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

Format and First Impressions

Elements in the Book—Space

• Way type is laid out, spaced on page• Borders—white border, no border, shifting

borders

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.

• Example—style of Beatrix Potter: gentle, watercolors, tiny size, small animals in human situations

Other elements—light and shadow

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

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

Movement

Curved linesWavy lines

Balance

Symmetrical Balance: identical shapes are placed an equal distance from the center

Asymmetrical balance: the larger of two objects is placed closer to the center than the smaller one.