The Reading Chair: Summer 2024
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Children鈥檚 books feature a unique marriage of text and illustrations in conversation with each other. In books that are authored by one person and illustrated by another, the text is often written first and serves as an invitation for the illustrator. This edition of The Reading Chair showcases a wide variety of illustration styles that can be successful鈥攚hen done well鈥攊n children鈥檚 books.
Illustrations in听The ABC Bunny听use lighting and the direction of ink strokes to guide the viewer鈥檚 eye. They are a striking example of the effectiveness of good black-and-white illustrations, in which information and emotion are conveyed without color.听Whose Egg Is That?听makes use of negative (or blank) space to create dramatic effects and heighten the power of the ink on the page. In听Fire Chief Fran, the paint and digital media illustrations capture the facial expressions and physical energy of the characters, bringing the story to life. Bold, uncluttered illustrations tend to make for the best group read alouds. But in听Beneath, the illustrations are full of details. This works well because focal points, conveyed with color and lighting, guide the eye through a clear story within each illustration. In听Wings, Waves & Webs, bold colors and negative space help readers make sense of the patterns shown, supporting the purpose of the book.
We hope exploring these books leads you to others with illustrations that are similarly engaging for the children in your setting.
鈥擨sabel Baker and Miriam Baker Schiffer
听
The ABC Bunny
By Wanda G谩g. 2022 (1934).
Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 30 pp. Ages 1 to 6.
Famed author and illustrator Wanda G谩g created the first major American picture book, Millions of Cats,听and while she didn鈥檛 publish many books for children, they鈥檝e certainly endured. She is also known for听The ABC Bunny, an alphabet book first published in 1934 and newly available in a board book edition that we鈥檙e excited to share. It鈥檚 the story of one bunny鈥檚 long and adventurous journey to Elsewhere and back to Bunny Town, during which he encounters fascinating creatures and situations, such as the quail lined up on a rail. G谩g presents one or two letters of the alphabet per page, pairing them with familiar words (apple,听frog,听rain) and words not usually found in an alphabet book (elsewhere, jaunty, bookish). The text features rhyme (crash听and听dash;听gale听and听hail)听and alliteration (鈥渘apping in a nook鈥�). The mesmerizing听black-and-white听illustrations are听richly expressive.
Young readers will want to browse the pictures and study the objects and characters all on their own; the board pages will stand up to that well. This magnificent book offers an easy way to introduce children to the alphabet, with rhyme and familiar objects听and movement.
Whose Egg Is That?
By Darrin Lunde. Illus. by Kelsey Oseid. 2023.
Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. 32 pp. Ages 2 to 6.
Children will join right in for this interactive study of animals who lay eggs. The book presents eggs ranging from the killdeer鈥檚 spotted egg and the leatherback sea turtle鈥檚 egg buried in the sand to a fossil of a dinosaur egg. Readers will enjoy learning about their varied shells, such as the soft and rubbery platypus egg. Text explains how shells are adapted to different habitats, such as the blue of a robin鈥檚 egg that protects the chick from sunlight. Illustrations are beautiful yet simple, with great use of negative space. We love that each egg is life-sized. Back matter presents additional 鈥渆ggcellent听egg facts.鈥�
This book lends itself well to extension activities, such as using paper cutouts or rocks of different sizes鈥攁nd perhaps some grocery store eggs for comparison鈥攖o bring the eggs off the page and into your setting. An excellent science title听for preschoolers!
Fire Chief Fran
By Linda Ashman. Illus. by Nancy Carpenter. 2022.
New York: Astra Young Readers. 32 pp. Ages 2 to 6.
Firefighter books have broad appeal for children. With flashing lights and drama, what鈥檚 not to like? But skilled author and illustrator team Ashman and Carpenter take this one to the next level. The book follows Fire Chief Fran and her crew as they juggle emergencies big and small with the more ordinary parts of their day, including training, sharing meals, and educating children who visit the firehouse. The story starts with a sweet puppy, grateful for a rescue, and works its way up to a full-blown fire. Ashman鈥檚 rhyme, which she is known for, carries the story from episode to episode with a sense of urgency, keeping the reader鈥檚 attention. Carpenter鈥檚 colorful and compelling illustrations capture the physical demands of the job and the skills of the firefighters performing it. The back matter is full of interesting facts听about firefighters.
Teachers can use this book for extension activities about helpers in their communities and to start conversations听about teamwork.
Beneath
By Cori Doerrfeld. 2023.
New York: Little Brown. 40 pp. Ages 3 to 7.
Grandpa asks about Finn鈥檚 horrible mood, but Finn doesn鈥檛 want to talk about it. Reluctantly, Finn agrees to go for a walk instead, staying covered head-to-toe in a blanket. Grandpa leads Finn on a nature walk and talks about all the things a person can鈥檛 see: the roots beneath the trees; the fish beneath a boat; the plants sprouting beneath fallen leaves. Finn finds this intriguing, and the blanket slowly drops. Soon Grandpa and Finn connect the idea to people, who also have more going on beneath than meets the eye, whether pain or love or understanding. Finn feels much better after that, knowing Grandpa understands. The text is light enough to keep this book of sophisticated ideas moving along smoothly. Doerrfeld鈥檚 illustrations of the rich life beneath the natural world are lush and fascinating. She pays close attention to illustrating the听humans too.
This book will inspire children to think about layers in their natural surroundings and even the layers of their favorite fruits and vegetables. It can also be a starting point for a conversation听about feelings.
Wings, Waves & Webs: Patterns in Nature
By Robin Mitchell Cranfield. 2023.
Vancouver: Greystone Kids. 36 pp. Ages 3 to 8.
Spirals, stripes, radial symmetry, meanders, and honeycombs: these patterns and more are all here, ready for children to examine. This fascinating book shows how all kinds of patterns appear throughout nature (on snails, in ice crystals, across eggshells) and how they help a variety of animals achieve their goals and survive, whether that means growing, communicating, or moving as a collective. Cranfield鈥檚 illustrations are appealing and clear, sophisticated for older readers yet simple enough for听younger ones.
Educators can take children on a nature walk or a walk inside their setting and ask them to identify the patterns mentioned in the book. The book can also be a jumping-off point for discussions about how patterns help us understand our surroundings and make predictions. Patterns also have applications far beyond the physical world. Teachers can help children notice patterns in everyday routines and social听interactions鈥攕uch听as learning and repeating successful conversation strategies鈥攁nd in content areas like math听and literacy.
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