Exploring the Great Outdoors - Meridian International Center

Exploring
the Great Outdoors
Sports and Recreation
in Original Illustrations from
Children’s Books
Teacher’s
Resource Guide

Curator’s Introduction
This Teacher’s Guide was designed to promote not only a love of reading and visual literacy, but
also to encourage enjoyment of the “Great Outdoors” all year long. Educators can make use of
the entire volume – or only parts of it. Our intention in developing this resource was to share
with young people the importance of reading widely and regularly, appreciating (and creating)
art, and perceiving small details in the world around us, while maintaining a healthy relationship
with the outdoors. Each of these skills reinforces the others. A person who cultivates this
intellectual, visual and physical “toolkit” can travel anywhere – from their backyard to the
farthest corner of the planet – always learning something new and linking this information to that
gained from past discoveries. This process, once begun, is never-ending and leads to a greatly
enhanced life experience.
The current guide draws from earlier versions used successfully in past illustration exhibits – and
adds new sections related to this exhibition. Over 30 host museums around the country have
commented on the positive role of these “guides” in promoting museum education and enhancing
the enjoyment of visiting teachers and students. Some institutions distributed thousands of copies
of the first guide. Subsequent technological advances permitted Meridian to place the second
guide on its web site – facilitating broader circulation and allowing museums to develop
unprecedented community partnerships with local schools, libraries and literacy centers.
Exploring the Great Outdoors grew out of a sense that all is not well in our increasingly
technology-driven society. Unlike in previous epochs when people were forced to go outdoors to
seek diversion, our modern world is full of stimuli created by television, video games, DVD
movies and increasingly “intelligent” computers. While these devices can be exciting –
sometimes even educational — they also have led to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle for
Americans of all ages – especially children. This phenomenon, combined with readily available
processed foods and unbalanced diets, is leading us toward a health crisis of unprecedented
proportions.
Newspapers carry stories linking inactivity and poor diet to an increase of certain illnesses among
young people – and leaders of the medical community warn about the long-term impact of this
situation on our well being as a nation. Exploring the Great Outdoors is a response to these
concerns and will reach many thousands of people during its two and one-half year tour. We offer
this beautiful collection of original book illustrations, linked to a well-planned Teacher’s Guide,
so that creative, committed educators can share with children and families around the country the
simple precept that a healthy mind, combined with a healthy body make one’s life a great and
rewarding adventure.
Curtis Sandberg, Ph.D.
Director of Exhibitions
Meridian International Center
2

Table of Contents
Illustrators and Artwork 4
Teacher Information 10
Bringing Books to Life: Related Activities 18
Art & Language Connections: Gallery Activities 27
Celebrate Art Outdoors: Seasonal Activities 35
Glossary 44
Artist Biographies 47
Suggested Bibliography 67
Credits 68
Teacher Information
© 2002 Meridian International Center and Mazza Museum
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Illustrators and Artwork
Illustrator
Yossi Abolafia
Mary Azarian
Halldór Baldursson
Aliki Brandenberg
Harrison Cady
Nancy Carlson
Donald Carrick
Reg Cartwright
Jill Chambers
Lynne Cherry
Bob Childress
Brenda Clark
Zvonko Coh
Title of Artwork and Book
“At the Pool Dad Never Dives into the Deep End”;
“I am Going to See the World”
Abba Oseh Bushot (My Father Always Embarrasses Me);
Hakina Nehama (Thelma the Louse)
“‘J’ is for Jump”
A Farmer’s Alphabet
“Outdoor Living”
Pétur og Krummi (Peter and the Raven)
“They Went to the Park”
Best Friends Together Again
“Cover”
Peter Rabbit Comic Book
“Catching the Big One”; “Waiting Patiently”
Loudmouth George and the Fishing Trip
“Into the Cave”
The Climb
“Jackdaw Hops Free”
Jackdaw
“When a Frog Floats”
Ask Me If I’m a Frog
“A Bee Buzzed in the Man’s Ear”
The Great Kapok Tree
“Father, Do You Want the Car”
Fun Wherever We Are (Dick and Jane Readers)
“Franklin’s New Friend – Cover”
Franklin’s New Friend
“On the Wheels”
CICIBAN Magazine
4

Illustrator
Barbara Cooney
Palmer Cox
Donald Crews
Nina Crews
Mohammad Reza Dadgar
Tomie dePaola
Claudia De Teresa
David Diaz
Laura Dronzek
Sigrún Eldjárn
Paul Galdone
Title of Artwork and Book
“Picnicking”; “Sailing in the Bay”
Down to the Beach
“Brownies Move a Globe”
The Brownies Latest Adventures
“Cyclists’ Reflections in the Water”
Bicycle Race
“I Make a Perfect Snowball”
Snowball
“The Fish Pond”
Namehaye Zeynab (Letters from Zeynab)
“Juggling Fruit”; “Under the Portico”
The Clown of God
“Assembling in the Plaza”; “Boys in Tiger Costumes”;
“Fighting Tigers”; “Getting Ready”; “Placing the
Flowers”; “Watching the Dancers”
Pelea de Tigres (The Tiger Skin)
“Wilma Reached Back for the Baton”
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the
World’s Fastest Woman
“Making a Snowrabbit”
OH!
“In-Line Skating”; “Jumping Priest”; “On Top of
the World”; “Skating on Skis”; “The Frosty
Summer Day”
Grannmeti og Átvextir (Frewts and Wedgetables)
“Cooling Off”; “Puddle-Jumping”
The People Downstairs and Other City Stories
Arthur Geisert “Page R”
Pigs from A to Z
John Goss
“Mountain Climbing Fall”
Chased Across the Pampas
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Illustrator
Gail Haley
Cheryl Harness
Ruth Heller
Kevin Henkes
Syd Hoff
Ann Jonas
David H. Jorgensen
William Joyce
Gloria Kamen
Ezra Jack Keats
Doug Keith
Yoshi Kogo
Fritz Kredel
Lois Lenski
Title of Artwork and Book
“Art for Poster”
Books by Gail Haley
“Playing Basketball”; “Book Jacket”
Gus Wanders Off; Three Young Pilgrims
“Tennis-final”
Many Luscious Lollipops
“At the Playground, Wemberly Worried”
Wemberly Worried
“Everybody to the Lake”; “They Rowed Little Boats”
Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp
“Find Our Sunny Spot”
The 13 th Clue
“Mr. Jeremy Stuck His Pole into the Mud”
The Tale of Jeremy Fisher
“Hotdog Cookout”
Tammy & the Gigantic Fish
“Title Page”
The Ringdoves
“Peter Making a Snow Angel”
The Snowy Day
“Through the Tunnel”
Things Change
“Tango no Sekku”; “Wokuman”
A to Zen
“Climbing High”
Swiss Family Robinson
“Boy on Tricycle”
Davy’s Day
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Illustrator
Blair Lent
Title of Artwork and Book
“They Watched the Boat”
The Funny Little Woman
Betsy Lewin “Preliminary Sketches #1”
Penny
Ted Lewin
Arnold Lobel
Inge Löök
Fred Machetanz
Corrine Malvern
Julie Mammano
James Marshall
Edward McCandlish
Carlo Alberto Michelini
Mrinal Mitra
Susanna Natti
“Fuzzy Cupid”; “In this Corner”; “The Winner”
I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler
“Cover – Variant”
Frog and Toad Together
“Skiing Gnome”; “The Year is Round”
Portfolio; Komea Kukko: Lasten Oma Kinja Ajasta (The
Magnificent Cock: The Children’s Own Book About
Time)
“Dog Sled Team”; “Race Finish”
Panuck Eskimo Sled Dog
“Playtime”
Tiny Tots, Simple Objects
“Six Foot Swells”
Rhinos Who Surf
“Fun in the Water”
George & Martha Summertime, Portfolio
“The Bunny Tots and the Tea Shop”
Portfolio
“Now You’re a Kite”
The Falling Star
“School Children Planting Trees”
Tree Growers
“Cover”
Ronald Morgan Goes to Bat
Evaline Ness
“Girl Running”
The Bridge
7

Illustrator
Peter Parnall
Maud and Miska
Petersham
Brian Pinkney
Jerry Pinkney
Leo Politi
Daniel T. Powers
Preeda Punyachand
Vicky Ramos
Ted Rand
Title of Artwork and Book
“Burning Altar”
Knee-Deep in Thunder
“Skating on the River”
Hans Brinker
“Bill Pickett at the Fort Worth Fat Stock Show”
Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin’ Cowboy
“Playing in the Farm Yard”
New Shoes for Silvia
“The Zen of Jumping Rope”
Portfolio
“They Started Down the Trail” ; “Ojeeg Was a Great
Hunter”
Dear Katie, The Volcano is a Girl; From the Land of the
White Birch
“Sailing Coconut Boats”; “They Made Banana
Trunk Rafts”
Fun by the River
“Ronda”
Un Tobogán en una Burbuja (A Toboggan in a Bubble)
“W”
The Hullabaloo ABC
H. A. (Hans Augusto) Rey “Curious George Flying a Kite”
Curious George Flies a Kite
Rosa Salgado
Amy Schwartz
Maurice Sendak
“Clarita Appeared as if by Magic”; “They Played
from Morning to Night”
Cartas a Carmina (Letters to Carmina)
“The Boys Team”
The Boys Team
“Snow is to Roll In”
A Hole is to Dig
8

Illustrator
Symeon Shimin
Leonard Shortall
Diane Stanley
Gustaf Tenggren
Wendy Watson
Thomas Wharton
Dorothy Wheeler
Mary Whyte
David Wiesner
Hans Wilhelm
Mike Wimmer
Paul O. Zelinsky
Title of Book and Artwork
“Coming Up for Air”; “Low-Tide Pool”
The Paint-Box Sea
“Cover”
The Case of the Missing Lettuce
“Running with the Big Dogs”
Captain Whiz-Bang
“She Combed Their Hair”
Tenggren’s Fairy Book
“Book Jacket”
Little Brown Bear
“Sledding”
Portfolio
“Through the Woods”
Portfolio
“Screeching and Cawing”
The Waltz of the Scarecrows
“Sometimes They Just Sat and Enjoyed the View”
Hurricane
“Josephine Goes Skiing”
Don’t Give Up, Josephine!
“Swimming in the Pond”
Summertime
“The Track Meet”
Strider
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Teacher Information

Teacher Planning Form
Name of Artist and Artwork Presented:
1. __________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Teacher Information
2. __________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Activity Presented: ________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Materials Needed: _________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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Some Thoughts About Questions
There are four basic types of questions. Each type uses different words to elicit answers
that are appropriate to the type of question. Listed below are the question types and some
of the words and phrases these questions use to seek answers.
The use of a variety of question types in the teaching process allows the student to look at
a particular phenomenon from a variety of different viewpoints.
Teacher Information
Question Types
Words and Phrases
Factual
Analytical
Speculative
Evaluative
who, what, when, where, list, name,
describe, define, recall, identify,
recognize, remember, locate, rephrase,
translate, record
analyze, conclude, decide, why, support,
how, relate, categorize, classify, survey,
solve, apply
create, develop, design, change,
synthesize, devise, imagine, suppose,
predict, what if, how could, combine,
estimate, hypothesize
judge, evaluate, assess, validate, decide,
give opinion, debate, argue, choose,
recommend
Perhaps these ideas will prove helpful in the formulation of questions for discussions
about works of art.
This material is derived from the Toledo Museum of Art.
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The Art of Looking at Art
Meaningful experience with a work of art hinges on the skill and motivation to look
longer, notice details, ask questions, acknowledge personal reactions, and reflect on the
significance of what you see. Perhaps the following questions will provide some
guidance for looking at art.
Teacher Information
The Art of Looking at Paintings
• On a rating scale from one to ten, with one being extremely realistic/
naturalistic and ten being extremely abstract/non-objective, where would
you place this painting Why
• What is the subject of the painting Does anything seem symbolic
• Has the artist created the illusion of three-dimensional space If so, how did
he/she do it
• Is color used naturalistically or expressively
• How do your eyes move throughout the painting What catches your eyes
first, next, etc. Does the painting have a static or moving quality How is
that achieved
• Look closely at the paint application. Is the mark of the artist obvious or
concealed If obvious, how would you describe the brushstrokes
• What does the painting express to you What did the artist do to contribute
to that expression
• What do you know about or notice in the world around you that you
were not aware of before looking at this painting
• If you could talk to the artist, what would you ask him or her
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A Way to Talk about Art
1. DESCRIPTIONS: What you see
You may see some of these kinds of lines:
sharp fuzzy thin choppy
thick curved graceful vertical
jagged smooth horizontal diagonal
heavy straight
Teacher Information
You may see some of these kinds of shapes:
circles rectangles curved soft-edged
squares triangles angular hard-edged
You may see some of these kinds of colors:
Cool: blues greens
Warm: reds oranges yellows
Neutrals: browns grays whites
Opposites: blues/oranges reds/greens yellows/purples
Kinds: bright or dark soft or strong
2. ANALYSIS: The way what you see is put together
These kinds of balance may be used:
symmetry asymmetry a bit of asymmetry
Do you see light and the effects of light Where
What is the first thing you notice when you look at the work
These kinds of space may be shown:
deep space shallow space flat space (not very 3-D)
Do you see dark areas anywhere Where
Is anything repeated in the work
lines shapes colors
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3. MEANING: The purpose of the work of art
Choose the answer which best describes the primary concern of the artist:
1. imitating nature
2. expressing a feeling or an emotion
3. organizing lines, shapes, colors, and textures into an effective design
Choose words that best describe what you think is the meaning of this work of art:
strength beauty love madness
excitement courage horror fear
hope hate anger adventure
harmony joy despair loneliness
peace sadness death mystery
war old age fun happiness
Teacher Information
Interest: color lines shapes
Design: simple complex
4. JUDGMENT: Evaluating the work of art
Does this artwork succeed in imitating nature
Does this artwork show feeling or emotions
Does this artwork make the viewer aware of lines, shapes, colors, or design
How do you like this work of art
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Taking a Closer Look:
A Guide to Looking at Children’s Book
Illustrations
This section gives a few suggestions to show what to look for and understand.
Point of View:
Teacher Information
What is the illustrator’s perspective
Does it seem to be from a child’s point of view
How does the artist use the illustrations to extend the story
How do the illustrations involve the child in the art and in the story
Mood:
What is the overall tone or mood of the book
How does the illustrator use color, style and media choices to create this mood
(The layout or design of the page can also be a factor in creating mood.)
Color: What colors has the illustrator chosen How does the illustrator use color
to create the mood
Style: How does the artist’s style contribute to the mood
Media: What media has the artist chosen Does this help convey the
mood of the text
Is the mood of the art in harmony with the feelings of the words
Pacing and Design:
What makes you want to turn the pages
What makes you want to linger over a page
Do the illustrations have enough variety
Is there a natural movement from one page to the next
How has the illustrator designed the illustrations to accommodate the text
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Book Awards
The Caldecott Medal:
The Caldecott Medal is named in honor of Randolph Caldecott, a prominent
English illustrator of children’s books during the nineteenth century. An awards
committee of the American Library Association presents this award each year to
the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published
the preceding year. The artist must be a citizen or resident of the United
States. The Caldecott Honor Award is given to one or more picture books that
have been serious contenders for the medal.
Teacher Information
The Greenaway Medal
The Greenaway Medal is named in honor of Kate Greenaway, a prominent English
illustrator of children’s books during the nineteenth century. An awards
committee of the British Library Association presents this award each year. It is
given to “the artist of the most distinguished British picture book for children.”
The Golden Kite Award
This award is presented annually by the Society of Children’s Book Writers to
members whose books of fiction, nonfiction, and picture illustration best exhibit
excellence and genuinely appeal to the interests and concerns of children.
The Newbery Medal
The Newbery Medal is named in honor of John Newbery, a British publisher
and bookseller of the eighteenth century. He has frequently been called the father
of children’s literature, since he was the first to conceive of the idea of publishing
books expressly for children. An awards committee of the American Library
Association presents this award each year to the author of the most distinguished
contribution to American literature for children. To be eligible for the award, the
author must be an American citizen or a permanent resident of the United States.
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Bringing Books to Life
Related Activities

Related Activities
Mary Azarian, A Farmer’s Alphabet
Suggested Activity:
• Here is an easy way to make a single print without fancy tools: trim the raised edge from a
Styrofoam plate, or use a flat piece of Styrofoam made especially for art projects. Draw a
design on the material with watercolor markers, remembering that everything on the finished
print will be backwards (write words backwards on the Styrofoam if you choose to add words to
the design). Work quickly so the marker ink does not dry! Carefully lay a piece of paper (good
tissue paper will work) over the design, making sure the paper is big enough to cover the design,
and rub the paper with your fingers; peel the paper from the Styrofoam. The material can be
wiped clean with a damp paper towel and a new design can be created!
Donald Carrick, The Climb
Suggested Activity:
• The boy and girl in Donald Carrick’s art appear to have discovered a cave and are about to begin
exploring it. Encourage your students to discuss the pros and cons of doing such a thing. What
will they need if they do, indeed, decide to go into the cave What might they find in the cave
You may want to share one or two of the following books in order to help the creative juices!
Tell the children they will help to make a “reading cave” in the classroom. Have a large
cardboard box big enough to hold one sitting child reading a book. The box will have to be
painted black. Now the children should design, draw, and/or paint objects they might find in the
cave. These may be cut out and either hung on black thread from the ceiling of the “cave” or
attached to the walls. Now place a pillow on the floor of the cave along with some of the
following books: Maroo of the Winter Caves by Ann Turnbull; The Mystery in the Cave by
Gertrude Chandler Warner; Caves and Caverns by Gail Gibbons; The Mystery of the Haunted
Caves by Penny Warner; Caves: Hidden World by Claude Delafosse; Caves by Larry Dane
Brimner; Painters of the Caves by Patricia Lauber; and The Caves that Time Forgot by Gilbert
Morris.
Related Activities
Jill Chambers, Ask Me If I’m a Frog
Suggested Activity:
• Ask the students if they have ever been swimming. Where What was the most fun they ever
had in the water Now talk about the girl and what she encounters while swimming. What
would they do if they swam into a giant frog What else do they see in the art Tell students
that they are to use crayons to draw themselves in an underwater scene along with all of the
things they might find around them. When finished, they will use blue watercolor to paint over
the entire page. This will create a crayon resist painting giving an underwater effect.
19

Lynne Cherry, The Great Kapok Tree
Suggested Activities:
• Point out to the students that Lynne Cherry took photos of very specific things she wanted to
remember and use in her painting. Ask them to find the images in the photos in the final
painting. Explain that many book artists take photos of their models and/or places and things
they want to incorporate into their final art. This is what they will be expected to do. But
instead of taking photos, they will look through magazines for things to cut out for use in their
drawing or painting. Have plenty of magazines filled with photos ready for this activity.
Particularly good ones are nature magazines along with House and Garden types. After they
have selected several “things” from the magazines, they should paste them to the edge of their
drawing paper. Now they are to include them as they draw or paint their scene.
• Lynne Cherry started a newsletter to help students become more aware of environmental issues.
Have the students each write an article and create an environmental class newsletter.
Bob Childress, Fun Wherever We Are
Suggested Activity:
• Ask the students what shapes they see in this painting. As an alternative you might show them
pages from Bicycle Race by Donald Crews. List or have the children draw the shapes on the
chalkboard. Discuss how artists often use basic geometric shapes (circles, rectangles, squares,
ovals, etc.) to form many of the images they create. Have each child choose one of the
geometric shapes that were discussed and draw it on the center of a piece of drawing paper.
Now ask them to create a complete picture beginning with this shape. When finished with the
drawing they should use a marker or crayon to trace over the shape with which they began.
These may be used to create a student-made book titled “Pictures From Shapes,” and placed in
your classroom library for all to share.
Related Activities
Nina Crews, Snowball
Suggested Activity:
• Nina Crews creates photographic collages for her books. She says, “Some of my favorite artists
-- Romare Bearden, Hannah Hoch, and Man Ray -- combined photography and collage. Collage
allows me to use photography playfully and to tell a story on many levels.”
Make a photographic collage. First collect discarded magazines and newspapers. Select
interesting photos of people, animals, and/or objects; cut them out. Place your cutout pieces
over other scenes you find. If the result is pleasing or funny, glue the cutout piece onto the
chosen background. Mix black-and-white photographs with colored photos; trim the edges and
glue onto a larger piece of paper.
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David Diaz, Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the
World’s Fastest Woman
Suggested Activity:
• The repeated shapes, lines, and colors used in the painting of the relay runners from Wilma
Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman, illustrated by David Diaz,
contribute to the rhythm and movement in the piece.
• Read about Wilma Rudolph, the famous Olympic athlete.
• List objects, events, places, and important people in the life of Wilma Rudolph (examples: crutches,
basketball, gold medals, her church, the bus, her family members).
• Draw pictures of some of the items on your list; cut out the pictures and use them in a mobile. The
Diaz painting shows movement and rhythm; a mobile shows a different kind of movement known as
kinesthetic.
Laura Dronzek, OH!
Suggested Activity:
• Laura Dronzek’s acrylic painting from OH! is a simple scene of children building a snowrabbit.
Imagine that the sun in the painting melts the snow and suddenly it is a different time of the year. In
the spring, the children could be constructing a scarecrow instead of a snowrabbit. How would the
colors, clothes, and tree differ when the season is changed
Related Activities
• Draw a scene two ways, in two different seasons. Apply color. Do you use the same colors for both
pictures
Arthur Geisert, Pigs from A to Z
Suggested Activity:
• After sharing this book with your students, explain that the artist used a printmaking technique
called etching. Show them how they may also make prints right in the classroom by using
potatoes. After cutting a potato in half, simply cut away pieces leaving a raised design in the
potato. Press the potato on paper towels until it is fairly dry. Now press it on a stamp pad and
you are ready to make prints on drawing paper. Your students can now make their own potato
prints. They should be encouraged to share their potatoes in order to make an interesting design
on one sheet of drawing paper. Each student can then think of an appropriate title for their
artwork and write it at the bottom of the sheet. These could then be used to create an interesting
classroom bulletin board.
21

Syd Hoff, Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp
Suggested Activity:
• Encourage a student discussion about going to camp. Has anyone ever gone to camp What
kind of camp What was the thing they liked best about camp What was the thing they liked
least Did anyone get homesick Did they write letters to their family Now explain that they
to pretend they are at a camp. They must decide what kind of a camp they would want to go to.
The camp counselor has told all campers that they are expected to write a note to someone at
home. Tell them that they went to the camp store and purchased a postcard for this purpose.
Pass out blank postcards or simply cut poster board into postcard shapes for the students to use.
The students are to create an image on one side of the postcard and then write their brief note on
the appropriate half of the other side in true postcard fashion. These are fun to pass around the
room and share.
David H. Jorgensen, The Tale of Jeremy Fisher
Suggested Activity:
• After looking at this artwork, write the word “perspective” on the chalkboard. Encourage the
students to discuss what they think this word means when applied to art. It is fun and perhaps
easier for students to understand that an artist must be as concerned about perspective when
creating an artwork as a cameraman is when making a movie. Artists and cameramen need to
decide whether they want the viewer to appear to be looking up or down at a picture. They do
this by using perspective. Have the students look back at the art and ask where the artist appears
to be when he painted this painting. Yes, directly overhead! This is what they are now expected
to do. Have the students each choose an object in the classroom (or assign them to bring in an
object to use the next day). They are to place it on the floor and then stand over it while drawing
what they see. You might ask them to think of an outdoor activity and to “imagine” they are in a
hot-air balloon directly over this activity. Now they are to draw what is happening on the
ground.
Related Activities
Doug Keith, Things Change – Troy Aikman
Suggested Activity:
• Have the students discuss how the artist made Troy Aikman appear as if he were looking far
ahead in the stadium before he actually entered it. See how large Aikman appears when
compared with the fans sitting in the stadium. Can you see the fans closest to Aikman How
about those sitting farthest from him Point out that Doug Keith used size to make the viewer
think that he/she was not looking at a flat sheet of paper. It looks like the scene goes back into
the sheet of paper and appears three-dimensional. Now pass out drawing paper and drawing
utensils to the students and have them draw the following “train tracks.”
First draw the train tracks
using vertical lines like this:
Now have them draw the tracks
using diagonal lines like this:
Ask the students which train tracks appear to be going up the page and which
ones look like they are going into the page.
22

Yoshi Kogo, A To Zen
Suggested Activity:
• An interesting form of Japanese poetry is haiku. Explain to the students that to write a verse of
haiku they must count the syllables in each line. The first line must have five syllables, the
second line seven syllables and the third line five syllables. Copy this haiku on the chalkboard
and ask the students to count the syllables to see if this is a true haiku.
Today is windy,
The leaves rustle in the trees,
They sound so pretty.
• Now have the students each get a partner and try writing a haiku verse. Suggest that the subject
matter deal with an activity they can do outside.
Lois Lenski, Davy’s Day
Suggested Activity :
• Have your students make “flick book animation” with this project. This is the simplest form of
animation. Materials needed are a pencil and a long strip of paper about three inches wide. The
paper should be thin enough to see through, but should not be too fragile. Fold the strip in half,
crease it and open it out again. Each student is to think of an action or event they want to
illustrate. They will need to think of this action or event involving a “before” and “after”
position. For example: a child could be kicking a ball. The “before” scene would show the
child about to kick the ball; in the “after” scene the child would have kicked his foot and the ball
would be rolling. They are to draw the “before” scene on the second page of the two-page
“book.” Now they are to fold the first page back over the image. They should be able to make
out something of the picture underneath. For their flick book to be effective, some parts of their
image should remain the same. Once they have drawn their second picture, they should roll it
tightly around a pencil. Now to make their flick book work they simply run their pencil left and
right to reveal their “before” and “after” pictures alternately.
Related Activities
Ted Lewin, I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler
Suggested Activity:
• Explain to your students that when authors and artists make objects talk as if they are people we
call this “personification.” For example, suppose a thumbtack could talk. He might say,
“It is not very exciting to be a thumbtack. Sometimes it’s fun when you get to hang up a
pretty Christmas card. But would you like to be one I just hate all the pressing on my
head. Not only do I get thumb prints all over me, it gives me a headache!”
• Now tell the students they are each to choose a sport and think of all of the objects used in that
sport. Say you choose baseball — you might think of a bat, mitt, base, dugout, etc.
Once they have decided on an object used in a sport, they are to have that object “talk” about
itself. Be sure to share the stories with all of the students.
23

Edward McCandlish, Portfolio
Suggested Activity:
• Explain that authors use descriptive words to help the reader make a picture in his/her mind. For
example, an author might write, “The tall dark stranger walked into the room.” This helps the
reader form a better picture than if that author had written, “The stranger walked into the room.”
Explain that the words “tall” and “dark” help us to picture that person walking into the room.
And what if the author really wanted to emphasize this by making the words appear tall and
dark, like this:
The tall dark stranger walked into the room.
• Now have the students make similar changes in words as they write a sentence.
Get their creative juices flowing with the following:
If the word grow looks like this: g r o w
How would the word shrink look
Carlo Alberto Michelini, The Falling Star
Suggested Activity:
• Share one or more of the following die-cut books with your students:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Secret Birthday Message by Eric Carle
The Magic Fan by Keith Baker
Nanta’s Lion by Suse MacDonald
My School by Peter Spier
Related Activities
Now encourage a discussion of the technique of using die-cut pages in a picture book. Ask them
to think of stories they already know and then suggest what shapes would be appropriate for
these stories. For example: In Jack and the Beanstalk there could be a hole in the page on which
Jack plants his bean seed; and on the page where Jack climbs the beanstalk into the clouds, the
top of the page could be cut into a cloud shape. Using drawing paper, scissors, and art supplies,
each student should now create a booklet retelling a fairy/folk tale using the die-cut technique in
the book. The pages may then be stapled together to form the actual booklets and placed in a
central location for students to borrow and read.
Maud and Miska Petersham, Hans Brinker
Suggested Activity:
• After the students have had an opportunity to study the beautiful Petersham artwork from Hans
Brinker, ask them how the scene makes them feel. Copy their words on the chalkboard as they
express their feelings. Now ask them exactly how they would paint one of these words from the
chalkboard. You may want to begin this lesson by using a verb such as “hop.” Ask the students
how they might paint the word “hop.” Of course, they could simply show a boy or girl hopping,
but encourage more creativity. What about grasshoppers and rabbits And on windy days don’t
clouds seem to hop and leap-frog over one another Tell them to use their imagination and not
to be satisfied with the usual. Now tell them to paint how the word makes them feel. Explain
that it does not have to be a painting of a thing. Try painting the feeling. Different colors can
24

help them to do this. For instance, if they painted the word “hot” they would probably use bright
colors like reds, oranges and yellows. But if they chose the word “cold” they might decide upon
pale colors like blue and gray. Now pass out the paints, have them decide upon a word and
encourage them to create “paintbrush words.”
Brian Pinkney, Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin’ Cowboy
Suggested Activity:
• Brian Pinkney uses scratchboard for his illustrations. Here is a way to prepare scratchboard:
Color a sheet of paper with crayons, pressing hard and covering it completely. Mix a few drops
of liquid soap into black tempera paint; paint the crayon-covered paper with black paint. Dry for
twenty-four hours. Scratch in a design with a toothpick or other pointed tool.
• Create a work of art showing rhythm or movement by using repeating shapes, lines or colors.
Is your art loud or quiet, bright or dull, fast or slow
Jerry Pinkney, New Shoes for Silvia
Suggested Activity:
• In New Shoes for Silvia, Silvia has new red shoes that she is anxious to wear. Illustrators often
use the color red to lead viewers’ eyes to certain places on a painting. As you look at picture
books, see how often you find red in the illustrations. Here are some ways to use the color red:
draw a picture and make something red that is not usually red and notice how it stands out. Or,
become a shoe designer and design a fantastic pair of red shoes. You might even draw yourself
wearing them!
Related Activities
Wendy Watson, Little Brown Bear
Suggested Activity:
• After sharing the book or artwork with your students copy the word “bear” on the chalkboard.
Ask the students for rhyming words for this word. Copy their suggestions on the board;
possibilities: care, dare, fare, mare, rare, blare, flare, glare, scare, share, snare, spare, square,
stare, air, fair, hair, lair, pair, chair, flair and stair. Read the following to the students and explain
that it is a type of poetry called a “triplet.”
Hurray for the little brown bear,
He found a large horn in the chair,
So now he can make a loud blare.
Now copy the following on the chalkboard.
Casey’s the name of our cat,
This time of the year he gets fat,
From lying all day on his mat.
• Explain to the students that this is another triplet. Can they guess why Sure, it has three lines
and notice that each line rhymes. This is what they are going to make. But before they begin
you need to talk about using terms that have many words that rhyme with them, such as: CAT,
25

DID, BALL, SIT, GAME, TIN, BET, RING, FAR, LOOK, BIG, WILL and MEAT. Before
they begin writing a triplet they should choose one of these words and write it at the top of their
paper. Now they are to list as many of its rhyming words as they can. First you might want to
do one together on the chalkboard. For example: WILL…BILL, FILL, DRILL, STILL, MILL,
PILL, NIL, SPILL, THRILL, SKILL, TILL, FRILL, GRILL, JILL and TRILL. Now pair up
your students and have each pair work on writing a triplet. When they are finished, ask for
volunteers to share their poems.
Thomas Wharton, “Sledding”
Suggested Activity:
• Ask the students how they feel when they look at Thomas Wharton’s painting. Probably they
feel cold, since the artist used many cool colors in depicting this winter snow scene. What other
activities can they think of besides sledding that they do in the snow You might want to list
these activities on the chalkboard. Once they have run out of ideas, encourage them to discuss
each of the activities. Can they relate to any particular one of them Did something funny
happen to them while doing the activity Now they are to paint a winter scene involving one of
these activities. Encourage a use of cool colors. In fact, you should require the painting to have
a blue background. After the paint is dry, the students should add a snow effect by using an old
toothbrush to spatter white paint. Some artists may even want to create a snowstorm!
Hans Wilhelm, Don’t Give Up, Josephine!
Related Activities
Suggested Activity:
• A fun and simple exercise your students can do in pairs is called “doodle power.” First, tell your
students that they are to draw a simple shape, like a rectangle, coil, oval, zig-zag, etc. on a sheet
of drawing paper. They might choose to draw some random squiggles instead! Now they are to
swap these with a friend. Each should take a good look at the lines and see what they resemble.
They should turn the paper around and look at it from all sides. These patterns could be
anything. By adding their own lines to the patterns they received, they are to create something.
Encourage students to allow their imagination to run wild. These drawings should be returned to
their owner to see just what his/her shapes developed into. They can make a fun, studentoriented
bulletin board by having the first student draw in red and the second in black.
26

Art & Language Connections
Gallery Activities

Black and White
Art and Language Arts Connections
Many artists have used different media to illustrate books in black and white. What
different media are used Compare the look of each medium. Which lines are softer;
which are clearer
Colors
Which artists choose soft, faded colors Which choose bright colors Why do you think
these selections were made
Media
Compare and contrast artworks done in the same medium by different artists. Compare
and contrast different media used by the same artist.
Styles
Artists work in different styles. Some artists develop a characteristic style that is easy to
recognize. Others change their style to fit each book. Try to find examples of each. Why
do you think the artist chose that particular style for that book
Images
Many artists have depicted the same object in very different ways. Color, style, media,
and mood all contribute to these differences. Look at similar images from different works
of art and discuss the similarities and differences.
Gallery Activities
Reading Pictures
Illustrations tell a story. Try to describe what is happening in the picture What might
have happened before this picture What might happen after What are the expressions
on the people’s faces In what time period do you think it takes place Where could the
setting be What are the visual clues you used to make these decisions
Illustrators
Learn more about a favorite artist. Write your report as through you had interviewed the
artist in person.
28

“30 Second Look”
Classroom Use: Select an art reproduction of a detailed, realistic work of art with a
narrative content.
Objectives:
The student learns:
• that it takes time to notice details of a work of art. (Knowledge)
• how to practice visual recall and compare perceptions. (Skill)
• that looking carefully can be fun and rewarding. (Attitude)
Description: In this activity students are guided to think about the effects of time on
successful looking.
The Procedure:
1. Ask your students how long they think they might spend, on average, looking
at a work of art. Record their responses and discuss the factors they believe affect the
amount of time they spend looking. Ask students how long they think that adults spend,
on average, looking at a work of art. Record their responses and discuss why there may
be a difference between an adult’s and a child’s looking. After students have answered,
explain that research indicates that the average time that adults spend looking at one
object in the galleries is less than half a minute. Is thirty seconds ample time to spend
with a work of art Why, or why not Try the following experiment in small groups to
test their answers.
2. Direct students to sit silently in front of a work of art looking at it for thirty
seconds. At the thirty second mark ask everyone to turn around facing away from the
work of art (in the classroom a slide could be used).
Gallery Activities
3. Without looking back at the work of art, ask students to use their memories to
answer questions based on their observations. The following questions are the kinds of
questions the teacher might ask:
How many people are in the work of art
How would you describe them
How is each one dressed
What are they doing
What kind of setting is depicted
Is the scene tidy or chaotic
Are there any animals in the work of art
How would you describe them
29

Materials:
Caldecott Award Activity
Crayon Resist
Smith
Award
White construction or watercolor paper,
crayons, scissors, watercolor paints, brushes, water.
Procedure:
Before Visit
Step 1: Draw a circle about 4 inches in diameter.
Step 2: Using a dark colored crayon, print your last name and the word AWARD
Example: “Smith Award”.
Step 3: Watercolor over the circle covering your name and the word “award”.
My
award
During Visit
Step 4: Choose an artwork in the gallery you would select
for the “Smith Award” (your answer to the Caldecott
Award for the best picture).
Step 5: Share your reason for selecting the artwork with
the members of your group. Be prepared to tell why you
chose the painting.
Gallery Activities
30

Take an Art Medium Scavenger Hunt
Let’s go on an art media scavenger hunt in the exhibition. Below are the items you must
collect. Good luck!
2. Some artists like to use a variety
of media (mixed-media) in their art.
Find a picture like this.
1. Find a picture in which the artist used only watercolor.
Artist ________________________________________
Title _________________________________________
Artist ________________________________________
Title _________________________________________
3. Find a picture in which the
artist did not use any form of
paint to create the art.
4. Wonderful works of art can be made
using only a pencil. Find an example of
an artist that uses graphite.
Artist ________________________________________
Title _________________________________________
Artist ________________________________________
Gallery Activities
Title _________________________________________
5. Sometimes artists do their
work in just black and white.
Find a picture that is done in
pen and ink.
Artist ________________________________________
Title _________________________________________
31

PAINTING GAME
Feelings:
sad, angry, happy,
friendly, anxious,
frightened, peaceful,
mysterious, heroic,
envious
CHOOSE ONE WORD FROM
EACH SECTION BELOW, THEN
PAINT A PICTURE USING
COLORS TO EXPRESS A WORD
FROM THE “FEELINGS”
SECTION.
Places:
sea, castle, forest,
desert, a room,
mountains, garden,
circus
Characters:
cat, child, soldier,
dancer, old lady,
magician, traveler,
ghost, horse
Gallery Activities
Conditions:
sun, rain, wind,
evening, burning
heat, nighttime,
storm, dawn, snow
32

What Was Your Favorite
Now that you have seen the pictures in the exhibition, can you remember your favorite
What was it about _____________________________________________________
Why is it your favorite _____________________________________________
Can you remember the name of the book ___________________________________
If yes, what is it _______________________________________________________
Do you remember the name of the artist ____________________________________
Now try to draw the picture as you remember it.
Gallery Activities
33

Letter to an Artist
Now that you have seen the exhibition and studied the art, choose one of the artists and
write them a note. Tell them about your visit and what you learned. Be sure to mention
his/her artwork and why you chose to write to this particular artist.
Dear
Gallery Activities
34

Celebrate Art Outdoors
Seasonal Activities

Spring Activities
Tissue Paper Flowers
Materials:
Procedure:
colored tissue paper, wire or
pipe cleaners, green florist’s
tape (optional)
1. Lay out two to four sheets of tissue paper, aligning the edges. The top most sheet will be
your center; the next sheet will surround the center, etc.
2. Fold the paper accordion-style. Twist your wire or pipe
cleaner around the center of the folded paper (see Diagram A),
to form a stem. Make sure the color you want in the middle is facing up.
Diagram A
3. Pull the top layer of paper up out of the fold, making a ball in the center, then squeeze this
together. Then pull out all layers (as if peeling a banana) and scrunch them as desired.
Shape your flower as you like!
Try this:
Or this:
Cutting Line for
Rounded Petals
Cutting Line for
Pointed Petals
Wind Chimes
Materials: scissors, clear plastic lids, exacto knife, hole puncher, fishing line, stick, jingle bells
Procedure:
1. After cutting the rims off of the plastic lids, cut out seven (or as many as you like) leaf shapes.
You can also create “veins” on the leaves by lightly scoring the plastic with an exacto knife.
2. Punch a hole in the top and bottom of each leaf, and then tie a 7-10 inch long piece of fishing
line to the top of each leaf. Holding your stick horizontally, hang the leaves evenly spaced.
3. Using shorter pieces of fishing line, hang a jingle bell from the bottom of each leaf.
Seasonal Activities
4. Cut a piece of 6-8 inch fishing line for the hanger. Now tie each end of the line to the
stick.
36

Spring Games
Materials: prepared “hunt list”, bag for each team
Players: small to large groups
How to Play:
Prepare the “hunt list” by writing down nature objects in your search area (for example,
you may write, “Daisy, Moss, Bark, Rocks, Maple Leaf, etc.”). Make your list as long
and as specific as needed, depending on the age group of the players, and the time
available for “hunting”.
Divide into teams or go as individuals. Each team should have their own “hunt list” and
bag to collect their treasures in.
Searchers should then go out and retrieve the items on the list. The first team to collect
all of the items and then return to the starting point wins!
Stealing Pollen
Materials: none
Players: four or more players - the more, the merrier!
Nature Hunt
How to Play:
Choose one player to be “The Flower”. The Flower will find a base that is neither too
big, nor too small. The Flower must have one part of his/her body touching the base at
all times. The boundaries for the game should be set so that the Flower is able to see all
four corners. There should also be a place outside of the boundaries designated as the
“Bee Hive”.
The Flower will close his eyes and count to twenty, while all the other people -- “The
Bees” -- hide within the boundaries. When the Flower opens his eyes, he will name all
of the Bees that he can see (for example, he could say, “Billy behind the fence,” or
“Brian beside the shed”). If a Bee is called, he has been caught and must return to the
Bee Hive.
If the Flower cannot see any more Bees, then he will call out, “Little bees, little bees,
go away; please don’t take my pollen today!” Then he will close his eyes and count to
five. While the Flower has his eyes closed, the Bees that are hiding will come a little
closer, and find new hiding spots. If a Bee thinks he can reach the Flower’s base before
the Flower opens his eyes, he can try to make a mad dash for the base, thereby stealing
the pollen.
The Flower will continue in this manner until all of the Bees are either caught and sent
home to The Bee Hive, or safely stealing pollen from the Flower’s base.
The last Bee to safely reach the Flower’s base will become the Flower in the next game!
37
Seasonal Activities

Summer
Activities
Salt Water Painting
Materials: salt, paper, containers, water, paint brushes,
food coloring, measuring cups
Procedure:
1. Mix 1/4 cup warm water with 1/4 cup of salt in a container. Then add several drops of food
coloring to the mixture, one color per container.
2. Using paint brushes, paint onto paper with the salt water mixture. Be sure to share the
different colors of the mixture!
3. Lay the paintings to dry overnight. The water will evaporate from the paper, leaving the
colored salt on the paper.
4. Show off your new cool salt-art!
Materials: Two sheets of newspaper,
colored paper (including
one large sheet), kite string,
fabric scraps, glue, tape,
markers
make a Kite
Procedure:
1. Fold one sheet of newspaper in half, and roll it up tightly to make a pole. Tape it at either end,
and in the middle. Then do the same thing with the other sheet of newspaper. Make an “X” out
of your two poles, and then tie them together in the middle.
2. Tie and tape the string to one end of the poles, then wrap and tape the string around each of
the other ends as you move around your “X”. This will look like the outline of a kite shape.
3. Lay the kite frame on top of the larger piece of paper and trace your frame - be sure to trace a
little bit larger than the kite frame. Cut this shape out and then cut off each of the four pointed
corners. Use markers, colored paper and glue to decorate your kite.
4. Lay the kite frame on the back of the kite cutout, and fold the paper over the string on one side
of the kite. Tape it down. Then repeat on other three sides. Add a string and a tail made out of
fabric scraps. Now take it outside and fly it!
Seasonal Activities
38

Summer
Wet Sponge Relay
Octopus
Games
Materials: buckets of water, sponges, pitchers - each pitcher must have a line drawn at the same
level to ensure that all teams have equal amounts of water
Players: at least two small to large groups
How to Play:
Split into even-sized groups. Each team should then stand in a single-file line. Place a
bucket of water at the head of each line, and a pitcher with a line drawn on it at the end of
each line.
Give a sponge to each person at the head of his/her line. This person will dip the sponge
into the bucket of water, soaking up as much water as they can.
The “head” person then passes the wet sponge over his/her head to the person behind,
who then must pass it down the line through the legs. The sponge makes its way back in
this fashion: over the first person’s head, then through the next person’s legs, then over
the next person’s head, etc., until it reaches the person at the end of the line.
Once the person at the end of the line receives the sponge, he/she must squeeze whatever
water is left into the pitcher, and then run the sponge up to the front of the line.
Then everyone in the line moves back one position; the person who was in the back is
now the “head” of the line. Continue in this way until the pitcher is filled to the line.
Whichever team reaches the line first wins!
Materials: none
Players: as many as possible!
How to Play:
Set up a rectangular “ocean”. To determine the right width, have all of the players hold
hands and spread out across the field, and then mark your sidelines. Pick one King or
Queen Octopus to stand in the middle of the “ocean”. All of the other players will be the
Fish and line up across the edge of the “ocean.”
The Octopus will yell out, “I am the Octopus, King (or Queen) of all motion! Let’s
see if you can cross my ocean!” The Fish must then run or sneak across the ocean
without getting tagged by the Octopus.
If a Fish is tagged, he/she will become Seaweed. Keeping one foot planted, Seaweed try
to reach out and tag the Fish running by, turning those players into Seaweed too.
Once all of the Fish have reached the other side, the Octopus and the Seaweed will all say
the chant, and the crossing contest will start again. The last Fish to be tagged will
become the next Octopus.
39
Seasonal Activities

Fall Activities
Leaf Rubbings
Materials: many leaves (try taking a “treasure walk” outside to collect
especially interesting or beautiful leaves!), crayons or colored pencils,
white paper
Procedure:
1. Arrange your leaves in whatever pattern you like. Then place a sheet of white paper over top
of your leaf-design.
2. Gently rub the crayon or colored pencil over the paper, and watch as each leaf’s image appears
on your paper.
3. Try using many different colors, and various sizes of leaves!
Cloud Art
Materials: Drawing boards, light blue or gray paper, white chalk or pastels, and imagination!
Procedure:
1. Go outside on a partly cloudy day.
2. Lie on your back and watch the clouds move past. What types of shapes do you see Do the
clouds look like anything to you
3. Now select a cloud. Put a piece of light blue or gray paper on your drawing board, and try to
draw it using the white chalk or pastel.
4. Now you can draw another cloud, or perhaps you would like to turn your cloud into something
that you think it resembles!
Seasonal Activities
40

Fall
Games
Materials: none
Players: large group (six or more players)
Partner Tag
How to Play:
First, pick a person to be “It” and a person to be chased. Everyone else must then find a
partner. Partners should stand next to each other, “linking” arms. Each set of partners
should then spread out in the designated play area.
The person who is “It” chases the person who was picked to run. The person who is
being chased may “link” onto another person’s arm; this will make him/her safe. When
he links onto this person, the partner of that person will be “bumped” off. If you are
bumped, you must let go of your partner and begin to run - now you are being chased!
The person who is “It” will now chase the new person until he “links” onto another pair
and “bumps” off the partner on the end.
If a person is tagged, the chased person becomes “It” and the former “It” will be chased.
Materials: ball, blindfolds, lots of leaves
Players: small to medium groups
Blind Fetch
How to Play:
Find a play area with lots of leaves spread out over grass. Split into two or three teams
and assign one person from each team to be blindfolded first. Then blindfold the chosen
player from each group and have all players stand behind a designated line.
Have one person throw a ball out into the middle of the play area, right into the leaves
(it is alright if the ball gets covered by leaves). Then the blindfolded player must
carefully venture into the play area in search of the ball. Their teammates may try to help
by yelling directions.
If a player finds the ball, he/she must return to their team while still blindfolded to win
one point. Then all players return to the line; another player from each team will be
blindfolded; and the next round will begin.
Or try this: Assign three points to the team whose member brings the ball back while
blindfolded; assign one point to any blindfolded person’s team if he tags another blind
folded player! Play to an agreed upon number!
Seasonal Activities
41

Winter
Snow
Activities
Mosaic
Materials: a snowy day, birdseed, fruits and vegetables (such as apples or carrots), food
coloring, pump bottles, water
Procedure:
1. Fill the pump bottles with water and then add different color food coloring to each bottle.
Cut up your various fruits and vegetables. Now take all of your materials outside.
2. Lay down on your back in the snow to make a body print. To help pack the snow under your
body, gently rock back and forth. Then get up very carefully; you made need a friend’s help.
3. Fill in your body print with various colors from your pump bottles. Be creative and add details
to your portrait with birdseeds and vegetables!
Snow
Globes
Materials: small jar with lid (for example, a baby food jar), a small
plastic figure that will fit in the jar, other small decorations
that fit in the jar, glitter, super glue, ribbon or lace, one of the
following: mineral oil or cornsyrup
Procedure:
1. Using the super glue, glue the plastic figure and other decorations to the inside of the jar lid.
Make sure that there is enough room around the edge for the lid to screw onto the jar!
2. Fill the jar with water, and add 1 tablespoon of mineral oil OR corn syrup (this will make
the glitter slowly float down like snow!). Make sure to leave enough room in the jar for the
figure and decorations, so that it will not overflow! Carefully dry the outside rim of the jar where
the lid will be screwed on.
3. Add glitter to the water and then screw on the lid. If the liquid overflows, open it up and dry
the rim again.
4. Seal the lid with super glue. Now glue one lace or ribbon around the jar to hide the lid!
42
Seasonal Activities

Winter
Games
Snowball
Toss
Materials: snow, large cardboard box, scissors, paint and markers (optional)
Players: at least two to six players
How to Play:
Cut holes of varying sizes out of the cardboard box to make a target (or - cut the holes
in order to make a pattern, such as a bulls-eye). Feel free to decorate the box with paint,
markers, and anything else you can think of.
Now bundle up warmly, and take your box outside. Find a place to put your “target” so
that you can stand about six to twelve feet away. Then mark this standing line with
a stick or a string, or simply draw a line in the snow!
Have each player make three snowballs. Pay attention to what size you make them,
because you will want them to fit through the holes of the target!
Take turns standing on the standing line and throwing the snowballs into the holes of the
target!
Another option for older children is to assign points to each hole and keep track of how
many points each player has. See who can score 20 points first!
Sledding snow target
Materials: sleds, sledding hill, snow, buckets
Players: small to large groups
How to Play:
Set up buckets (open side up) along the path of your favorite sledding hill. Then each
player should make two snowballs per trip down.
Each team will take turns sending a player down the path on the sled. While the player
is going down the hill, he/she will try to land a snowball in a bucket.
If the snowball hits a bucket, that team receives one point. If the snowball actually lands
in the bucket, then that team receives two points.
Play until a team reaches the predetermined score!
Try this: Be creative, and come up with other ideas for targets!
Seasonal Activities
43

Glossary

Glossary of Art Terms
Acrylic: A synthetic paint that dissolves in water. It can be applied in very thin transparent
washes like watercolor, or very thickly like oil paint.
Artist’s Proof: The first copy of an original print. The letters A. P. are often penciled on the
proof itself.
Cartoon: Many children’s books are illustrated in a cartoon style that depends on a lively line
to create movement and humor. Often times the viewer notes major exaggerations in the humans
or animals.
Collage: From the French word coller that means to paste or glue. Cutting or tearing shapes
out of paper or cloth and gluing them down on a flat surface.
Color Separation: The colors of each page of art are separated into the three primary colors
and black. Today a computer is used to separate the colors. Separate printing plates are made for
each color. The plates are used to make color proofs that are checked to see that they match the
artwork. Corrections are made and new plates are made. A final proof is printed and approved.
The final printing plates are then made.
Crayon: A mixture of dry powdery color with a wax binder.
Etching: To make a drawing on metal (copper) by action of an acid; done by coating the
surface with wax and letting acid eat into the lines or areas laid bare with a special needle. After
several processes or states, the plate is inked and pressed with paper to get the image.
Expressionism: Aspects of Expressionistic art include shocking colors, figures slightly out of
proportion, and rough rapid brushwork. The emphasis is on the artist’s own self-expression
rather than the reproduction of what the artist sees.
Gouache: Paint that is made by mixing water directly into powered pigment. Gouache is
opaque rather than transparent watercolor.
Graphite: Pencil lead is graphite. Graphite sticks come in many different degrees of hardness
from very soft to very hard.
Gutter: The space formed by the inner margins of two facing pages of a book.
Impressionism: A style associated with the French artists who worked in and around Paris in
the latter part of the nineteenth century. This style uses details and mental associations to evoke
subjective and sensory impressions rather than re-creation of objective reality.
45

Key Illustration: The one piece of art of the book that tells the main idea of the book.
Medium: Any material used for expression or delineation in art. Media is the plural form of
the word. Mixed Media refers to any combination of media.
Movement: The action in the artwork. The way your eye moves across the artwork.
Naïve or Folk Art: Naïve or Folk art can be characterized by a lack of such conventions as
perspective or so-called real appearances. Many artists illustrating folktales or legends use the
artform of their respective countries or cultures.
Oil Paint: Pigment ground in just enough oil to make the mixture pleasantly sticky.
Pastel: Color in its purest form, ground and pressed into chalk-like sticks. Used like a crayon,
often rubbed with a finger or cloth. Pastel is opaque; colors can be intense.
Photography: The art of producing an image on a sensitized surface by the chemical action of
light.
Preliminary Art: A first original piece of art or sketch submitted to the publisher.
Print: Impressions made from inking an imaged block onto a flat surface.
Realism: Artistic representation felt to be visually accurate. Realism is perhaps the easiest to
recognize because it presents a picture of the world as we see it in real life.
Surrealism: Surrealism is characterized more by subject matter than by technique, for the
surrealist combines incongruous images in unnatural juxtapositions. In order to make the viewer
believe in this unreal scene, the artwork will be meticulously detailed realism.
Tempera: A process of painting in which pigments are mixed with size, casein (mostly milk)
or egg, especially egg yolk, to produce a dull finish.
Variant: A finished piece of art that the artist chooses not to use in the book.
Wash: A thin watery layer of paint, watercolor, ink, or acrylic.
Watercolor: Any pigment mixed with water, usually signifying transparent watercolor.
Technically this term includes gouache and tempera.
46

Artist Biographies

Biographies of the Artists
Yossi Abolafia
Yossi Abolafia was born in Israel and graduated from the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in
Jerusalem. For many years he worked as an animation director in Israel and Canada (CBC and NFB) and
as a freelance artist in New York. Abolafia has illustrated over 130 children’s books (author-artist of nine)
in Israel and in the United States, and was head of the animation unit at Bezalel where he lectured and
tutored students.
Selected books illustrated by Yossi Abolafia:
Hakina Nehama (Thelma the Louse) by Yossi Abolafia, 1990
Abba Oseh Bushot (My Father Always Embarrasses Me) by Yossi Abolafia, 1987
Mary Azarian
When she arrived at Smith College, Mary Azarian wanted to be a physician. However, a fascinating course
in printmaking and etching caused her to change her major to art. After college, she and her husband
moved to Vermont where she taught grades one through eight. Azarian now spends half of each day
carving woodblocks and printing, and the rest working in her garden. She won the 1999 Caldecott Medal.
Selected books illustrated by Mary Azarian:
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, 1998
A Farmer’s Alphabet by Mary Azarian, 1981
Halldór Baldursson
Halldór Baldursson was born in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1965. He was educated as a graphic artist, and
began working as an illustrator in 1992. Since 2000, he has been working as an animator at the Animation
Studio ZooM. Baldursson has created political cartoons and comics for various newspapers, including
Vidskiptabladid and DV. He currently teaches computer illustration at the Iceland Academy of Arts.
Selected books illustrated by Halldór Baldursson:
Allir Med Stræto (The Bus) by Gudbergur Bergsson, 2000
Numi og Höfudin Sjö (Numi and the Seven Heads) by Sjón, 2000
Aliki Brandenberg
Aliki Brandenberg drew constantly as a young child. After graduating from the Museum School in
Philadelphia, she did free-lance work in advertising, display, mural paintings, and greeting cards. She has
traveled in Germany, Italy, Greece, and Switzerland, and lived in Berne and Zurich. After returning to New
York, Aliki began a career illustrating children’s books. She and her family now live in London.
Selected books illustrated by Aliki Brandenberg:
My Visit to the Aquarium by Aliki, 1996
The Story of Johnny Appleseed by Aliki, 1987
48

Harrison Cady (1877-1970)
Harrison Cady sold his first work in New York when he was eighteen. He created art for many magazines
and newspapers before turning to children’s book illustration. About 1913, Mr. Cady began illustrating
Thornton Burgess’s Bedtime Stories of Peter Rabbit, Reddy Fox, and many others. In 1945, Harrison
Cady won the Edwin Palmer Memorial Prize at the National Academy Annual Show for his artwork.
Selected books illustrated by Harrison Cady:
Racketty-Packetty House: As Told by Queen Crosspatch by Frances Burnett, 1992
Mother West Wind’s Children by Thornton W. Burgess, 1985
Nancy Carlson
Nancy Carlson knew that she wanted to be an artist from the age of five. She began illustrating a
children’s book after graduating from college, and eventually discovered that she preferred illustrating
books that she had written herself. She has illustrated greeting cards, calendars, mugs, T-shirts, posters,
hats and gift wrap. She enjoys “physical fitness, running, biking, watching my children do sports.”
Selected books illustrated by Nancy Carson:
Sit Still by Nancy Carlson, 1996
Lenore’s Big Break by Susan Pearson, 1992
Donald Carrick (1929-1989)
Carrick won a scholarship to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and the Art Students League. He said
that being drafted in to World War II “had the benefit of opening the door to Europe.” Mr. Carrick began
to illustrate a series of books for children through a writer friend in Spain. Carrick and his wife, Carol,
collaborated in producing many beautiful picture books, in which their love of nature is evident.
Selected books illustrated by Donald Carrick:
The Wednesday Surprise by Eve Bunting, 1990
Patrick’s Dinosaurs by Carol Carrick, 1985
Reg Cartwright
Reg Cartwright was born in Leicester, England. He married Ann Harrison, who now writes many of the
children’s books that he illustrates. He has illustrated numerous books, and has also contributed many
articles to periodicals including Arts Review, Observer Colour Magazine and Vogue. Mr. Cartwright has
received many awards including the Society of Industrial Artists Award for Illustration and Graphics.
Selected books illustrated by Reg Cartwright:
The Lot at the End of My Block by Kevin Lewis, 2001
The Three Golden Oranges by Alma Flor Ada, 1999
49

Jill Chambers
As a small child Jill Chambers’ favorite part of the day was story time, and by the time she was six years
old she knew that she wanted to illustrate books. After moving to Holland, Michigan, she started a graphic
design business. She eventually took a six-week leave to work on a children’s book portfolio. In
illustrating Ask Me If I’m a Frog, she discovered how much she loved illustrating the imaginative
possibilities afforded by nature.
Selected books illustrated by Jill Chambers:
When the Dancing Stopped by Jill Chambers, 2003
Seeds of Love by Mary Petertyl, 1997
Lynne Cherry
Lynne Cherry’s close relationship with nature began in childhood when her family lived in a wooded area
near Philadelphia. As a young child, she began writing and illustrating books based on her experiences in
these woods. She has also created countless illustrations for magazines, newpaper editorials, and retail
advertising. Cherry’s desire is to see the next generation love and care for the natural world.
Selected books illustrated by Lynne Cherry:
The Dragon and the Unicorn by Lynne Cherry, 1998
Where Butterflies Grow by Joanne Ryder, 1996
Bob Childress
Selected books by Bob Childress:
My Sister’s Rusty Bike by Jim Aylesworth, 1996
Cycling by Christin Ditchfield, 2000
Brenda Clark
Brenda Clark’s first children’s books were made as projects in elementary school. Her goal was to
eventually work in advertising, animation or magazines. After graduating from Sheridan College in
Oakville, Ontario with honors, Clark began freelancing for educational publishers of math, science and
language books. Her Franklin books are now published in thirty-one countries and seventeen languages.
Selected books illustrated by Brenda Clark:
Franklin Goes to the Hospital by Paulette Bourgeois, 2000
Franklin Has a Sleepover by Paulette Bourgeois, 2000
Zvonko Coh
The painter Zvonko Coh was born 1956 in Celje, Slovenia, and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana.
In the last 15 years he has illustrated a number of books by prominent Slovene and foreign authors. His work is
delightfully unconventional and full of humorous details. Coh is also a cartoon artist and the co-producer of the
first Slovene feature animation film, The Socialization of the Bull. He has received numerous awards including the
Prešeren Fund Award and the Levstik Award.
Selected publication illustrated by Zvonko Coh
CICIBAN Magazine, 2002
50

Barbara Cooney
Ms. Cooney was born on August 6, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. Her father worked as a stockbroker and
her mother was an amateur impressionist painter. She served as second lieutenant in the Women’s Army
Corps during World War II, and has been a freelance author and illustrator since 1938. She was twice
awarded the Caldecott metal (1959, 1980) and was proclaimed an official state treasure of Maine in 1996.
Selected books illustrated by Barbara Cooney:
Eleanor by Barbara Cooney, 1996
Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall, 1979
Palmer Cox (1840-1924)
Palmer Cox was born in the Scottish community of Granby, Quebec. After moving to San Francisco, he
worked as a ship carpenter and railroad worker. In 1875, he moved to New York City and devoted all of his
time to writing and illustrating. Inspired by the legends of his Scottish family, he wrote and illustrated many
books about elf-like creatures call “Brownies”, winning himself financial and critical success.
Selected books illustrated by Palmer Cox:
The Brownies Merry Adventures by Palmer Cox, 1993
Brownies at Home by Palmer Cox, 1968
Donald Crews
As Donald Crews prepared to leave army life and get a job as a graphic artist, he put together an alphabet
book to use in his portfolio. The book, We Read: A to Z, launched his career as a picture book illustrator.
Crews graduated from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, where he met his future wife,
the artist Ann Jonas. Crews is best known for his popular “transportation” books.
Selected books illustrated by Donald Crews:
Big Mama’s by Donald Crews, 1998
Freight Train by Donald Crews, 1996
Nina Crews
The daughter of graphic artists Donald Crews and Ann Jonas, Nina Crews grew up in a world of picture
books. Her father is a picture book illustrator, and later her mother began to illustrate as well. Photography
became Nina’s focus when she attended Yale University. Her first picture book, One Hot Summer Day,
was published in 1995. She enjoys photographing children and assembling photo collages for her books.
Selected books illustrated by Nina Crews:
You Are Here by Nina Crews, 1998
One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews, 1995
51

Mohammad Reza Dadgar
Born in Hamadan, Iran in 1950, at the age of twelve Dadgar moved to Tehran and later attended the
Institute of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Fine Arts, Tehran University. In 1980 he was appointed Director
of the Department of Graphic Art at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young
Adults. Currently, he teaches illustration and graphic art at the Art University in Tehran. His works
have been exhibited both nationally and internationally and he has won many awards.
Selected book illustrated by Mohammad Reza Dadgar:
Namehaye Zeynab (Letters from Zeynab) by Mojtaba Amuzegar, 1990
Tomie dePaola
Every night Tomie dePaola’s mother read to him aloud. This, he says, “had a lot to do with my decision
to become an artist” -- a decision he had made by the age of four. DePaola is a designer as well as a
painter and muralist. Many of his works were done for Catholic churches and monasteries in New
England. He has made many school visits, and has been a guest artist on several episodes of the
television program Barney.
Selected books illustrated by Tomie dePaola:
The Bubble Factory by Tomie dePaola, 1996
I Love You, Sun; I Love You, Moon by Karen Pandell, 1994
Claudia De Teresa
De Teresa is professional illustrator and has illustrated 85 books for publishers in Mexico, Latin
America and Europe, 22 magazines, and has created various posters for national programs in Mexico.
She was Illustrator of the Year in 1993 for UNICEF at the Bologna Fair in Italy and was on the honor list
for the International Board on Books for Young People in New Delhi.
In the artwork depicting “Tiger boxing”, villagers in Guerrero state participate in the Celebration of the
Cross. The festival is of Nahuatl origin, and includes a pilgrimage to a mountain top, down to the valley,
and back, imploring the Holy Cross for rain. Some of the dances represent the struggles of farmers.
Selected book illustrated by Claudia De Teresa:
Pelea de Tigres (The Tiger Skin) by Claudia De Teresa, 2000
David Diaz
David Diaz decided that he wanted to become an artist at the age of six. Art became very important to
him at the age of sixteen after his mother’s untimely death. Diaz’s first picture book, Smoky Night by
Eve Bunting, won the Caldecott Medal in 1995. Another art form he enjoys is making pottery, but his
favorite pastime is spending time with his three children in his home outside San Diego, California.
Selected books illustrated by David Diaz:
The Wanderer by Sharon Creech, 2002
Smoky Night by Eve Bunting, 1994
52

Laura Dronzek
Dronzek has worked as a studio artist and as an illustrator since earning an MFA from the University of
Wisconsin at Madison. Her husband, artist Kevin Henkes, wrote the text for her first picture book, OH!.
They currently live in Wisconsin where snow is a way of life in the winter months. Snow scenes in OH!
are variations on the artist’s favorite subjects for her paintings, landscapes enhanced by animals or
humans.
Selected books illustrated by Laura Dronzek:
OH! by Kevin Henkes, 1999
The Adventure of Louey and Frank by Carol White, 2001
Sigrun Eldjarn
Sigrun Eldjarn illustrated her first book while studying printmaking at The Icelandic College of Art and
Crafts. After creating illustrations for several children’s books, Eldjarn knew that she wanted to write a
book herself. Since she made this decision, she has illustrated numerous books, many of which have
been her own stories. Eldjarn also creates oil paintings and “mezzotint” prints.
Selected books illustrated by Sigrun Eldjarn:
Grannmeti og Atvextir (Frewts and Wedgetables) by Thorarinn Eldjarn, 2001
Drekastappan (Dragon Mash) by Thorarinn Eldjarn, 2000
Paul Galdone (ca. 1907-1986)
Paul Galdone was born in Budapest, Hungary, and came to the United States in 1928. He was known as
a writer and illustrator and an acomplished artist in a variety of media. For inspiration, he looked to
nature, and especially enjoyed sketching animals. Galdone realized his life-long dream of moving to the
country when his brother-in-law designed a home for the artist and his family in rural Rockland County,
New York.
Selected books illustrated by Paul Galdone:
Over in the Meadow by Paul Galdone, 1989
The Hungry Fox and the Foxy Duck by Kathleen Leverich, 1979
Arthur Geisert
Etching was always an interest of Mr. Geisert’s, however he focused primarily on sculpture and bronze
casting in studies at Concordia College in Nebraska and the University of California at Davis. It was not
until he moved to Galena, Illinois that he became a full-time artist and etcher. He finds inspiration in the
rolling valleys of Illinois and the Mississippi River, which can be seen from the front porch of his house.
Selected books illustrated by Arthur Giesert:
Mountain Town by Bonnie Geisert, 2000
Oink by Arthur Geisert, 1995
John Goss
Selected books published by The Edward Stratemeyer Syndicate (Goss, staff illustrator) :
Tom Swift and His Rocket Ship by Victor Appleton (pseudonym), 1954
Dave Fearless After a Sunken Treasure by Roy Rockwood (pseudonym), 1918
53

Gail Haley
While studying at the University of Virginia, Gail Haley was encouraged by an artist-teacher to write and
illustrate a children’s book entitled My Kingdom for a Dragon. Haley bound and sold most of the
limited edition herself. In 1971, she won a Caldecott Medal for A Story, a Story: An African Folktale.
She and her husband, David Considine, work as advocates for the importance of childhood development.
Selected books illustrated by Gail Haley:
Puss in Boots by Gail Haley, 1991
Birdsong by Gail Haley, 1984
Cheryl Harness
Cheryl Harness graduated from Central Missouri State University with a degree in art education. Prior
to her graduation, she worked a variety of jobs: short order cook, selling art supplies, amusement park
portrait artist and a facial blemish spotter in a photo studio. In the summer of 1984, Harness studied with
Uri Shulevitz at his children’s book workshop. She feels this experience gave her the courage to
promote her illustration.
Selected books illustrated by Cheryl Harness:
Ghosts of the Civil War by Cheryl Harness, 2002
The Amazing Impossible Erie Canal by Cheryl Harness, 1995
Ruth Heller
Ms. Heller began her career designing wrapping paper, cocktail napkins, kites, mugs, and coloring books.
In addition to her many language concept books, she has also written a series of science books about
camouflage for very young children. She depends on meticulous research and professional approval for
her dozens of nonfiction children’s books. Her books are filled with rhyming words and bold, bright
illustrations.
Selected Books illustrated by Ruth Heller:
Behind the Mask: A Book About Prepositions by Ruth Heller, 1995
Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones by Ruth Heller, 1993
Kevin Henkes
Kevin Henkes traveled to New York as a nineteen-year-old university student, visiting publishers and
signing his first book contract. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, he
remained in the state. Family life is central to the artist, who is married to picture book artist Laura
Dronzek. In 1993, Henkes was the recipient of a Caldecott Honor Award for Owen.
Selected books illustrated by Kevin Henkes:
The Birthday Room by Kevin Henkes, 1999
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes, 1996
54

Syd Hoff
Syd Hoff grew up in New York City, and launched his career as a cartoonist in 1928. Although he was
less than a stunning student academically, Mr. Hoff excelled in drawing and was soon selling drawings to
The New Yorker, Esquire, Colliers, and the Saturday Evening Post. He also drew a daily comic strip for
ten years. Pictures that he drew for one of his daughters formed the basis for Danny and the Dinosaur.
Selected books illustrated by Syd Hoff:
Captain Cat by Syd Hoff, 1993
Chester by Syd Hoff, 1961
Manorama Jafa
Manorama Jafa has authored 66 children’s books and over 800 stories and articles. Additionally, she
wrote a book about writing for children. Jafa is the founding Secretary General of the Association of
Writers and Illustrators for Children and of the Indian section of IBBY. She has served as the editor of
Writer and Illustrator since 1981 and as president of the Khaas Kitaab Foundation. She has received
several awards for her contribution to children’s literature.
Selected book authored by Manorama Jafa:
Tree Growers, by Manorama Jafa, 1988
Ann Jonas
After graduating from Cooper Union, Jonas worked for her former instructor as a graphic artist. When
her husband, illustrator Donald Crews, was sent to Germany while serving in the U.S. Army, she
designed advertisements for a German agency. Back in the United States, Jonas and Crews began a
design business. Jonas did not publish her first children’s book until about the time her two daughters
were ready for college.
Selected books illustrated by Ann Jonas:
Round Trip by Ann Jonas, 1990
Color Dance by Ann Jonas, 1989
David H. Jorgensen
Since 1992, Mr. Jorgensen has taught in the Illustration for Children Department at the Rhode Island
School of Design, where he received his Masters. He illustrated a video production of The Velveteen
Rabbit, and has since worked on similar projects. Jorgensen uses real live models for all of the animals
he draws, such as mice, frogs, and bunnies. Even his aging golden retriever has served as a model.
Selected books illustrated by David H. Jorgensen:
Wind Says Good Night by Katy Rydell, 1994
The Three Little Pigs by Tom Roberts, 1990
55

William Joyce
Joyce’s eccentric southern Louisiana family and friends provide inspiration for characters in his books.
Always the “class artist,” he eventually studied filmmaking at Southern Methodist University. Film
strongly influenced his pacing and the overall design of his future picture books. He has created and
produced the animated Disney Channel television series Rolie Polie Olie and the PBS series George
Shrinks.
Selected books illustrated by William Joyce:
The Leaf Men by William Joyce, 1996
Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo by William Joyce, 1988
Gloria Kamen
Gloria Kamen was born in New York City and grew up in Queens. She loved to use colored chalks on
New York’s sidewalks to draw pictures and play hopscotch. Before illustrating children’s books, Ms.
Kamen worked for the promotional department of Fairchild Publications and was a free-lance designer
and illustrator. Her three daughters are now all involved with art in some way as well.
Selected books illustrated by Gloria Kamen:
Take Me Out to the Bat and Ball Factory by Peggy Thomson, 1998
Second-Hand Cat by Gloria Kamen, 1992
Ezra Jack Keats
Born in Brooklyn in 1916, author/illustrator Ezra Jack Keats did not begin his career in children’s
literature until he was nearly forty years old. His distinctive collage technique earned him many
accolades, including the 1963 Caldecott Medal for The Snowy Day. This was one of the first children’s
books to feature an African American child as the hero of the story. Keats’ long and productive career
yielded more than 80 books, 23 of which he both wrote and illustrated
Selected book illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, 1962
Doug Keith
Doug Keith worked for various advertising agencies in New York City as well as KIRO-TV in Seattle,
Washington before he published his first children’s book in 1993. He has created illustrations for CBS
Sports, American Airlines, the Seattle Mariners Baseball Club, People, Sports Illustrated, and The Seattle
Times. The majority of his children’s books are brief biographies about contempory sports figures.
Selected books illustrated by Doug Keith:
What If... by Regina J. Williams, 2001
Comeback Kid by John Elway, 1997
56

Yoshi Kogo
Yoshi Kogo was born in Japan, and is a graduate of the Tokyo University of Arts. She now lives and
works in Western Massachusetts. She is well known in the fields of fashion and textile design, and now
has attracted considerable attention as a children’s book illustrator. Her style, a combination of painting
and batik on silk, is based on centuries-old techniques of textile decoration used to embellish kimonos.
Selected books illustrated by Yoshi Kogo:
Making the World by Douglas Wood, 1998
The Butterfly Hunt by Yoshi, 1990
Fritz Kredel (1900-1973)
Fritz Kredel was born in Michelstadt, Odenwald, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1938.
His hobbies included carving gingerbread moulds, toy soldiers, horses, and artillery pieces. In addition,
he enjoyed repairing old furniture, and restoring old clocks and firearms. A favorite hobby of Kredel’s
was putting on puppet plays for which he carved and manipulated his own puppets.
Selected books illustrated by Fritz Kredel:
Elmo Doolan and the Search for the Golden Mouse by Shirley R. Murphy, 1970
Moonfleet by Meade Falkner, 1951
Lois Lenski (1893-1974)
Lois Lenski was born in Ohio. After illustrating other people’s books for years, she started to write
about her own Ohio childhood. She is well known for her series of regional stories about the lives of
children in America. Her simplest books, the “Mr. Small” books, were begun when she found a dearth of
picture books to read to her own son. Lois Lenski was awarded the Newbery medal in 1946 for
Strawberry Girl.
Selected books illustrated by Lois Lenski:
Mr. & Mrs. Noah by Lois Lenski, 2002
Betsy Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace, 2000
Blair Lent
“I always wanted to make children’s picture books. While I was working in an advertising agency, I kept
making books to submit to publishers.” Blair Lent is now a professional artist and author of children’s
books. He enjoys traveling, and exploring new ways to express his ideas through art. He states that
many ideas for his books come from folklore, and from the experiences that he has had on his travels.
Selected books illustrated by Blair Lent:
The Angry Moon by William Sleator, 1970
Pistachio by Blair Lent, 1964
57

Betsy Lewin
Lewin claims that there was never a doubt in her mind that she would be anything but an artist. Due to
her interest in animals and wildlife, she has viewed game in East Africa, backpacked in Hawaii’s
Haleakala Crater, canoed in the Everglades, watched whales off the coast of Baja California, and visited
the Pribilof Islands and Alaska. She attended the Pratt Institute of Art where she met her husband Ted
Lewin.
Selected books illustrated by Betsy Lewin:
Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin, 2002
Aunt Minnie McGranahan by Mary Skillings Prigger, 1999
Ted Lewin
Lewin says he is primarily an artist-illustrator, and his writing has grown out of an interest in the natural
world which, until his first book, he confined to graphic form only. He is an environmentalist and conservationist,
traveling to wilderness areas around the world for graphic and literary material. As a child, he
and his brothers had a small zoo at home -- including a lion, a chimpanzee, monkeys, lizards, and snakes.
Selected books by Ted Lewin:
Red Legs: A Drummer Boy of the Civil War by Ted Lewin, 2001
Nilo and the Tortoise by Ted Lewin, 1999
Arnold Lobel (1933-1987)
Arnold Lobel created more than sixty books for his young readers, characterized for their humor, tenderness,
and innovative detail. The inspiration for his first children’s book came from the frequent visits he,
his wife, and their two children made to the Prospect Park Zoo, just across the meadow from their Brooklyn
apartment. Mr. Lobel was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1973 for Frog and Toad Together.
Selected books illustrated by Arnold Lobel:
Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel, 1990
Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel, 1985
Inge Löök
Inge Löök was born in 1951 and resides in Pernaja, Finland. She has been a graphic designer for almost
25 years and works from her home in the countryside near the sea. When she is not drawing, Löök
spends time working in her garden and building things, such as a shed for her firewood. Löök enjoys
nature and lives with her 16-year-old cat.
Selected book illustrated by Inge Löök:
Komea Kukko: Lasten Oma Kirja Ajasta (The Magnificent Cock:
The Children’s Own Book About Time) by Elina Vuori and Helena Joensuu, 2002
58

Fred Machetanz
After graduating from Ohio State University, Fred Machetanz spent two years in the territory of his
uncle’s trading post at Unalakleet. During this residence, he sketched, drew, and painted a treasure of
scenes and people from a vanishing way of life. In New York, he found books to illustrate, but none
about Alaska until he wrote his own. He is in the Alaska Hall of Fame, and was named “Alaskan of the
Year - 1977”.
Selected books illustrated by Fred Machetanz:
Barney Hit the Trail by Sara and Fred Machetanz, 1950
On Arctic Ice by Frederick Machetanz, 1940
Corrine Malvern (1905-1956)
Corrine Malvern and her sister Gladys were “stage children” who grew up on the theater circuit. During
this time, they lived in hotels, trains, and boarding houses. Corrine eventually left theater and attended
the Art Students League in New York City. Later she moved to Los Angeles to work as a fashion
advertisment artist. Her illustration work included many of the children’s books written by her sister,
Gladys.
Selected books illustrated by Corrine Malvern:
Five Pennies to Spend by Miriam Young, 1955
The Story Book of Brownie and Rusty by Corrine Malvern (with Gladys Malvern), 1940
Julie Mammano
Creating artwork has always come naturally to Julie Mammano. Reading and writing, however, was
another story. As a child, she was a reluctant reader and writer who would rather fill her time with
playing outside and drawing horses. Mammano has grown to love reading and writing. She is a professional
illustrator who wrote her first children’s book, Rhinos Who Surf, after learning how to surf as an
adult.
Selected books illustrated by Julie Mammano:
Rhinos Who Play Soccer by Julie Mammano, 2001
Rhinos Who Skateboard by Julie Mammano, 1999
James Marshall (1942-1992)
James Marshall often relied on books for entertainment while growing up on an isolated farm near San
Antonio, Texas. He diligently studied the viola, and won a scholarship to the New England
Conservatory in Boston. Marshall eventually turned to teaching high school French and Spanish, and
resumed a hobby of drawing which he had abandoned in the second grade when a teacher laughed at his
artwork.
Selected books illustrated by James Marshall:
Pocketful of Nonsense by James Marshall, 1992
The Stupids Have a Ball by James Marshall, with Harry Allard, 1978
59

Edward McCandlish (1887-1946)
McCandlish spent his childhood in West Virginia. A great deal of his career was spent working for
newspapers and making toys. He worked for the Cumberland Evening Times in Maryland, the
Washington Evening Star, the Washington Post, and the Detroit Free Press. Later in life, McCandlish
designed toys and advised in casting and production, and set up a toy factory in Van Wert, Ohio.
Selected books illustrated by Edward McCandlish:
The Bunny Tots at the Seashore by Edward McCandlish, 1928
Brother Black Bear Gets in Trouble by Edward McCandlish, 1926
Carlo Alberto Michelini
Michelini was born in Mirandola, Italy. He received the certificate of “Maestro d’Arte” from the
Adolfo Venturi Art Institute in Modena. Since his graduation, he has been a painter, graphic artist,
teacher of Artistic Education, and author of many books on visual language. He lives with his wife and
two daughters in Milano, working as an illustrator, designer and art director for La Coccinella Publishing
House.
Selected books illustrated by Carlo Alberto Michelini:
Look Inside an Airplane by Carlo Michelini, 2000
The Horse by Emanuela Bussolati, 1993
Mrinal Mitra
Mrinal Mitra was educated at Government Arts College in Calcutta and at the Richmond School in
Toronto. He is a well known artist in India and has illustrated a large number of children’s books for
publishers there as well as in other countries. For his children’s book illustrations, Mitra was awarded
the Noma Concurs, the award given by the Asian Cultural Centre for UNESCO. His work has been used
for greeting cards by UNICEF and by the World Wildlife Fund (India), and he has also worked in
children’s television production.
Selected book illustrated by Mrinal Mitra:
Tree Growers by Manorama Jafa, 1988
Susanna Natti
Growing up in Gloucester, Massachusetts “in a wonderfully varied community, including many artists
and quite a few authors,” Susanna Natti knew by the age of eight that she would be an illustrator. She
graduated from Smith College in 1970 and then attended the Montserrat School of Visual Art and the
Rhode Island School of Design. An aspect of illustrating that Natti loves the most is managing to convey
expressions.
Selected books by Susanna Natti:
Beany Goes to Camp by Susan Wojciechowski, 2002
Lionel and His Friends by Stephen Krensky, 1996
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Evaline Ness
Evaline Ness never thought about a career in art until she was in college and learned that an artist was
paid five dollars for a drawing of shoes. She was so impressed that she enrolled in the Chicago Art
Institute which led her to a career in fashion drawing, advertising art, and magazine illustration. Ms.
Ness illustrated her first children’s book in 1957 and won the Caldecott Award in 1967 for Sam, Bangs &
Moonshine.
Selected books illustrated by Evaline Ness:
Tom Tit Tot by Evaline Ness, 1999
Some of the Days of Everett Anderson by Lucille Clifton, 1987
Peter Parnall
Parnall’s interest in wildlife first inspired him to become a veterinarian. He enrolled in Cornell
University and soon discovered his preference for drawing animals over studying them. After working
for several years in the advertising industry, he developed his own illustrative style and by the 1960s had
turned to children’s books. Three books illustrated by Mr. Parnall have been named Caldecott Medal
Honor Books.
Selected books by Peter Parnall:
Annie and the Old One by Miska Miles, 1999
Hawk, I’m Your Brother by Byrd Baylor, 1986
Maud and Miska Petersham
Maud and Miska Petersham met while working for a New York advertising agency. After they were
married, they began free-lancing and this led to their illustrating of children’s books. Their first book,
entitled Miki and published in 1929, was named for their only son. Their book The Rooster Crows: A
Book of American Rhymes and Jingles was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1946.
Selected books illustrated by Maud and Miska Petersham:
Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg, 1990
Box With Red Wheels by Maud and Miska Petersham, 1986
Brian Pinkney
Brian Pinkney always wanted to become an artist, just like his father Jerry Pinkney. As a child, Brian
made a studio in his closet resembling the much larger studio where his father worked. Although
influenced by his father, Pinkney’s artistic style is very different. He received a BFA from the
Philadelphia College of Art and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York. His wife, Andrea,
often writes the books he illustrates.
Selected books illustrated by Brian Pinkney:
Jojo’s Flying Side Kick by Brian Pinkney, 1999
Watch Me Dance by Andrea Pinkney, 1997
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Jerry Pinkney
Jerry Pinkney studied at the Philidelphia Museum School of Art where he received a scholarship. He is
committed to the celebration of African-American heroes and the preservation of African-American
tales. Three of his four children and his wife, Gloria Jean Pinkney, are involved in the art world. He has
received four Caldecott Honor Awards and several Coretta Scott King Medals.
Selected books illustrated by Jerry Pinkney:
Sam and the Tigers by Jerry Pinkney, 1996
Mirandy and Brother Wind by Jerry Pinkney, 1988
Leo Politi (1908-1996)
Leo Politi was a distinguished author and illustrator of many books for children, including Song of the
Swallows, winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1950, and Pedro, the Angel of Olvera Street, a Caldecott
Honor Book in 1946. Awarded the Regina Medal in 1966, he was one of the nation’s premier folk artists
and lived in Los Angeles, California. His books exemplify his gentle love of the simple joys of life.
Selected books illustrated by Leo Politi:
Little Leo by Leo Politi, 1951
Juanita by Leo Politi, 1948
Daniel T. Powers
Daniel T. Powers studied medieval German art at Westfälische-Wilhelms University in Münster, Germany
and received an MFA in illustration from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. In
creating picture books, he strives to build bridges of cultural awareness and understanding. He currently
lives in Tijeras, New Mexico with his wife, Silke, and a menagerie of four-legged creatures.
Selected books illustrated by Daniel T. Powers:
Jiro’s Pearl by Daniel T. Powers, 1997
Tuti, Blue Horse, and the Nipnope Man by Judith Mathews, 1993
Preeda Punyachand
Punyachand was born in 1957 in Thailand and grew up near the Khong River. He spent much of his
childhood playing on the banks of the river and in the rice fields and forests near his home. He received a
degree in arts from Srinakarinvirot University - Prasarnmitre Campus and worked as an illustrator for
children’s books while attending school. Currently, Punyachand teaches art and story telling to young
children.
Selected book illustrated by Preeda Punyachand:
Fun by the River by Preeda Punyachand, 2002
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Vicky Ramos
Vicky Ramos was born in San José, Costa Rica in 1960. She has illustrated more than 20 literary works,
as well as magazines, textbooks, boardgames and crafts. Ramos has received numerous awards, both in
her country and abroad. Her art reflects her concern for human rights, biodiversity, nature and the
importance of reading. She works as Art Director for Farben Grupo Editorial Norma and enjoys contact
with nature, gardening, and spending time with animals.
Selected book illustrated by Vicky Ramos:
Un Tobogán en una Burbuja (A Toboggan in a Bubble) by Mabel Morvillo, 1994
Ted Rand
Ted Rand is completely self-taught. He was inspired at the age of four or five by the drawings in his
family Bible and claims, “...from that time on, I’ve never stopped drawing.” Mr. Rand had a long career
as a freelance illustrator and educator at the University of Washington; he now devotes himself entirely
to illustration in the field of children’s books. He and his wife, Gloria, live on Mercer Island,
Washington.
Selected books illustrated by Ted Rand:
Baby in a Basket by Gloria Rand, 1997
Secret Place by Eve Bunting, 1996
H.A. (Hans Augusto) Rey (1898-1977)
Rey was born on September 16, 1898 in Hamburg, Germany. In 1935 he married Margret Elizabeth
Waldstein in Rio de Janeiro, where they had both come to escape Nazi Germany. Soon after their
marriage, the couple moved to Paris and wrote their first children’s book. About his collaboration with
his wife, Rey commented, “the share of my wife’s work varies. Basically I illustrate and Margaret
writes.”
Selected books illustrated by H.A. Rey:
Curious George’s Are You Curious by H.A. Rey (with Margret Rey), 1998
Katy No-Pocket by Emmy Payne, 1973
Amy Schwartz
Amy Schwartz has illustrated 37 children’s books, 14 of which she has also written. Her books have
been featured on Reading Rainbow and have received a National Jewish Book Award, a Christopher
Medal, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year Award. Schwartz draws inspiration for
her books both from her own San Diego childhood, and that of her young son growning up in Brooklyn,
New York.
Selected books illustrated by Amy Schwartz:
A Teeny Tiny Baby by Amy Schwartz, 1994
Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner by Amy Schwartz, 1988
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Maurice Sendak
While still in high school, Sendak worked for comic book syndicate All American Comics, adapting
newspaper strips for comic books. In 1964, he won a Caldecott Medal, along with numerous others, for
Where the Wild Things Are. Sendak is co-founder and artistic director of a national children’s theatre,
The Night Kitchen. He is also the first American to win the Hans Christian Andersen International
Medal.
Selected books illustrated by Maurice Sendak:
Fly by Night by Jarrell, 1976
A Kiss for Little Bear by Minarik, 1968
Symeon Shimin
Symeon Shimin was born in Astrakhan, on the Caspian Sea, in Russia. He had wanted to become a
musician, but when his uncle objected he turned to drawing and has never stopped. Primarily
self-taught, Shimin found his schooling in the museums and galleries. He has illustrated well over forty
books, including the 1959 Newbery winner, Onion John by Joseph Krumgold.
Selected books illustrated by Symeon Shimin:
Send Wendell by Genevieve S. Gray, 1974
Sam by Ann Herbert Scott, 1967
Leonard Shortall
Leonard Shortall was born in Seattle, Washington and attended the University of Washington. He now
lives in New York with his Siamese cat, Sema, but “escapes from New York as often as possible to travel
in Europe and especially the Alps.” Shortall has done advertising art and illustration for numerous
magazines, and illustrated children’s books for various publishers -- both authored by himself and by
others.
Selected books illustrated by Leonard Shortall:
The Bully of Barkham Street by Mary Stolz, 1985
Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Case by Donald J. Sobol, 1973
Diane Stanley
Perhaps because she was an only child who spent most of her youth surrounded by adults, Diane Stanley
compensates by focusing her adult life on the world of children’s literature. Although she read
voraciously even as a child, her artistic talent did not surface until her senior year in college. Stanley
trained for and began a career as a medical illustrator before she discovered the delights of picture books.
Selected books illustrated by Diane Stanley:
The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka’iulani of Hawai’i by Fay Stanley, 2001
Leonardo Da Vinci by Diane Stanley, 2000
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Gustaf Tenggren (1896-1970)
Tenggren was born in Magra, Sweden, lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, and then came to the United
States in 1920. He held various jobs in Cleveland, Ohio, including work for an art studio, newspaper
illustration, fashion drawing for a department store, and poster painting for a theatre. He worked for
Disney Studios where he illustrated scenes for Fantasia, Snow White, and Bambi.
Selected books illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren:
Seldom and the Golden Cheese by Joseph Schrank, 1933
The Saggy Baggy Elephant by K. Jackson, 1952
Wendy Watson
Ms. Watson credits her father, an art editor and illustrator, and her mother, an author, with providing
most of her basic training in drawing and illustration. After graduation from Bryn Mawr, she studied
painting at the National Academy of Design and worked as a compositor and designer for Hanover Press.
Her first work with children’s books was illustrating her sister Clyde’s Father Fox’s Pennyrhymes.
Selected books illustrated by Wendy Watson:
Willow Wind Farm: Betsy’s Story by Anne Pellowski, 1998
Wendy Watson’s Mother Goose by Wendy Watson, 1989
Thomas Wharton
Music and art have been the defining forces in Thomas Wharton’s life -- from drawing on the walls of
his bedroom to singing with his mother to a recording of Madame Butterfly. After earning a Masters
Degree in Music, he became a pianist. Yet, at the age of thirty, he decided to make a career change. He
moved to New York City and began a twenty-year career as a designer, art director, creative director and
illustrator.
Selected book illustrated by Thomas Wharton:
Hildegard Sings by Thomas Wharton, 1991
Mary Whyte
Whyte currently lives near Charleston, South Carolina with her husband and their dog, Boomer. Her
work is characterized by sensitivity and realism, and ranges from languid scenes of life in the Low
Country to vibrant still lifes. Perhaps known best for her portraits, she has traveled the U.S. capturing
personalities on canvas and paper. Whyte conducts painting workshops each year in different locations
across the country.
Selected books illustrated by Mary Whyte:
Mama’s Way by Helen Ketteman, 2001
Boomer’s Big Surprise by Constance W. McGeorge, 1999
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David Wiesner
Wiesner’s family encouraged his passion for art; the Rhode Island School of Design enabled him to
refine and perfect his skills. Quiet and reserved, the artist conserves his energies to produce books
simple in concept, yet complex in execution. Wiesner has a celebrated imagination -- his books are full
of dragons, UFOs, and flying pigs. He is a two-time Caldecott Medalist and a Caldecott Honor Award
winner.
Selected books illustrated by David Wiesner:
The Three Pigs by David Wiesner, 2001
Tuesday by David Wiesner, 1991
Hans Wilhelm
Hans Wilhelm grew up in Bremen, West Germany. Following his studies of art and business, he moved
to Johannesburg, South Africa. His writing career began when he embarked on a two-year trip, living in
Indonesia, Spain, and England. Finally, Wilhelm came to America where his career as a writer and
illustrator blossomed. His books have been published in many major languages around the world.
Selected books illustrated by Hans Wilhelm:
The Royal Raven by Hans Wilhelm, 1996
I’ll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm, 1989
Mike Wimmer
Although Mike Wimmer’s mother and stepfather encouraged him to draw and paint throughout his
childhood, they hoped he would select a more stable career. He excelled in athletics and academics, but
art was his passion. When he graduated with a degree in art from the University of Oklahoma, the
graduates received a dipolma bearing one of Wimmer’s illustrations. He currently works as a
commercial artist and illustrator.
Selected books illustrated by Mike Wimmer:
A Taste of Blackberries by Doris Buchanan Smith, 1992
My Teacher Is an Alien by Bruce Coville, 1990
Paul O. Zelinsky
A painting by his great-grandmother on the wall of his childhood bedroom may be one of the reasons
Zelinsky became a picture book illustrator. He attended Yale University, but was undecided about his
future even after completing a course taught by Maurice Sendak. Several years after receiving an MFA
from Tyler School of Art, however, book illustration beckoned the artist. He won a Caldecott Medal in
1998.
Selected books illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky:
Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky (with Jacob W. Grimm), 1997
Swamp Angel by Anne Isaacs, 1994
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Suggested Bibliography
Cummings, Pat. Talking With Artists.
Cummings, Pat. Talking With Artists: Volume Two.
Cummins, Julie, ed. Children’s Book Illustration and Design.
Cole, Alison. Perspective.
Keifer, Barbara Z. The Potential of Picturebooks: From Visual Literacy to Aesthetic
Understanding.
Kent, Sarah. Composition.
Kennet, Frances and Terry Measham. Looking at Paintings.
Klemin, Diana. The Art of Art for Children’s Books.
Silvey, Anita, ed. Children’s Books and Their Creators.
Water, Elizabeth & Annie Harris. Painting: A Young Artist’s Guide.
Woolf, Felicity. Picture This: A First Introduction to Paintings.
Picture Books
Bond, Michael. Paddington’s Art Exhibition.
Carrick, Donald. Morgan and the Artist.
dePaola, Tomie. The Art Lesson.
Heller, Ruth. Color, Color, Color, Color.
Jonas, Ann. Color Dance.
McPhail, David. Something Special.
Spier, Peter. Oh, Were They Ever Happy.
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Credits
de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection
University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg
Dee Jones, Curator
The Kerlan Collection
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Dr. Karen Hoyle, Curator
Jennifer Hanson, Library Assistant
Los Angeles Public Library -- Gladys English Collection
Toria Aiken, Exhibition Coordinator
Mazza Museum: International Art From Picture Books, Findlay, Ohio
Jerry J. Mallett, Ed.D., Director
Benjamin E. Sapp, Deputy Director
Terry J. Olthouse, Education Coordinator (for creating the first edition of the
Teacher’s Guide, upon which this guide is based)
Jonathan L. Stealey, Technical Curator
Meridian International Center, Washington, DC
Virginia Nostrand, Arts Division, with the assistance of April Weber, Arts Intern
(for seasonal activities, graphics, and layout.); Curtis Sandberg, Ph.D., Director of
Exhibitions (for content and editing); and Amy Stack, Arts Intern (for editing and layout).
National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, Abilene, Texas
Kim Snyder, Executive Director
Becky McDonald, Director of Exhibits
All Kerlan biographies courtesy of Something About the Author.
Additional Resources used in the Seasonal Activities section:
www.clipsahoy.com; www.craftsforkids.miningco.com; ericir.syr.edu; familygo.com; www.free
clipart.ws; freewebmaster.com; funattic.com; www.gameskidsplay.net; KidsCraftCorner.com;
lessonplanspage.com; mailjust4me.com; partyplansplus.com;
Special thanks to Yossi Abolafia, Halldór Baldursson, Zvonko Coh, Mohammad Reza Dadgar,
Claudia De Teresa, Sigrun Eldjarn, Inge Löök, Mrinal Mitra, Preeda Punyachand, Vicky Ramos,
Rosa Salgado and Amy Schwartz; and to Amarin Printing and Publishing, the Embassies of
Iceland and Israel, Washington, D.C., the Foreign Ministry of Mexico (Cultural Affairs) and the
International Children’s Book Foundation for their kindness in providing artworks and books.
We are grateful to Barnes and Noble for its generous donation of books to the
exhibition.
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