Functions of Illustrations in Picture Books

Picture book illustrations perform certain functions that may differ from those of gallery paintings. Artwork in picture books is most often concerned with storytelling. Therefore, picture book art may function in one or more of the following ways:

· Establish setting. Art is a natural for creating the setting in an illustrated book. Time periods in historical stories or far-flung cultural settings can be brought to life through illustrations in ways words cannot do.

· Define and develop characters. Artists can give characters an extra fleshing out through illustrations.

· Reinforce text. The primary function of some picture book illustrations is to reinforce the text. Nonfiction picture books often fall in this category, with the illustrations and diagrams providing a visual restatement of the words. However, illustrations in a story picture book may function primarily to reinforce the story.

· Provide a differing viewpoint. One of the most enjoyable ways in which illustrations may function in a picture book is that of telling a different story than the text or even being in opposition to the words.

· Extend or develop the plot. The plot of a story may be advanced by illustrations. In wordless picture books, the whole plot is unfolded through pictures. Sometimes the plot is merely extended or rounded a little by the illustrations.

· Establish mood. Illustrations are extremely effective in determining the mood of a picture storybook. The Polar Express (Van Allsburg 1985) is a Christmas story, and Christmas stories typically use a bright and cheery palette. The mood in Van Allsburg's story, however, is mysterious, and he uses dark colors to establish that mood. With muted reds and blues and even muted yellows along with plenty of black and brown, the artist creates an eerie feeling as a young boy watches a magical train steam its way into his front yard late Christmas Eve.