Picturebook - for my final draft I added transitions and animations to each slide. I decided to opt out of including music or sound effects because I didn't think they would help strengthen the content of the story. I kept my presentation simple and silent. Hope you enjoy!
*When viewing, you may want to hit pause on slide 10 & 18. I had a heck of a time adjusting the timing of the transitions and animations. I recommend pause on those two slides just to make sure you have enough time to read the text. Thanks for viewing and sorry for the inconvenience.
Activity Guide (link to my google doc below)
goo.gl/FnvJvn
Image Resources & Plot Pitch (link to my google doc below)
goo.gl/oVbV9O
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Final Project Checkpoint
Rough Draft: I still need to add sound and transitions to my presentation, but this is my story progress so far. You will need to click through the slides at this stage. I will make adjustments for the final to play automatically.
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Plot Pitch
Our story begins with the
birth of a litter of puppies. Two
puppies in particular stand out from the rest.
Two sisters form a strong bond of friendship and dependence on
each other for survival. One of them is
the runt and is smaller and more fragile, so the other takes up responsibility
to watch over her. One day, they are separated
and are miserable to be apart. They
struggle to find each other and in the end fate steps in and they are
reunited. They are over the moon at
being back together and vow to never let each other out of their sight
again.
Activity Guide
Activity Guide
Text
1. The text of a children's book is usually organized into
simple sentences and short paragraphs. How is the text organized in this picturebook? Explain whether this organization was
sufficient for the story that this book is telling.
2. Children's book authors often employ literary tools to
help make the story more vivid in the readers minds. Commonly used literary
tools are rhythm, alliteration, repetition, refrains, onomatopoeia, simile,
personification, rhyme, and imagery. Identify three different areas in the text
where a literary tool has been employed. For each example you identify, state
the type of literary tool that is used and how the employment of the tool helps
support the story.
3. Identify two areas in the text that use a question or
other device to help move the reader to the next page.
Images
1. Some picture books have an images on the front cover that
presents the main conflict or point of the story. Identify two or more elements
from the front cover of the book you are reviewing and explain how they relate
to the story.
2. What is the primary medium (collage, drawings,
photographs, etc.) used in the images?
3. Identify the image that in your opinion is the most
effective in developing the story as a whole. Explain how two or more elements
in the illustration help support and develop the story. If you can, insert a
screenshot of the image into your blog.
4. Identify two elements that are repeated throughout a
majority of the images. Explain how these elements support the story. If you
can insert a screenshot into your blog.
5. Find an example of how the images and text work together
to create irony,metaphor and/or metonymy. If you can insert a screeenshot of
the image into your blog.
Characterization
1. What is the easily identifiable dominant trait of the
story's main character(s)?
2. Identify a character trait of the main character that is
established through the text.
3. Identify a character trait of the main character that is
established through the images.
4. Identify two character traits of the main character that
young children identify or sympathize
with.
5. What was the main problem that the main character faces
in the book? How is this problem similar to a problem that most children have
faced before?
6. Sometimes a children's book character will solve the main
conflict on his or her own. How did the character in the book you selected turn
to self-reliance to solve the main conflict of the story?
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Storybird
Storybird Picturebook
1. Identify the image that in your opinion is the most effective in developing the story as a whole and explain why it was effective.
I believe the first page of the poem text on page 1 is the most effective in developing the story because the image sets up the subject and relationships of the characters to the viewer. We understand that the story is about life and embracing all its wonders and laughter through loving your family and friends. Life is about fostering those relationships through the years of adventure and learning. The image shows a young family, engaged in play, enjoying their time together. In my opinion, this image is a perfect representation of the text.
2. Did the image and written narrative interact in a way that created irony, metaphor and/or metonymy?
On page 2, I have an image of a mother reading a bedtime story to her 2 tired children. I think this image is a perfect example where the written narrative and image create a metaphor. "For a very special purpose," is the text on this page, and in my picturebook this text has an underlying message of mothers holding a very special and crucial role in their children's lives. The bond that is made between mother and child through the intimate moments such as these, where a mother shows her love and devotion to her children by making sure they drift off to sleep with happy thoughts of lovely stories and the soft, soothing sound of her voice. I still remember these precious moments with my mom and this image evokes further metaphor through my memories and experiences. Bedtime stories are very precious times in my life and I only hope the rest of my viewers had that same love and attention.
3. Explain how two or more elements in the illustration help support and develop the story.
On page 3, there are several characters in a rough and tumble match of play. This interaction in motion, paired with all of the joyful expressions on their faces lead the viewer to relate to the words on the page. "This secret each human being." - we know what the previous pages have stated, and this image supports the dialogue by heightening the energy and power of the message. Everyone has experienced this type of joy at some point and can relate. We then understand that as humans and individuals, it is important for us to seek out our own happiness in life. It is our mission on this earth for ourselves.
4. Identify two elements that are repeated throughout a majority of the images. Explain how these elements support the story.
Two elements that are repeated are: the inclusion of family interactions, and them being engaged in intimate settings that are easily relatable. These image elements rooted with the power of the minimal text create individual pictures as a whole, and make viewers flash back to their own experiences. This helps them fill in the missing gaps of the story for themselves to complete. The text on its own is understandable, but paired with certain images completes the sentiment more concisely. The underlying message of the text remains the same, but depending on the images used, could drastically change the mental images we associate to the words and the story. The images hold a great deal of the power, which is what makes these types of assignments so interesting - viewing how different perspectives tackle the same problem is astounding.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Picturebook Analysis
Postmodern Picturebook Analysis (The Jolly Postman)
Text
1. The
text of a children's book is usually organized into simple sentences and short
paragraphs. How is the text organized in the book that you have chosen to
review? Explain whether this organization was sufficient for the story that
this book is telling.
The text in “The Jolly Postman” is of larger
type-face and very legible for the young, learning reading audience. The pictures vary in size and typically
include faded, rounded edges outlining the illustrations to add to the loose,
charming feel of the story. There are
usually bigger pictures on top of the page, with the text of the story in the
middle below, and some additional small illustrations are added in by the text
to help get the feel of the character who is being delivered mail. For this story, we follow the postman around
his route as he delivers mail to people in the community. He is given tea and treats at each
recipient’s house and enjoys his refreshment while they share their correspondence. I think it is a cute play on the role of the
postman. In my experience, the postman
in my neighborhood delivers the mail and is quickly gone to the next house as
he has so much to get done. I never
would imagine any postman would have time to stop for a chat, let alone have
refreshments at each of his patrons houses.
This adds an intimate feel and reminds me of perhaps a tiny town in
England that doesn’t have much mail coming or going, when a postman may be the
only person some folks might see all day, so it would be more common or
customary for him to stop off for a treat and a chat with his friends. I believe the organization of this book is
very appropriate for the layout of the commentary and it definitely supports
the content of the story.
2 2. Children's
book authors often employ literary tools to help make the story more vivid in
the readers minds. Commonly used literary tools are rhythm, alliteration,
repetition, refrains, onomatopoeia, simile, personification, rhyme, and
imagery. Identify three different areas in the text where a literary tool has
been employed. For each example you identify, state the type of literary tool
that is used and how the employment of the tool helps support the story.
Examples:
1. “Later
on, the Postman, Feeling hot, Came upon a ‘grandma’ in a shady spot. This example in the story uses the literary
tools of rhyme and alliteration. This is
successfully done by the way the author has separated the wording groups and
the way emphasis has been placed on the words.
This organization of tools helps add verbal bounces to the story, adding
to the quaint nature of the characters and environment.
2. “So
‘Grandma’ read the letter And poured the tea, Which the not-so-Jolly Postman
Drank…nervously.” This is another
literary example of rhyme, alliteration, and simile. The “not-so-Jolly Postman” is the simile of
this example, describing further what the postman is, or is not in this
case.
3.
“Now the Jolly Postman, Nearly done (so is the
story), Came to a house where a party had begun. On the step was a Bear with a bun. But the letter was for….Goldilocks.” This is a literary example of rhythm, rhyme,
and simile. Simile being the “Jolly
Postman” personified by his title of up beat and happy.
3. Identify two areas in the text that use a
question or other device to help move the reader to the next page.
*”But
the letter was for…..Goldilocks” This tool adds to the curiosity and desire to
move to the next page to discover why Goldilocks had a bear on her doorstep.
*”Once
upon a bicycle, So they say, A Jolly Postman came one day From over the hills
And far away…..” This dotted line
suggests a pause, that there is more to the story and that you should “read on”
to find out more. This is another tool
used to grab attention and keep the story moving.
Images
1. Some picture books have an image on the front
cover that presents the main conflict or point of the story. Identify two or
more elements from the front cover of the book you are reviewing and explain
how they relate to the story.
The front cover consists of characters reading
their letter correspondence. We do not
see the Jolly Postman on the front cover, but the letter recipients are happily
engaged in reading their letters that the postman delivered. We do not directly see all of these
characters in the book, but they are referred to in the contents of the letters
read throughout the story. The
characters on the front add to our understanding of what is to come in the story. The second element noticeable on the front
cover is the illustrations themselves and the way the art is portrayed. We see detailed characters with a washed out,
loosely painted background with less detail.
This gives visual weight to the characters themselves as being the most
important than what goes on around them.
2. What is the primary medium (collage, drawings,
photographs, etc.) used in the images?
The primary medium for the illustrations in the
story is watercolor, but the use of colored pencil and ink pen is evident in
the details also. These mediums are very
light and loosely used in the illustrations to keep the pictures charming and
simplified.
3. Identify the image that in your opinion is the
most effective in developing the story as a whole. Explain how two or more
elements in the illustration help support and develop the story. If you can,
insert a screenshot of the image into your blog.
I think the image above in the beginning pages where
the first correspondence is delivered is the most effective in developing the
story and our understanding of the “Jolly Postman’s” role in the
community. He is ever present in the
lives of each character as they are introduced throughout the story. He is their friend and each group wants to
share their letter or postcard with him and us, as the audience. The
“Jolly Postman” has a close relationship with each person or family he delivers
mail to and they treat him like family.
This adds to the close knit nature of the story and the characters.
4. Identify two elements that are repeated
throughout a majority of the images. Explain how these elements support the
story. If you can insert a screenshot into your blog.
One element that is repeated throughout the story
is the inclusion of actual letter envelopes, addressed and stamped to
recipients. The illustrations and text
are always on the left page, leading us to the addressed envelope on the right
page, once the page is flipped, we have an open envelope with loose papers
inside of the actual correspondence.
This is consistent throughout the story and adds and element of
excitement, when the reader can take out the letters or post cards from the
envelope, you relate to the excitement of opening up your own mail. This is a fantastic addition to the book and
further adds to the scope of the story for the viewers. We are more directly involved than just
reading words on the page of the book.
The second element that is repeated throughout
the story is the postman’s involvement in each recipients life as they
read/open their correspondence. He has
tea and refreshment at every stop. This
addition causes each character to show friendship of the “Jolly Postman.”
5. Find an example of how the images and text
work together to create irony,metaphor and/or metonymy. If you can insert a
screeenshot of the image into your blog.
This page is an example of Metonymy. “So the Witch read the letter With a cackle
of glee While the Postman read the paper But left his tea (it was green!)” A cackle of glee is in
place of laugh or snicker.
Characterization
1 1. What
is the easily identifiable dominant trait of the story's main character?
The easily identifiable dominant trait of the
story’s main character is that he has a cheery disposition. He smiles while doing his job and enjoys the
friendship he shares in that job with the people in his community.
2. Identify a character trait of the main
character that is established through the text.
The text says he is the “Jolly Postman” but his
actions and demeanor take that title further in the text. It makes us realize that the postman is more
complex than just Jolly - he is hard-working, loyal, caring and
compassionate.
3. Identify a character trait of the main
character that is established through the images.
The Jolly Postman likes reading the paper and
drinking tea. He has many friends and
rides a bike around town delivering his correspondence.
4. Identify
two character traits of the main character that young children identify or
sympathize with.
The characters that the Postman associates with
in the story are all characters of other children’s tales and fables. This has a quality that draws kids in because
they know these stories and characters.
The two character traits of the Jolly postman that kids can identify
with is that he is cheery and friendly to everyone, and he has a job to do that
he loves doing. The postman is proud of
his job and is doing an important task the best that he can. Kids see these qualities and have the desire
to be like the postman.
5. What was the main problem that the main
character faces in the book? How is this problem similar to a problem that most
children have faced before?
The main goal of the main character is delivering
all the mail to the people of his community.
This problem is similar to a problem that children face because it is
about having a job to do, getting it done, and enjoying it. It is important to relay to children that
jobs are important to do and that you get more enjoyment out of everything with
a smile on your face and a kind word to someone else. It is about making the most of life and each
day as it comes and being a positive force in the lives of people around you.
6. Sometimes a children's book character will
solve the main conflict on his or her own. How did the character in the book
you selected turn to self-reliance to solve the main conflict of the
story?
The Jolly Postman made the most of his job and
helped make each characters day brighter by delivering their mail and being
friendly and kind. The Postman was proud
of his job and enjoyed being social with the people in his community. This lead to him successfully completing his
round of deliveries for the day and adding extra attention to each character by
visiting with them when he delivered their mail. He touched the lives of others and made
everyone’s day better by his attitude and his enthusiasm. We can all learn something positive from this
story, to be more like the Jolly Postman in our work a day lives. Always have a smile and do our jobs with enthusiasm
and pride!
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