“I’m trying to teach through Writing Workshop, but all they’re doing is DRAWING!”
How often I’ve heard that comment over the years from parents and teachers who lament over children’s sketches and illustrations… when they’re “supposed to be writing.”
But we can learn much from children’s drawings.
Consider this drawing.
- Chat with the young artist. “Ooo, tell me about your illustration.”
- Compliment them on valid things you notice:
- The tone of the picture. “Everyone looks surprised!”
- Their color choices. “Look how many colors you’ve used.”
- Their work habits. “You’ve invested so much time on your work today.”
- Once they give a bit of information, encourage them to use their knowledge of letters to capture some words about the picture.
Before this child wrote words, I could have prompted:
“So, you’re drawing the day when the fire alarm went off? What sound does a fire alarm make? Could you write letters for these sounds, B-b-b-e-e-p, here—so we won’t forget it? And maybe you could write about what happened next—or label who was there.”
(Just a note: I always write post-it notes in cursive with the child’s original words about their piece and attach them to the back.)
Using Book Illustrators to Inspire Children’s Drawings
As a new teacher, I dreamed of inspiring students to write beautiful stories. But I learned it was tough! Beginning in 1999, colleagues invited me to visit their classrooms and watch their Writing Workshops. They answered my questions and coached me as I began. Then, I discovered Katie Wood Ray. One of my favorite teacher/writers, Katie collaborated with Lisa Cleaveland, a kindergarten teacher in the mountains of North Carolina. Together with Lisa’s kindergartners, they introduced picture books, talked about writing strategies, studied the children’s writing pieces, and literally transformed teachers across the country. About the Authors: Writing Workshop with Our Youngest Writers answered so many questions for me about teaching substantive writing that little kids could do independently.
As I began teaching Writing Workshop with 22 children, that book guided me as I encouraged each of them to write about things of interest to them. I had the great pleasure of traveling with colleagues to meet Katie. The highlight of the trip was visiting Lisa’s classroom, watching a Writing Workshop, and seeing Katie’s book come to life as young authors shared their lives with us. What a day!
When Katie published In Pictures and In Words: Teaching the Qualities of Good Writing Through Illustration Study, it was a gift! She motivated me to look thoughtfully at picture book illustrations before picking books to share with my children. I dove in and gathered a pile of picture books full of engaging pictures. Katie’s goal was for teachers and students to spend “two to three weeks of nonstop thinking about the decisions illustrators make.” While our conversations with these compelling books continued, I was also studying Katie’s 50 illustration techniques and the qualities of good writing they suggest (from pages 89 to 254 of her book). I was amazed at how excitedly the children joined in and rejoiced in the depth of our Writing Workshops.
Our Class Book about the Power of Illustrations
Children pounced on each new illustration technique and carried around the books I highlighted. They adored the conversations we shared. Of course, they wanted to create a class book of our own. The children chose their favorite books and told me what words to write on the charts. Here are a few pages from our class book inspired by Katie’s work:
And then… Beekle and Ilee!
Ilee was fascinated by Dan Santat’s The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend. After Beekle goes different places in his book looking for his unimaginary friend, Santat included sort of a map. How Ilee and her friends loved spending time on that book! They were inspired by Santat’s “hidden” characters across pages and repeated backgrounds showing progression from page to page. They also were drawn to a map page at the end, pointing to each place and recalling the different parts of the story.
Totally inspired, Ilee sets out to create a book of her own. Again and again, Ilee creates pictures using strategies that best tell her story—just as effectively as her carefully-chosen words
Shortly thereafter, Ilee’s inspiration book used that same map technique at the end.
What’s even more transformative than her insightful illustrations?
Showing her book to a class full of kids who loved Beekle and who were amazed that Ilee thoughtfully created a version of her own.
Just consider:
- Ilee has the satisfaction of publishing her work to an appreciative audience. You should have heard her classmates’ questions and comments after she shared! Obviously, her confidence is bolstered and she’s ready to start another incredible book.
- Ilee is not the only child impacted. She gives everyone else new ideas to try. And they do!
- Even reluctant writers see that their friends can do this. They realize they can, too.
It’s funny, too. The more you look closely at illustrations in children’s books, the more you’ll discover. We loved discovering a map page highlighting Helen’s spiderwebs throughout the zoo in Margaret Bloy Graham’s Be Nice to Spiders from 1967.
Children began adopting a variety of strategies in their books. Even for children who initially wrote little, the time and thought investments began paying off as they started trying new things. Katie Wood Ray’s book inspired me to simply study illustrations, read quality literature, listen to the things kids began noticing, and celebrate all the books to come.
More Children's Illustrations Over the Years
More compelling children’s books inspired more adventurous writing! Young writers and illustrators began trying different strategies of their own. And I learned to appreciate their initial attempts, encourage their progress, and showcase their book completions. Truly, the book authors and the conversations we shared became the children’s best teachers of things to try writing and drawing.
Illustrations Today Still Compel Writers and Readers
The Story and Illustrations of Moo, Moo Nap, Nap
Just yesterday, my four-year-old grandson and I enjoyed this new release by Sarah Philpott, Moo, Moo Nap, Nap. A farmer’s wife and mother of four kids, Sarah and her life on the farm is of great interest to little children. Despite his disdain for naps, my grandson, Tucker, was drawn in by the charming illustrations and the flowy text
When the yellow sun reaches tall over the barn, the animals on the farm start to yawn.
The cows gather under the shade of the large maple tree.
“It’s time to Nap, Nap, My little Moo, Moo.”
The storyline totally reminds me of some of Eric Carle’s classics.
Tucker laughed aloud over the illustration of the pigs and sighed at the horses nestling down. And when we discovered the map page cleverly created by illustrator Christine Gore, Tucker had to study every little bit. He found all the animals, reviewed their noises, and talked about the donkeys (who stood up to sleep!) What a satisfying culmination of a classic story. “Let’s wead it again, Gigi!”
Comic-strip Style Images that Inspire and Educate
As you might imagine, we clearly have a TBR(To Be Read) Pile for Tucker for years to come! I admit I didn’t have to look too far for this next example of compelling illustrations—from the Historyman Comic book series. What better way for Tuck to learn about people and events of the Revolutionary War than through a comic strip—one that tells true, compelling stories through a kid-friendly lens?
Every Monday morning, I hear author Eric Barnes consulting with his illustrator, Rick Emond, through a Zoom call. They go over illustrations, story lines, and settings in detail. I definitely think about pictures differently because I hear all the work it takes to perfect each page. How they work to bring historical figures back to life for their young readers of history. Tucker’s going to love them!
The Power of Images for Adults
Although I’ve told Ilee for years I planned to write about her spin-off on Beekle, I couldn’t figure out what else to include. Yet, after serving on a recent launch team for Donna Amidon’s Tracing His Promise: Understanding the Bigger Story of Jesus and What That Means for Us, I knew! Donna tackles teaching how the whole Old Testament points to Jesus. Her relatable stories drew me in. But the insights she shares from Bible stories I’ve always known? They’re surprising, not what I expected at all.
But, oh, the images created by her daughter Charity? Unforgettable. These pictures truly compel me to look even closer and consider the Biblical points Donna makes. Check out this time-lapse video of Charity drawing Isaac’s ram from Genesis 22—and how she pointed to Jesus… Each of Charity’s drawings are equally stimulating.
How Illustrations Compel Children - and Adults - Today
Keep looking for those inspiring illustrations in picture books, comic books, and books for older students and adults. And when you discover interesting drawings from your own children, be sure to affirm them. Share them to inspire others. They’ll definitely be items you look back on twenty years later—and are grateful you still have.
I loved “Kermit!” So creative. I have always loved children’s book illustrations. Even today when I read a Bible story I still see the pictures from “The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes” in my head.
Yes! I love the way you applaud the efforts of children who draw pictures. What a sweet way to encourage them to write text and become authors of their stories. I treasure the faded construction-paper covers that record my own two children’s first steps at becoming writers. Their stick figure characters and invented spelling warms my heart like no best selling novel can. Thank you for your words of wisdom to those who teach children… Tap into the power of illustrations to inspire children to write!