I learned about Picture Book Master Study from
Aaree Chung's
Storyteller Academy class, and It was helpful to understand my favorite picture books.
I would like to share my studies of
Good Night, Gorilla ,
Little Blue Truck and
Where the Wild Things Are. Hope you enjoy and try for your favorite books!
Title: Good Night, Gorilla
Pictures by: Peggy Rathmann
Publisher: Putnam's Sons, Board Books
1. Characters : Gorilla, Zoo Keeper, His Wife, and animals
2. Location : Zoo and Zoo keeper's house
3.Time : Evening to Night
4. Problems : Gorilla opens doors of zoo gates.
5. ll/Esc* : All animals escape from their cages and go to Zoo Keeper's bedroom.
6. Resolution : Zoo keeper's wife walks back with animals to their cages.
7.
Concept : It satisfies children desire to sleep with their parents
even though their parents want their children sleep in their own room.
8.
Successful : My son laughs when the wife finds out animals sleep with
her in the dark and he calls the wife, "Mommy'. and Zoo keeper "Daddy."
the pictures in the room shows relationship between the couple and animals
which is like parents and children.
Beautiful lighting and color- reminds me impressionism. It scarifies
one page with solid black . Background sets in the picture also tells stories without words. - example, photos
of baby animals on the wall. Female character takes care of the mess. (Yes!) Little
banana and mouse interaction is fun to watch. Repeat to show animals. My
son loves finding a balloon, and he never gets bored with this book.
Gorilla is funny and he talks to readers with his gesture.
9.
Unsuccessful :First I thought Zoo keeper character is weak, but, I
think the author mean to do that to make female character stronger character.
Title: Little Blue Truck
Pictures by:Jill McElmurry
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
1. Characters Blue Truck, Yellow Truck, Frog and animals ( Cow, Chicken and etc)
4. Problems: Mean Yellow truck gets stuck in the mud.
5.
ll/Esc : No one wants to help mean Yellow truck but Blue truck.
Since Blue truck helps yellow truck, everyone helps Blue truck to rescue Yellow truck.
6. Resolution :Tiny frog pushes everyone and Yellow truck is rescued. ( I like the joke.)
7.
Concept : Be good to everyone , then they will help you when you are in
trouble. Blue truck also helps everyone either they are good or bad.
8.
Successful : Beautiful art brush strokes , character designs and funny
frog's gestures. It teaches good lesson to help children how to help
friends. Blue color of the truck is unique. ( It is not typical red!)
9. Unsuccessful : Typical story line and expected ending. It is lttle preachy.
Title:Where the Wild Things Are
Pictures by: Maurice Sendak
1. Characters: Max, Mom and Monsters
2. Location: Max's room, Imaginary Monsters World
3. Time : Late afternoon to late evening.
4. Problems : Max misbehaves and angry with his mom.
5. ll/Esc : Max leaves home and went to imaginary world. Then he becomes a king.
6. Resolution : Max misses home and comes back. And dinner is waiting for him.
7.
Concept : Max runs away from home and makes new cool monster friends who
accept and admires misbehaving. But he learns that he misses his mom.
8.
Successful : The story satisfies children's ego. They want to be free, and rule monsters. The soup replaces Mom character in the
picture. I am glad that there is not a single picture of mom. It is not
too preachy and tells the story from children's point of view. Strong
beautiful wild monsters designs, unique layout. Why max is wearing a costume? I think this is the most successful because it created iconic character in the picture book history.
