Just as the English alphabet wouldn’t be complete without the
letter “a,” picture books just wouldn’t be the same without
artwork. Most of the time, art consists of beautiful drawings or
painted illustrations. But some great books are illustrated with
photos. There are many differences between a picture book and an
early reader, but one of the most important is the role of the
art. In an early reader, the art supports the text. It shows the
action of the story so that if a struggling reader stumbles over
a word, he or she can look to the art for clues. Picture book
art is very different. It adds a whole new layer to the story,
sometimes introducing subplots. Neither the art nor the words
can stand on its own. Both elements contribute equally to the
storytelling. The role of art in nonfiction and fiction picture
books is no different. The art brings the story to life, and
often enhances and expands upon the written words. Many books
accomplish this deftly, but today I’m going to discuss two of my
favorite rece