1. Textbook Assignment #1: Visual Elements of Art & Evaluation Criteria
Adriana Hernandez
LSSL 5360 – Dr. Perry
September 11, 2015

2. Visual Elements of Art

3. Line
DePaola, T. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet: An old tale of Texas. New York: Putnam.
The legend of the bluebonnet’s illustrations make superb use of lines. The background images with the sharp dark tipis breaking through the skies are a beautiful dichotomy. All the pictures throughout are outlined in deep, dark black, setting a serious tone and creating stunning pictures on each and every page.

4. Shape
Singer, M. (2010). Mirror mirror: A book of reverso poems. New York, N.Y.: Dutton Children's Books.
Each page in mirror mirror uses large rectangles to divide in half and clearly delineate the two sides of each story. Josee Masee creates stunning imagery every time you turn the page to see what is coming next. The pictures themselves also make beautiful use of clear shapes to create the images. From the oval of the magic mirror to the sharp triangles that create the wolf’s teeth.

5. Color Falconer, I. (2000). Olivia. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
The use of color in the olivia series of books is truly beautiful. The simple pallet of red, black and white may seem bland to an outsider, but it is anything but. If anything it helps to make the text shine and the pages dazzle. Many children’s books rely on a heavy pallet of bright, colorful, over the top colors, Falconer’s books revel in their simplicity.

6. Texture Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. New York: Clarion Books.
The use of texture in this children’s book was a welcome surprise and put a new spin on the well known tale. The pigs are literally blown out of the pages and into another dimension. and, when they do, the art work takes on a new and brilliant look. The pigs interact with the reader in our 3d world, confused and amazed at the fact they have somehow left their own world. It adds an extra sense of fun and whimsy to the story.

7. Composition
Smith, L. (2010). It's a book. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
In my opinion, it’s a book is a wonderful example of composition in children’s literature. The soft, curved lines that form much of the characters and the sharp, dark lines of clothing and other details; the round shapes of the repeating clocks, the rectangles of the book and the furniture; the soft, almost muted color palette that soothes and attracts the eye and the coloring that make the monkey’s muzzle and arms almost look like real soft fur. Put all together, it’s a book shows great use of all of the visual elements.

8. Evaluation Criteria

9. Characters
Munsch, R., & Martchenko, M. (1992). The paperbag princess. Annick Press.
A princess trying to defend her potential prince and a dragon who is willing to negotiate – these are not your run-of-the-mill fairy tale characters. Even more unusual, the princess does not even end up with the prince at the end of the story! old fashioned characterizations are all done away with in this clever fairy tale.

10. Plot
Brown, P. (2014). My teacher is a monster! (No I'm not) Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Why are teachers so mean? A question as timeless as school itself, and so brilliantly handled in this funny little tale. Bobby hates miss kirby in the classroom. How will he feel about her in the “real world’? The illustrations complement the cleverness of the story wonderfully and bobby ends up with a whole new insight into his teacher, ms. Kirby.

11. Setting Klassen, J (2012). This is not my hat. Candlewick.
Would this story have been more funny if told on land? Doubtful! This is not my hat is so perfectly charming as an undersea adventure. The fish interactions, the sea plants to hide in, the friends encountered…all make this book a great little nugget. Not to mention the beautiful pictures on deep, dark backgrounds! Those only add to the beauty, and importance, of the setting.

12. Theme Smith, L. (2010). It's a book. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
Books are a powerful medium to teach and influence the reader, be they 8 or 80. It’s a book does a superb job with theme – reminding older readers that there is more to life than technology and inviting younger readers to join the “screenless” world (at least for a little bit). It is in this area I think picture books excel – using great images and funny stories to share something important. Spot on!

13. Style Falconer, I. (2000). Olivia. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Ian Falconer is a style guru for picture books, in my opinion at least! The Olivia series has some of the most recognizable imagery and style of almost any picture book I can think of! The drawing style as well as the simple color palette create memorable pictures, complemented with Falconer’s writing style in creating
the quirky pig, we have a new character
for the ages.

14. Illustrations
Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. New York: Harper & Row.
Looking at the pictures in where the wild things are evokes images you could see in an art gallery. The large boisterous monsters with little max tucked somewhere in between, The varied textures of leaves, fur and feathers, the lush landscapes – it’s all a beautiful mix that gives the books’ illustrations as much, if not more than, its words. This book could be wordless and its illustrations would still superbly tell this magical tale.

15. Cultural Markers
Deedy, C. (2007). Martina, the beautiful cockroach: A Cuban folktale. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.
Though I wouldn’t call the depiction stereotypical, Martina is definitely Cuban. From her family’s home in Havana to her grandmother’s coffee test to all her Latin suitors. One would be hard pressed to find a sweeter cockroach. This retold Cuban folktale
delicately tells Martina’s story as she searches
for love among the various creatures who seek
her hand. Their latin names and character-
izations are clear indicators of a rich and
beautiful culture.