Weaving Words and Pictures

Desai, Christina M. “Weaving Words and Pictures: Allen Say and the Art of Illustration.” The Lion and the Unicorn 28.3 (Sept. 2004): 408–28.

Referrer: Carrie Hintz

Categories: picturebook, visual storytelling, art, illustration, graphic art, text/image relationship, perspective, meaning

Annotation:

In an effort to position the study of illustrations found in children’s literature as a legitimate element for inquiry, Desai explores a handful of fictional works. To explore the subtleties of illustration, Desai examines three books illustrated by Allen Say: Dianne Snyder’s The Boy of the Three-Year Nap (1988), and Say’s El Chino (1990) and Emma’s Rug (1996). The relationship between text and illustration is read through its work as visual narrative, illustrated cues, as well as perspective and meaning. Graphic art is shown to be a central driving force and fundamentally necessary element of the story in illustrated picture books.

Tags | art, graphic art, illustration, meaning, perspective, picturebook, text/image relationship, visual storytelling