The Language of Picture Books English 305 Dr

The Language of Picture Books English 305 Dr. Roggenkamp

What is a picture book? § Different from an “illustrated text” or novel with pictures § Book in which illustrations and text are equally balanced, equally important § Words depend on the pictures to tell part of the story, and vice versa § Neither element can “stand alone” § Together, they complete the story— create a “third story” between them

Pictures not a “universal language” § Different cultures “read” or interpret pictures differently § Children learn to “read” pictures based on the culture in which they live § Perry Nodelman, Words About Pictures § Maria Nikolajeva & Carole Scott, How Picturebooks Work

Reading pictures a learned process § Pictures won’t mean anything to a child until child is old enough to develop an understanding of its own environment § Children seem to teach themselves picture reading skills at very early age § Contemporary culture FILLED with visual images—children learn visual literacy long before they learn verbal literacy

Do adults “lose” ability to read pictures? § We tend to read just the words § Children (especially pre-literate children) both hear the words and “read” the illustrations at the same time—get a much fuller sense of the picture book

Picture Book Milestones § 1658, Orbis Sensualium Pictus (Johannes Amos Comenius) argued by some to be first picture book § 1744, Little Pretty Pocket Book (John Newbery) § Other didactic books like Struwwelpeter (1845)

Victorian Illustrated Texts § Genre really takes off late 19 th century—publishing/printing changes make extensive illustration more feasible § Kate Greenaway, Randolph Caldecott, et al. § Illustration becomes associated with books for children § Childhood as joyous & pleasurable; illustrations as joyous & pleasurable Image: Illustration by Kate Greenaway

Format and First Impressions § Book’s physical format directs our response to that book before we even open it § Cover, shape, size, “feel” in our hands, kind of paper used, etc.

Format and First Impressions

Elements in the Book—Space § Way type is laid out, spaced on page § Borders—white border or not, shifting borders (e. g. Where the Wild Things Are)

Elements in the Book—Color § Different hues associated with different moods/feelings § Green=peacefulness, blue=serenity or sadness, red=anger, yellow=happiness, etc. § Shades—degrees of brightness or darkness. Light usually=happier mood; dark usually=more intense mood § Saturation—relative intensity of colors. More saturated colors seem more vibrant, less seem more gentle

Color. . .

Elements in the Book—Shape and Line § Rounded shapes associated with softness § Straight, angular lines associated with rigidity, tension, energy § Can strongly affect mood of story

Elements in the Book—Shape and Line

Elements in the Book—Artistic Medium and Style § Collage, oils, pastel watercolors, black and white line drawing, woodcuts, etc. § Realistic, abstract, surreal, impressionistic, etc. § Style=“the effect of all the aspects of a work considered together, the way an illustration or a text seems distinct or even unique” (Nodelman 283). § Example—style of Beatrix Potter: gentle, unsaturated watercolors, tiny size, small animals in human situations

Style affects story—Hyman’s Red Riding Hood vs. Marshall’s Red Riding Hood

Elements in the Book—Visual Objects § Symbols—use of cross, flag, tree, etc. § Cultural codes—e. g. dark=evil and light=good; slumped head=sadness and uplifted head=happiness; wolf=predator and bunny=gentle, happiness § “Picture books both depend on and teach such conventional assumptions” (Nodelman 288).

Cultural Codes

Other elements—light and shadow

Other elements—size of figures § Figures in relation to each other § Size of characters in relation to background

Other elements—focus (close up shot vs. long shot)

Other elements—way movement is suggested

Literary Elements of Picture Book § Plot—tension, action, conflict; closed ending vs. open § Characterization—full, round characters vs. flat characters; dynamic vs. static § Setting § Point of view—through whose eyes is story told? Is narrator a character, or outside the action?

Literary Elements of Picture Book § Theme—even simplest picture book can offer more complex theme or significant meaning § Importance of friendship & family, role of imagination, life coming out of death, etc. § Tone—serious and somber, light and joyful, etc. § What mood provoked in reader?

Text—Context—Subtext § § § Text The words themselves But also the conventions that readers observe—symbolism, characterizations, genre, narrative style, open vs. closed ending, etc.

Text—Context—Subtext § Context § Historical context in which work was created § How is the text “in community” with the era in which it was written/illustrated?

Text—Context—Subtext § Ways textual elements and context work together to create meanings that are not always obvious § What is the book’s possible ideology? § Example: The Story of Babar