Children'sLiterature@KSU
EVALUATING
CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS
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ILLUSTRATIONS (artistic elements)
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TEXT (literary elements)
* ILLUSTRATION and TEXT together
Remember:
“Picture books are not literature (i.e. in the sense of word dominated things), but rather a form of visual art” (Kenneth Marantz “The Picture Book as Art Object” 154).
“Since a picture book doesn’t have as many words as other books, every word, every sentence becomes that much more important”(Blair Lent“There is Much More to the Picture Than Meets the Eye” (158).
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
Does the book have an attractive appearance?
Is the title appropriate?
Are the illustrations accurate?
Do the illustrations correspond to the text?
Do the illustrations complement the setting, plot, mood?
Do the illustrations enhance the characterization?
Do the illustrations convey not only the literal but the symbolic via color, lines, frames, etc.?
Do the illustrations leave room for the child’s imagination?
Are the illustrations, text, format, and type in harmony?
Can the illustrations hold the child’s interest while the text is being read?
Does it avoid stereotypes in both text and illustrations?
How good are the pictures in the drawing?Are they art in their own right or only meeting the obligation of illustration? (from Frank Weitenkamf)
Are the characters convincing?Are they consistent?
Is the conversation lively and credible?
Will the plot appeal to a child?
Is the plot realistic/fantastic, original in approach, well constructed?
Does the theme overpower the story or is it a natural part of the story?
Is the theme worthy of a child’s attention?
What is important in the book to share with children?
Is the writing style and language appropriate for the child’s age and interests?
Does the author create an atmosphere that enhances the story?
How does the book compare with other children’s materials in the field?
Is it current, correct, and useful?
How has it been reviewed by professional reviewers?
What age level would be attracted to it?
