Week 2 Reading Response 2-Picture Books

 

Lyons, Kelly Starling. Going Down Home with Daddy. Illustrated by Daniel Minter, Peachtree Publishing Company, 2019. ISBN 9781561459384

Going Down Home with Daddy tells the story of a family's trip to their ancestral home for a reunion. Daniel Minter's illustrations effectively capture the mood of the story. Minter uses colors to convey the time of day, the connection to the farm, and the emotions portrayed in the story.

The illustrations don't conflict with the text; they complement it by adding depth to the words. This helps the reader understand the family’s history and tradition. Minter uses blues, greens, and browns to evoke an earthly feeling appropriate for a story about a family, farm, and heritage. The colors complement the lines of the drawings and highlight details, such as the white cotton being shown in the clothing throughout, tying it to the crops they grow on their land.

The elements in the illustrations are arranged to guide the reader’s eye through the scenes to support the narrative. The illustrations direct attention to the important aspects of the story, such as the family members’ expressions and interactions.

The illustrations avoid stereotypes and provide a modern depiction of African American culture. There is nothing in this book that would embarrass or offend. The narrative and illustrations are respectful and celebratory of family connections, making it a positive and affirming book for readers of all backgrounds. This book can be shared with a wide audience, including children and families of all backgrounds, as it offers universal themes of family, heritage, and love.

 Lindstrom, Carole, and Michaela Goade. We Are the Water Protectors. Roaring Brook Press, 2020. ISBN 9781250203557

 The illustrations in We Are the Water Protectors strongly reflect the story, addressing the urgent issue of protecting water from pollution. The vibrant, flowing watercolors evoke a sense of movement and life throughout the book, complementing the text without causing conflicts. The illustrations help readers understand the cultural and environmental themes, showing the pipes as both what they are and as a snake to convey the story's meaning. The fluid line work expresses movement, like water flowing, and the rich texture achieved through layering and details draws the reader into the story while guiding their eyes across the page.

 The illustrations avoid stereotypes and respectfully and authentically represent indigenous culture. They depict modern imagery, avoid traditional stereotypes, and are unlikely to embarrass or offend individuals from the depicted group. This book celebrates indigenous culture and makes a strong statement on environmental stewardship suitable for many readers, including children and adults.

 

Morales, Yuyi. Dreamers. Neal Porter Books, 2018. ISBN 9780823440559

 The illustrations in the book Dreamers by Yuyi Morales effectively convey the story's mood, enhancing the emotion and journey of the protagonist. They create a sense of wonder and discovery that complements the immigrant experience and adaptation to a new land. The illustrations provide visual context that deepens the reader’s understanding of the narrative. The bright, warm colors evoke hope and positivity, while the lines express movement and emotion. The mixed media adds texture to the illustrations, providing a tactile quality to the images. Morales places the protagonist centrally, keeping her the story's focus and avoiding stereotypes. The book offers a modern and respectful depiction of the immigrant experience, suitable for sharing with children and adults. 

Phi, Bao. A Different Pond. Illustrated by Thi Bui, Capstone Young Readers, 2017. ISBN9781623708030

 Thi Bui's drawings depict the peaceful and thoughtful atmosphere of early morning fishing trips and explore important themes such as family bonds, sacrifice, and the immigrant experience. The gentle colors and soft lines in the illustrations match the reflective and tender mood of Bao Phi's storytelling well. The illustrations do not conflict with the text; they provide context and depth. You can see the father is weary yet determined and the pond's beauty without being distracted by the illustrations
. The colors and lines complement each other and enhance the illustrations, helping evoke the quiet mood and time of day. The artist gives texture to the illustrations through line work and color shading, making the natural surroundings feel more realistic, like seeing the moon in the sky and reflected in the pond. Figures and objects are positioned centrally to draw attention to the main component of the story at that time. The illustrations avoid stereotypes and present a respectful portrayal of the characters and their experiences. They provide a varied portrayal of the family’s daily life, such as the fishing trip and their interactions, while showcasing aspects of their cultural identity and the theme of family and resilience. There is nothing in A Different Pond that would embarrass or offend. This book is suitable for sharing with various groups, including children and adults.