1. 1 T HE B EAUTY OF P ICTURE B OOKS Ontario Library Association Education Institute 2005 Sya VanGeest A NALYZE THE B EST AND C REATE Y OUR O WN

2. 2 A Writer by M.B. Goffstein. New York: Harper & Row, 1984. A writer sits on her couch holding an idea, until its time to set words upon paper, to cut, prune, plan and shape them. She is a gardener, never sure of her ground, or which seeds are rooting there. She has grown flowers, weeds, a slender tree. Now she dreams of pansies and hearts-ease.

3. 3 A Writer by M.B. Goffstein. New York: Harper & Row, 1984. At first daylight, she sees two small green leaves close to the soil. If a rabbit eats them, she not mad at him. She knows more will grow, for a writer always studies, looks, and listens. Thoughts that open in her heart, and weather every mood and change of mind, she will care for.

4. 4 A Writer by M.B. Goffstein. New York: Harper & Row, 1984. Shes only one of many writers, working alone at her desk, hoping her books will spread the seeds of ideas. Sugar Bush by Pearl Van Geest

5. OLA Teaching Materials 5 What makes a good picture book ? Tells a good story Uses beautiful language Its accurate in time & place Shapes real characters It is engaging Touches the heart Stimulates thought Its appropriate for children Stirs the imagination Pictures enrich the text Energized by strong words Explores eternal verities It is inviting It is fun It is free from errors Tells a dual story – in text and pictures

6. 6 How do I begin? Readstudy many Read and study many picture books Study award-winning books Blue Spruce Award Caldecott Governor Generals Award First Choice Examine their characteristic and qualities great What is great about these books? The wonder of the story? The beauty of the words? The power of the art? The enticement of the packaging ?

7. 7 Focus On Your Own Creation Think and talk Think and talk picture books ideas discuss ideas with others - family, friends, teachers, teacher-librarian inspired Be inspired by picture books you read Record Record possible story and art ideas Start a fridge list Add ideas as you think of them percolate Let ideas percolate in your mind

8. 8 Share Picture Books With Children Read Read aloud to children Talk Talk about the books Notice children's responses Notice children's responses oWhat did they like? oIn what way did it engage their emotions? oHow did it stimulate discussion? oHow did the pictures contribute to the story ? Record Record ideas for your own book

9. OLA Teaching Materials 9 Practice Good Time Management Break the process into partsBreak the process into parts Set due dates for each stageSet due dates for each stage Use class time productivelyUse class time productively Schedule regular homeworkSchedule regular homework Meet all due datesMeet all due dates Read picture books at every opportunity Read picture books at every opportunity

10. 10 A S TEP-BY- S TEP P ROCESS sixDivided into six parts –Record due dates for each part? –How will each part will be assessed and evaluated? FIRST: Analyze FIRST: Analyze qualities of good picture books SECOND: Plan proposal SECOND: Plan proposal for your own creation THIRD: Write draft THIRD: Write first draft of your story FOURTH: Construct storyboard FIFTH: Create final FIFTH: Create final good copy SIXTH: Present SIXTH: Present to a childrens audience

11. 11 S TEP 1: How to Analyze Picture Books Study the Packaging, Art and Story Complete the Analysis sheets Packaging, Art, Story Packaging, Art, Story Focus as you analyze Study award winners How will you be marked? What are the criteria? Hand in Your Analysis sheets Due date: ______________ Packaging, Art, Story 1.Analyze Packaging, Art, Story 2.Study six different picture books for each focus (Packaging, Art, Story) 3.Write about two different books for each Use jot notes or sketches 4.Be objective 5. Be alert for ideas for your own book Record ideas for your own book

12. 12 S TEP 1 a ~ Analyze Packaging S TEP 1 a ~ Analyze Packaging Explore the following parts of books Covers: Covers: : -attractiveness, appeal, front/back pictures, wrap-around Title/author: Title/author: - lettering, appeal, size, font, background. Title Page: Title Page: - layout, dedication, lettering, illustration Author: Author: - biographical information, authority, awards Illustrator: Illustrator: - biographical information, authority, awards

13. 13 Packaging of Picture BooksPackaging of Picture Books The book I selected to analyze Author: ___________________________ Illustrator: ___________________________ Title: ___________________________ Publisher: _____________ Date: ________ How was this book packaged? What did you see? _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ The book I selected to analyze Author: ___________________________ Illustrator: ___________________________ Title: ___________________________ Publisher: _____________ Date: ________ How was this book packaged? What did you see? _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ ______________________ might Record Packaging ideas you might use for your own picture book ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

14. 14 S TEP 1 b ~ Analyzing Art Study the following aspects about art in picture books Story in pictures Story in pictures : - reflection of script: addition/deletion/duplicate Characteristics Characteristics : - humour, active, noisy, inviting, peaceful Design rhythm Design rhythm: - flow, cohesion, continuity Colour, line, shape, texture Colour, line, shape, texture: e.g., black & white or bold colours Style Style:- woodcuts, collage, photography, cartoon, plasticine water colour, pencil crayon, air brush, mixed media Unique features Unique features: - e.g., transition from reality to other dimension Special quality Special quality: - enriches text, adds a character, captures mood

15. 15 S TEP 1 b : Art in Picture Books The book I selected to analyze Author: ___________________________ Illustrator: ___________________________ Title: ___________________________ Publisher: _____________ Date: ________ What did you see as you studied the art? __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ The book I selected to analyze Author: ___________________________ Illustrator: ___________________________ Title: ___________________________ Publisher: _____________ Date: ________ What did you see as you studied the art? __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ Art ideas for my own picture book ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

16. 16 S TEP 1 c ~Analyzing the Story Explore the following aspects 1. Setting 1. Setting ~ Where does the book take us? - What is the time and place? How do you know? - Does it seem historically and geographically correct? (dress, homes, events - Does the author/illustrator give life to the setting? How? 2. Characters 2. Characters ~ What character(s) does the author create? - Whose voice is created to unfold the story? - Are the character(s) well developed, consistent, believable? - How are the characters revealed?. by thought, words, action,what others say, direct information by the author 3. Plot 3. Plot ~ What story does the book tell? - What are the building blocks? (the beginning, middle, end) - What is the main event, the supporting details? - What is the conflict? (people vs people / nature /internal struggle)

17. 17 S TEP 1 c ~ Analyzing the Story Explore the following: 4. Theme 4. Theme ~ What are the themes? Are they important? - Examples: friendship, fair play, justice, courage, love, family, kindness? - Is the authors point-of-view based on factual information?. shows a knowledge of the time, place, culture, people, children - How does the theme impact on the plot and characters? - Does the theme speak to us? … make us think? … speak to children? 5. Writers Craft 5. Writers Craft ~ What are examples of excellence ? - Does the author use beautiful figurative language?. creates pictures in your mind. theres power and emotive strength in the images - How does the author stir the imagination? - What strategies does the author use to craft the story?. first person narrative,. methods of creating suspense. use strong verbs - Is there meaning and power to dialogue?

18. 18 S TEP 1 c The Story in Picture Books Book I analyzed Author: ___________________________ Illustrator: ___________________________ Title: ___________________________ Publisher: _____________ Date: ________ Describe some special features of the story. _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ Book I analyzed Author: ___________________________ Illustrator: ___________________________ Title: ___________________________ Publisher: _____________ Date: ________ Describe some special features of the story. _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ Record story ideas for your own story ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

19. OLA Teaching Materials 19 Story Proposal Use the Story Proposal organizer S ETTING TAKE US SOME PLACE ! ( S ETTING) What time and place do you plan to re-create? P LOT TELL A STORY! ( P LOT) What will happen in your story? C HARACTERSINTRODUCE THE C HARACTERS! What characters will you create to tell your story? Would we know your character(s) if we met them? Hand in Proposal organizer. Due date: ______________ S TEP 2: P LAN Y OUR P ICTURE B OOK

20. 20 S TEP 2 a : Story Proposal Plot summary Plot summary What will happen in your story? What is the beginning, middle, end? Characters Characters Introduce your characters. Describe them, e.g., outward and inner qualities Setting Setting Take us someplace! In what time and place will your story be set?

21. 21 P ERSONALITY D ESCRIPTORS Anxious Bitter Broad-minded Capable Genuine Vital Dependable Sensitive Uninhibited Stubborn Impatient Timid Lonely Courageous Generous Domineering Hypocritical Cowardly Loving Witty Proud Gloomy Sarcastic Calculating Tiresome Sophisticated Consistent Quiet Cautious Concerned Unpredictable Moody Outgoing Spontaneous Eccentric Ill-tempered Vulnerable Capable Helpful Vain Boastful Enthusiastic Considerate Polite Irrepressible Superficial Excitable Obnoxious Scatterbrained Friendly Shy Romantic Impatient Insecure Distant Aloof Outrageous Intelligent Nervous Sensitive Sneaky Vague Gentle Confident Sly Insistent Cheerful Energetic Conscientious Relaxed Disorganized Virtuous Open Patient Kind Honest Fun-loving

22. 22 S TEP 3 ~ W RITE Y OUR F IRST D RAFT Build and test your story –Repeat your story in your head many times –Play with your story ~ have fun with your story Is it interesting, alive, exciting, accurate, …? Research for accuracy –What do you need to know to take us to a time and place? To create your setting: architecture, customs, landscape, food To create your characters: their feelings, their actions, their relationships/families To create your plot: actions with historical and cultural accuracy Use the power of strong, descriptive words –Keep a thesaurus handy –Play around with different words and phrases

23. OLA Teaching Materials 23 S TEP 3 ~ W RITE Y OUR F IRST D RAFT Tell your story to many people –Tell your story to children, if possible Note the strengths Shape and modify as needed Keyboard your first draft –Save as Draft 1 –Make additional copies as you revise and edit Use peer, self, and teacher editing of your draft –Be open to their suggestions Hand in First Draft. Due date: __________________

24. 24 S TEP 4: C REATE Y OUR S TORYBOARD PlanPlan the layout of your book –Use the Storyboard organizer –Make thumbnail sketches from front to back cover –Show the placement of your text and pictures Follow FINAL COPYFollow the FINAL COPY checklist SketchSketch your story –Strive for variety: close-up, long shots, double page spreads, bird's-eye view –Revisit picture books for ideas and inspiration –Discuss illustration ideas, especially if you are not a confident illustrator –Examine options WriteWrite your Authors Notes, as required AttachAttach a second draft to your storyboard Hand in Storyboard and 2 nd draft. Due date: ________

25. 25 S TORYBOARD Front CoverInside CoverTitle PagePublishing Data (e.g., company, copyright Dedication Page Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6 Page 7Page 8Page 9Page 10Page 11Page 12 Page 13Page 14Page 15Page 16Page 17Page 18 Page 19Page 20Author's NotesAutobiography / PhotoBack Cover

26. 26 F INAL C OPY C HECKLIST C OVER C OVER Front and back cover Front cover has name of book and your name as author/illustrator T ITLE P AGE T ITLE P AGE Has name of book and your name as author/illustrator Has name of Publishing Company at bottom (make one up) V ERSAL S IDE OF T ITLE P AGE V ERSAL S IDE OF T ITLE P AGE Has copyright date Has name of Publishing Company Has name of place where printed Has the words: all rights reserved D EDICATION P AGE D EDICATION P AGE Has a dedication of your choice (e.g., to a special friend, relative, cause, teacher)

27. OLA Teaching Materials 27 F INAL C OPY C HECKLIST contd B ODY ~ T EXT AND P ICTURES B ODY ~ T EXT AND P ICTURES Use computer to word process (take advantage of free tutoring) Consider keeping main character drawing simple - Youll have to draw them many times E ND N OTES E ND N OTES Has one-page author's notes (e.g., historical notes, background) I NSIDE B ACK C OVER I NSIDE B ACK C OVER Has a photograph of yourself (e.g., printed digital image, glued photo) Has autobiography placed under picture - Play the role of your Publisher who wants to promote you and maximize your good qualities - Be complimentary - Be truthful

28. 28 M ARKING R ECORD WeightDue DateLevelComments Analysis Logs 15% Proposal Sheet 10% Story Draft 10% Storyboard Final Copy 40% Presentation10% Bonus option 5%