Hello again Lit fans! This week I read chapters 4 and 5 in our Literature book, and they definitely had a lot to say.

Chapter 4 discussed illustrations in childrens' books. There are many aspects to consider when analyzing an illustration in a children's book. Color is the most important aspect of a picture, if you ask me. While it only says it is extremely important in our book, I think it is the most important. Color is the definite deciding factor of mood and energy of an illustration. A color alone can alter how one feels when one is exposed to it long enough. Line is second in importance. The motion and direction of a line can change the feeling of a picture. A simple straight line can simply mean unmoving, boring, or dead, making the line wavy or curvy can give life and energy. Next are shapes, which are formed from colors and lines. Shapes can be complex or simple, based upon the complexity or simplicity of a story, they should match. Texture, although with illustrations isn't noticeable when touched, can convey to a child how an object should feel. The roughness of tree bark, the smooth fur of a cat, all can be imagined from texture. I also read about the types of artistic media- pen & ink, watercolors/acrylics/pastels/ oils, woodcuts, and collage. The types of art- representational, impressionistic, expressionistic, and abstract. Some books with ~fantastic~ illustrations are as follows: The Owl and the Pussycat, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Where the Wild Things Are, Puss in Boots, and Mama Says There Aren't Any Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Demons, Monsters, or Fiends.

Chapter 5 was all about picture books. Picture books tell stories through pictures (as one would assume by the name). They can have text, little text, or no text at all; the pictures present content. Mother Goose rhymes are the most popular of early literature, and it's easy to see why. With their quick, easy rhymes, and silly content, people of all ages can enjoy Mother Goose. Children can proudly show they have memorized them, and adults can remember learning them when they were children. They have lasted for years and years, and many copies have been done because of the appeal. Toy books, alphabet books, counting books, concept books, wordless books, and easy-to-read books are also mentioned in this chapter. The alphabet books, wordless, counting, and easy-to-read books are fairly self-explanatory in what they are, but for the rest I shall briefly explain. Toy books are just what they are- toys. They make reading a fun game for children by using pop up pages, flaps, and plastic pieces to make the child eager to see the next page. Concept books are used for developing basic concepts such as prepositions, antonyms, and synonyms. Great examples of picture books are obviously Mother Goose, and the best pop-up book I owned as a child- A Visit to the Haunted House. This is such a cute book about two kids who follow their lost ball into a haunted house and find much more. The illustrations and pop-up pictures will have kids wanting to read it over and over.