Picture BooksPicture BooksPicture BooksPicture BooksBy: Amy Birdwell & Wandtrice

Buchanan

Children’s Literature and Drama

What is a Picture Book?What is a Picture Book? Not all illustrated books are

picture books.

Picture books “communicate information or tell stories through a series of many pictures combined with relatively slight or nor texts at all” (Norton, p.158)

The illustrations are as important, if not more important than the words.

Things to Things to look for:look for:

Do the illustrations relate to the story? Do the pictures compliment the setting, plot

and mood? Do the pictures enhance the characters? Do the words and pictures avoid stereotypes? Does it appeal to children? Is the book worthwhile? What is the purpose for sharing this book with

children? Is the style and language of the book age

appropriate? Do the format and pictures go well together?

Types of Picture BooksTypes of Picture Books

Mother Goose Toy books Alphabet books Counting books Wordless books Concept books Easy-to-Read books Picture Storybooks

Wordless Picture BooksWordless Picture Books Contain little or no words

Usually aimed at preschoolers

Carefully sequenced illustrations

Examples: Tuesday

by: David Wiesner (1991) The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

by: Caldecott Medal (1978)

Early Publishers of Picture Early Publishers of Picture BooksBooks John Newbery (1713-1767)

He published many types of children’s literature and a wide variety of books on reading, philosophy, and science

His first children’s book was A Little Pretty Pocket Book(1744) and History of Little Goody Two Shoes (1765)

John Harris (1807) He was a London publisher who succeeded Newbery He published Butterfly’s Ball and the Grasshopper’s Feast

(by William Roscoe) He also published fairy tales and nursery rhymes

John Marshall He was also a London publisher He had a variety of different books like the first infant

libraries, boxed miniature libraries, as well as infant’s cabinets (decorated boxes with small books and pictures).

Early Illustrators ofEarly Illustrators of Picture Books Picture Books

During the nineteenth century, the illustrations in the picture books became relevant, they noticed that the pictures were as important as the text in the stories. From this point illustrators were becoming known as well as the authors.

Some of the famous picture books (with illustration) at this time were:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) by: Lewis Carroll

Little Women (1868-1869) by: Louisa May Alcott Treasure Island (1883) by: Robert Louis Stevenson Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) by: Mark

Twain Jungle Book (1894) by: Rudyard Kipling

First Picture First Picture Books Books

for Learningfor LearningChildren’s books were first made only for educational purposes; they had religious books, grammar books and

courtesy books (instruction for proper behavior).

John Amos Comenius’s book called Orbis Sensualium Pictus (The Visual World in Pictures) was known as the first picture book made for children. It was more of an encyclopedia and was made in 1658.

From this, all types of picture books were made for children to learn from like: Alphabet books Hornbooks- wooden paddles with inscribed alphabets

that were also combined with religious writings Battledore-a folded piece of cardboard with an

illustrated alphabet Fables-fictional books for the classroom

First Picture Books for Fun First Picture Books for Fun

After the picture books were made for instructional use, Thomas Boreman made one of the first picture books for children’s entertainment, they were miniature books called Gigantick Histories.

Fairy tales Nursery rhymes Chapbooks (inexpensive pamphlets distributed

by peddlers) Moral or Cautionary tales Adventure tales And many more…

ReferencesReferences http://www.childrensbookgallery.net/shop/children

s/about-childrens-books.html

Norton, Donna & Norton, Saundra (2011). Through the eyes of a child: An introduction to children's literature (8th ed.). Pearson Education: Boston. 2011. 

http://www2.nkfust.edu.tw/~emchen/CLit/picturebook_type_wordless.htm#wordless