This week our class revolved around picture books. I read Chapter 3 before class and took notes on it so that I would have the background information on picture books in order to get the most out of class this week.
I learned a lot about picture books from reading chapter 3. For one, I learned how dynamic picture books are for children, as they use both good art and a "unique use of language" to capture children's attention. I found it fascinating to learn about the very first picture book, the title of which is "The Visible World in Pictures" translated. It's crazy to think of a picture book that is that old. I also had never really considered how people haven't always had paper to print their books on. That's something we take for granted. It must have been so difficult to make a book a long time ago using techniques like "wood block printing," or lithography.
I also learned the different categories of pictures books, from toy books for preschoolers, to wordless books. Wordless books are particularly captivating to me. To think about how an artist can tell and entire story just through pictures is pretty mind-blowing. They have to really consider how a child might perceive their images in order to ensure that a story is indeed relayed in an understandable manner. My favorite type of picture books are simply the ones that use both words and images to work "amplify" each other.
I also learned about how different elements of design work together in picture books to help get a message across to readers. I had never really considered before how much thought goes into the little details of picture books, like how different colors convey mood, and how lines can indicate moods as well. We saw this in the book we read and discussed as a class, titled When Sophie Gets Angry-Really Really Angry. In it, the author uses lines around the main character, Sophie, to indicate her mood. Endpages are one part of book design that I previously had given little attention to, when in actuality they can really contribute to a children's book.
I saw proof of that in class when we analyzed children's books with a partner. My partner and I read Blue Chameleon by Emily Gravett.
It was a really cute story about a Chameleon who was searching for a friend by transforming into the animal or object that he was trying to befriend. Eventually, he meets another chameleon who shows him that by being himself, he can find a friend. After reading the book, we looked at the end pages and they did indeed add a little to the story. The back endpages showed the two chameleons going off together as friends.
I love that at the end of each class so far our professor has read us a children's book out loud. It's so fun and really helps connect what we are learning about children's books to an actual book. I don't remember the name of the book this week, but it was a really fun story about a pig and hen couple who get invited for a feast at this mansion that is owned by a wolf who actually wants them for dinner. I liked that we went through it and analyzed the details of it so that I could see all the things that the author put into it in order to capture children's attention.
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