, ill. Wordsong/Boyds Mills, 1996. $15.95. 1-56397-223-9.
Sky scrape/city scape. Jane Yolen (Ed.). Ken Condon, ill. Boyds Mills, 1996. $15.95. 1-56397-179-8.
The sun is up: A child's year of poems. William Jay Smith and Carol Ra. Jane Chambless Wright, ill. Wordsong/Boyds Mills, 1996. $15.95. 1-56397-029-5.
Ten-second rain showers: Poems by young people. Sandford Lyne (Ed.). Virginia Halstead, ill. Simon & Schuster, 1996. $16.00. 0-689-80113-0.
Wake up, little children. Jim Aylesworth. Walter Lyon Krudop, ill. Atheneum, 1996. $16.00. 0-689-31857-X.
Source Citation: Chance, Rosemary, Mary Berry, and Teri S. Lesesne. "Treats and tricks - bows and balls: poetry books for all seasons and reasons." Emergency Librarian 24.3 (Jan-Feb 1997): 64-5. Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale. La Trobe University Library. 25 Oct. 2006
<http://0-find.galegroup.com.alpha2.latrobe.edu.au:80/itx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=EAIM&docId=A30271590&source=gale&srcprod=EAIM&userGroupName=latrobe&version=1.0>.
How to Cite
Thomson Gale Document Number: A30271590
Analysis of Resource -
Background Information:
This article was published in Emergency Librarian in 1997 and provides relevant and modern examples of poetry written for children. It gives teachers practical information to make choices for reading material in the classroom and discusses how classical and traditional elements of poetry are being used in books for children.
Strengths of Resource:
The article is not an outdated publication and it provides relevant information on poetry collections for teachers to incorporate into the classroom. The titles mentioned in the article were all published in 1997, except for one published in 1994, and should therefore be readily available in most school libraries for teachers and children to access. This article gives numerous examples of collected works that children should find interesting and this information would assist teachers to choose relevant literature for children.
Weakness of Resource:
The title 'Poetry books for all seasons and reasons' implies that some discussion of the variety and relevance of poetry will occur. However, the article is relatively brief and is little more than a book list. It does not discuss why it has chosen to focus on certain titles and authors and I would have appreciated more information detailing these choices.
Links to other Resources:
The article discusses poetry picture books and the authors believe that the 'illustrations are the key to the success of these books which just might entice the more reluctant reader to give poetry another try' (Chance and Berry 1997: 2). The authors also discuss the advantages of using music to introduce children to poetry. The use of song lyrics can provide interesting opportunities for children to discover poetry. The Waltzing Matilda picture book combines song lyrics and music with illustrations that focus on the most significant aspects of the verse, resulting in a well presented and interesting version of the original verse for children to enjoy.