VISUAL LITERACY 1

(Gleeson, L & Greder, A)

THE DELIVERANCE OF THE DANCING BEARS

THE GREAT BEAR

Read both stories

  1. Complete a comparison diagram for the books
  2. Look at pictures in both books. What characteristics of bears are the illustrators trying to get us to see?
  3. Describe the picture in the book that you think is the most important to the story.

VISUAL LITERACY 2

(Oliver, N)

SAND SWIMMERS

Read the book

  1. Look particularly at the colours used. Why are these colours used? What effect do you think the author/illustrator is aiming for?
  2. A different technique has been used in the main illustrations depicting the animals from the technique used in the smaller bands depicting Sturt’s journey. Why?
  3. Look at the tracks on the endpapers. Where else in the book are tracks found? Why are they there?

VISUAL LITERACY 3

(Heffernan,J)

THE ISLAND

Read the book through twice

  1. Use a Venn diagram to compare the urchin to the other members of the tribe
  2. What is the illustrator trying to achieve in the use of colour?
  3. What is the moral of the story?

VISUAL LITERACY 4

(Crew, G)

MEMORIAL

Read book

  1. Have a good look at the pictures. Write what extra information you learned from the pictures or how it has added emphasis to the words written.
  2. Look at the use of symbols in this book — for example seeds, birds, and bits of cloth. What does each of these convey? Can you find other instances of the use of symbols?
  3. Make a list of the types of media are used eg. Collage, paint, pencil

VISUAL LITERACY 5

(Base,G)

UNO’S GARDEN/JUNGLE DRUMS

Read both books

  1. Using a Venn diagram compare the two picture books
  2. What is the main message that Base is trying to impart
  3. Base often used puzzle in his pictures. Why?

VISUAL LITERACY 6

(Jorgensen, N)

IN FLANDERS FIELD

  1. Look at the end papers. What is the purpose of these two pages?
  2. How is colour used to good effect?
  3. What do we learn about the hazards of the soldiers’ lives from the pictures that are not told in the text?

VISUAL LITERACY 7

(Wilson,M)

THE LAST TREE

  1. Find the following page “Over many years it had grown tall and strong…” What animals can you find represented in the drawings on the page? Why do you think the illustrator has overlaid the pictures like this?
  2. What do the pictures tell us was happening to the tree.
  3. How do the illustrations for this book compare with “I Saw nothing”, “I Did nothing” or “I Said nothing.”

VISUAL LITERACY 8

TREE OF CRANES

  1. Where does the story take place? Write down as many things as you can that prove your answer.
  2. Compare the backgrounds of the rooms through the story. What do you notice about the illustrations of the walls and floors? Why do you think this was done?
  3. How does the illustrator use colour to match the warmth of the inside and the coldness of the outside?

VISUAL LITERACY 9

BAMBOOZLED

  1. What is the effect of the words not matching the text?
  2. Pick one page in the book and write down 10 unusual things that you find in the picture
  3. Look carefully at Grandad’s socks? What do you notice?

VISUAL LITERACY 10

(Baillie,A)

DRAC AND THE GREMLIN

  1. What is the effect of the words not matching the text?
  2. Find the page that begins…”Drac speeds through the jungle..” Why does the illustrator use a collection of illustrations rather than a single one?
  3. Write down the actual items illustrated to go with these words.

Ultra-laser beam

Quivering jungles

Bubbling seas

Black volcano

Terrible tongued dragon

General Min and the hissing hoard

Supersonic jet bike

VISUAL LITERACY 11

(CREW,G)

THE WATERTOWER

  1. How does the illustrator use colour to set the mood?
  2. What do you think happened to Bubba in the Watertower?
  3. Look for the spiral water tower symbol in the illustrations. What does this add to the story.

VISUAL LITERACY 12

(MILLER,D)

REFUGEES

1.Which parts of the story are not told in words? How does the author provide clues about the events through the illustrations?

2.How do you think the ducks' story relates to human refugees?

3.What aspects of the book give us clues to David Miller's views on the destruction of habitats?

VISUAL LITERACY 13

(Marsden,J)

THE RABBITS

  1. This book is clearly not about rabbits. What do you think it is about? Why do you think The Rabbits was chosen as the title of the book? Give reasons for your answer. How are they depicted?
  2. Many symbols are used by the illustrator throughout the book. Find some and say what you think they are portraying and why the artist has used them.
  3. Look more closely at the way in which the book has been designed. The end papers depict a natural scene of tranquility, in stark contrast to the remainder of the illustrations. Explain what effect they are intended to have — why they are there?

VISUAL LITERACY 14

(Crew,G)

FIRST LIGHT

  1. What do we find out about the boy and his father from the illustrations?
  2. What about the illustrations helps us see the boys feelings for the sea
  3. What could the title “First light”, also be referring to. Can you think of more than one meaning.

VISUAL LITERACY 15

(Heffernan,J)

MY DOG

  1. The plot of the book is very sad and violent. Why has the author chosen to use a picture book to tell his story
  2. What effect does the last picture have on the ending of the story
  3. There are 2 pictures in the book of Alija sitting at a table with two adults. What does the illustrator use to show the different moods in each.

VISUAL LITERACY 16

(Hume,L)

CLANCY THE COURAGEOUS COW

  1. Give 3 morals or teachings that you think the book is trying to impart.
  2. The illustrations are colourful but rather simple. Do you think this style of illustration suits the book? Why/why not?
  3. Write down 5 differences between the 2 groups of cows and 5 similarities. Be imaginative.

VISUAL LITERACY 17

(Wild,M)

THE HOUSE OF NARCISSUS

  1. Look at the first 2 pages. Where and when do you think this story is set? Give reasons why you think this.
  2. Why does the house frighten off all its occupants? The house appears to be leaning towards the water. How does the artist add to the author’s words?
  3. The cat asks the house “What is beauty?” How would you define it? What errors in judgement has the house made?
  4. Can you think of an idiom or a fable that conveys the same message?
  5. How does the house resolve its guilt?

VISUAL LITERACY 18

(Carnavas,P)

SARAH’S HEAVY HEART

  1. First examine the front cover. What feelings does this evoke?
  2. What do you think is worrying Sarah?
  3. How does the meeting with the boy change Sarah?
  4. Sarah and the boy both have an animal following them. What do you think is the significance of these?

VISUAL LITERACY 19

(Blabey,A)

STANLEY PASTE

  1. What impression do you get of Stanley from the cover? How would you describe him? How do you feel about him?
  2. What were your initialexpectations of the new girl? Did you expect her to be short? Tall? Explain your choice.
  3. The author could have chosen any ‘difference’. What is the purpose of the book?

VISUAL LITERACY 20

(Duffy,C)

THE PRINCESSES’ BLANKETS

  1. After reading the story, how do you interpret the ‘coldness’ experienced by the princess? Is it more than literal?
  2. The man with the cold eyes takes from the environment without asking the people. Is this a metaphor for today?
  3. Do you think the princess is selfish to keep taking from the environment? Does she know?
  4. What was the cure for the princess? What did the musician offer?

VISUAL LITERACY 21

(Rogers,G)

THE HERO OF LITTLE STREET

  1. 1.Carefully open out the book so you can see both the front and back cover. Examine the scene and predict where and when this story may take place. Read the dedication to find a clue to the plot.
  2. 2.Flick quickley through the book – this is a graphic novel with no text at all. ‘Read ‘ the forst 4 pages. What causes the boy to seek out a hiding place? How does the auth or convey the boy’s fear?
  3. Read the complete story and compose a plot outline – you can create a mind map or use Kidspiration/Inspiration.
  4. 4.The boy hides in an art gallery. Research Van Eyck and Vermeer. When and where did they live?
  5. Do you think this style is the most effective way to tell this story? Why? Or why not?

VISUAL LITERACY 22

(Poulter,JR)

MENDING LUCILLE

  1. On the opening page, the picture of the little girl is opposite three little images. what do you learn from these?
  2. Go to the 4th double spread. What is the significance of the torn page?
  3. Find the page with the other little girl. Look closely at the background. What does it tell you?
  4. Now go to the wedding page. What does the little girl mean when she says Chrissie is wearing ‘a white bird with long tail feathers’? Look at the background picture.
  5. Now look at the page with the doll house. There are 3 little ‘people’ out the front. Who do they symbolise?
  6. Examine all the pictures of dad. Look at the body language and expressions. What do you learn of his ‘journey’?

VISUAL LITERACY 23

(Tolstoy,L)

THE THREE QUESTIONS

  1. Read through the whole story, taking particular note of the illustrations. What do you think of the style of the illustrations?
  2. Nikolai wants to know the answer to 3 questions. Are these the most important questions to ask?
  3. Why do you think he asked the animals for advice rather than people?
  4. Which animal do you think gave him the best advice? Why?
  5. the turtle ‘showed’ him the answers rather than told him. Was this a good method of teaching? How do you learn best?