Carol Gaffney

final project

December 2002

An Educator’s Survey of Children’s Literature

The art of children’s picture books is a world of color, fun, fantasy. imagination and exquisite beauty. As an art teacher, I find that picture books are a perfect jumping off point to inspire and stimulate young artists. The children’s section of the library, certainly more accessible than an art museum, is where one finds a myriad of artistic styles and quality artwork that one can pick up and hold and touch and even take home.

I am also the library teacher at my school. Always one to judge a book by its cover, when I need to choose my selection for my library classes, I am drawn to those with the most compelling artwork. If I select a book whose illustrations are are as good as the story, I am able to reinforce artistic endeavors in the library as well as the art room, helping to reach for my ultimate goal of blending library/ early literacy skills and art into one discipline.

The coveted Caldecott Medal, is given each year to the illustrator of the most distinguished picture book. The story and illustration are a complete package, the two working in tandem to create a picture book that becomes a timeless classic. In certain classic books, the illustrations and story are so entwined (ie Keats, “The Snowy Day”) that it is hard to separate the story from the illustrations.

However, in art class, I do not want to select picture books with illustrations that the children feel that cannot attempt to recreate. The following is a list of books that are appropriate to use with young artists as an introduction to teaching art elements and experimenting with various mediums. The selection is chosen for the styles which a child can be inspired by and will hopefully help to elicit creative responses, without the intimidation of needing adult skills to accomplish. Again, my particular focus is Kindergarten, and preschool handicapped children.

Ezra Jack Keats,The Snowy Day, Jennie’s Hat

Leo Lionni, Let’s Make Rabbits.

Simple, vibrant shapes and colors introduce and inspire collage work. A collection of colored papers, wallpapers, feathers, buttons etc. will help children to use their imaginations to create unique artwork. Collage work requires time for children to finish. Take one session to lay down major background pieces and another session to add all-important details.

Cynthia Rylant, “The Cookie Store Cat”

Cassie’s Colorful Day,”Faith Ringgold”

Molly Bang “When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry”

Flat, tempera paint illustrations on colored paper. These childlike illustrations give children permission to create their own houses, towns, emotions, etc. and add as much detail as possible without the limitations of making their artwork look “real”. A variety of brush widths is important.

Maurice Sendak,” Where the Wild Things Are”

Help get those monsters out from under the bed and into the open. Oil based crayon drawings can be covered with a watery black tempera wash to add nighttime drama.

Marcus Pfister “The Rainbow Fish”

Beautiful underwater scenes can be created with large watercolor blocks of sea colors.

Children can create and paste on sea creatures, or use oil-based crayons first. Holographic stickers add special excitement.

Lois Ehlert “Planting a Rainbow”

Leo Lionni “Six Crows”

A great resource for preschool or special students to reinforce both color and shape.

Cut colorful shapes from colored tag board or tear tissue paper. Makes a great class mural project incorporating nature.

Crockett Johnson, “ Harold and the Purple Crayon”

One purple crayon and any sheet of paper is enough to encourage imagination to go wild. The beauty’s in the details. Makes a great class book or mural.

Ellen Stoll Walsh “Mouse Paint”

These mischievous mice do all the teaching for you. Vibrant tempera meant specifically for color mixing are key to creating true secondary and tertiary colors.

Janice May Udry, “A Tree is Nice”

Students can “be” trees, with trunks growing out of the ground, limbs reaching to the Sun, fingers shaking in the wind, The beauty of the tree can be used all year to discuss and illustrate the changing seasons. Leaf printing, snow scene illustrations etc.

Eric Carle, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”

Precut shapes can be used with very young. Symmetry, pattern, color can be introduced to other students or later in the year, through the creation of butterfly wings.

The key to successful children’s art projects is in the planning. Anticipate and prepare for a great mess. My personal experience is that the more the children can physically be part of the material, the more creative the outcome. Several deep breaths are often necessary as children start to “get Into” their work. Never, fall for “I don’t know how to draw a....” or be tempted to “help”. Verbal suggestions or guidance are appropriate, but keep your own personal opinions out of their work. Children at this age are not overly concerned with representational details, hence the wonderfully creative solutions to their drawing “problems”. Finally, never say “I like your dog, cow” etc., for it is sure to be something else entirely!

Picasso said, “I used to draw like Raphael, but it has taken me a whole lifetime to learn to draw like a child”. Sharing and emulating the artwork of picture books strengthens fine-motor skills, builds confident, creative thinkers and problem solvers, and encourages self-expression. I get to teach both art and library, and as one of my students told me last week I am very “lucky”.