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!