Evaluating Children Picture Books - Essay Example

Where the wild things are and Hansel and Gretel are two texts that bring out the meaning of the story through a continuous relationship of words and images. The first picture in Where the wild things are shows the protagonist Max hammering a nail. Max is in his wolf suit standing on the books the toy dog is tied to the cord. The text says “mischief” (Maurice S., pp 7) and the picture shows what kind of mischief. The second picture shows him running with a fork behind the dog. The photograph on the wall also depicts a face that is very devilish. It adds to the impact of his mischief. The text says “and another” (pp 9) which convey he is up to some mischief all the time. It also conveys maybe one mistake is pardonable but “another” becomes a serious mistake. The face of the puppy, very frightened also serves to highlight the devilish act. By contrasting the devilish joy on Max’s face with the innocence of the puppy the author is successful in showing how “wild” can Max be. He is running vigorously, suspended in midair, his tail is very fluffy and up in the air, all contribute to show he is totally engaged and excited. The next picture shows him angry and his eyes are on the door which shows that he is locked in his bedroom. The text tells us “without eating anything” (pp 11) . The words “wild thing” (pp 11) are capitalized which suggest he is labeled as a very naughty boy. He answers back which is again capitalized which show his disobedience. The picture shows that he does not feel any remorse. At the same time it conveys to the children that he is punished for not obeying his mother and being mischievous. Thus while the text or the words carry the narrative forward, the illustrations serve to enhance the situation and make an impact on the reader. Without the illustrations the children will not be able to grasp the importance of how wild can Max be or what he feels when he is punished. “ Text and images work together, a relationship many critics call a marriage or union, to bring a story to new levels. Leonard S. Marcus refers to the relationship as "a dialogue between two worlds: the world of images and the world of words." Illustrations can extend the meaning of a story or alter a book altogether.” (What is a picture book) Further a forest grows in Max’s room and he sails out in his “private boat” (pp 19). The transition from locking max to his journey to “where the wild things are” is covered up by the narrative. At the same time the illustrations depict a wild forest growing deeper slowly. The illustrations also point out that max is very happy. His smiling face becomes the center of attraction to the children. This points out that max does not feel any remorse at not being given dinner. At the same time it also conveys that he is in no mood to give up his wild acts. Further, the illustrations depict max traveling in a boat with a determination on his face which is very evident. It also shows how superior he feels as now it is his world and everything at his command just like “a private boat” (pp 19) which is taking him on his journey. Though the words of the text only tell you that he is going on a journey, the illustrations are very important to show how max feels. Without the illustrations the reader cannot experience the thrill that max does. Further he meets wild things who again obey him (“be still”) (pp 22) and “call him the most wild thing of all” (pp 22). This again makes him feel superior as the illustrations depict. Here max is a hero who is revered for being wild in sharp contrast to his mother who punishes him for being wild. The monster bowing down in reverence also shows that Max controls his world. The crown on his head is an important indicator of the respect shown to him. The message that is conveyed to the children is that it is fun to be wild. The happy faces of the monsters, their antics, their dance which is at the command of max, “let the wild rumpus start” (pp 23) also serve to highlight that max in strict disobedience is having his way. The text is also very important in highlighting his stature. When he says “let the wild rumpus start” he is commanding the monsters. At the same time this single sentence works with the illustrations to bring out Max’s power and total control of his situation. Similarly he sends them off to sleep without any supper, just like his mother. The text here again highlights Max’s control of his wild world where everything even the monsters are at his disposal. “now stop” . (pp 0027) Finally max is tired. He smells “good things to eat” (pp 27) and wants “to be where someone loved him best of all” (pp 27). Coupled with this Max’s forlorn face, his look of sadness and most important the monsters lying down tired and lifeless makes it very clear to the reader that though it is fun to be wild, one cannot have that fun forever. It shows that they all are very tired. At the same time the text tells us that he is hungry and feels lonely. Max decides to go home. He waves goodbye to all the wild things. The illustration shows how the wild things do not want him to go and call him vigorously. But max is very happy and determined to sail back in his private boat. The text again carries forward the narrative. It tells the reader that he again travels back. “and sailed back over a year and in and out…” (pp 29). The final illustration shows him in his room with the supper laid on his table and Max smiling. Max holding his hand to his head also suggests that he realizes that he had a dream and is wondering about it. At the same time he also looks pleased about the fact that it was only a dream and that his supper is ready when he is feeling very hungry. But at the same time it also highlights the fact that he finds his supper only when he comes back. That is to say the images work so strongly that one is able to see that only when Max determines to give up being wild and waves goodbye to his wild friends, does he get his supper. The last line of the text, “and it was still hot” (pp 32) serve two purposes. The first is it brings the narrative to a proper end. It points out that Max had a dream and that it was still night and that he could still have his supper. Secondly it tells that his mother forgives him once he comes back from the wild things. The story becomes didactic in the sense that children understand that once Max stops being wild, he is forgiven. The first illustration in the text Hansel and Gretel shows Hansel comforting Gretel. The text lays the background for this illustration. The children overhear their parents’ conversation. "Take them miles from home, so far that they can never find their way back! Maybe someone will find them and give them a home." (Hansel and Gretel) And the picture shows the loving and caring relationship between the siblings. The text tells the reader why is Gretel crying and the illustration enhances this further by depicting what Hansel does to comfort her. The next illustration shows him collecting stones in the moonlight. This further shows that he has thought of a plan to reach home. Further the background is laid by the text when the children are left alone in the forest. But Hansel drops the white pebbles and finds a way home. “The tiny white pebbles gleamed in the moonlight, and the children found their way home” (Hansel and Gretel). This also brings out to the reader the determination of Hansel and his intelligence. The illustrations further show the children with their father and their stepmother. This picture shows that the step mother’s angry gaze is directed at the children which convey that she is not at all happy to see the children around the house. At the same time the father is bowed and looks helpless which shows that he is not able to go against his wife’s will. At the same time the children look as tender as ever. They seem to be oblivious of the anger that they cause to their stepmother. The next illustration again show the children left in the forest lost and scared. The huge trees and the darkness of the pictures that envelop the children make it evident to the readers that they are lost. At the same time the text tells us that they are unable to find their way back home. Thus the text and the illustrations work together to create the meaning of the story. The next illustration shows a “a strange cottage in the middle of a glade” (Hansel and Gretel). The cottage made up of chocolate, icing and biscuit doors delight the children. Though the words or the text describe the cottage, the illustration helps to create an image and further enhances the story. The next illustration shows an old woman calling out to the children to come inside the cottage. Her crafty look makes her evil intentions very evident. At the same time the text tells us that she is a witch who wishes to eat the children. The next illustration shows hansel locked in the cage and Gretel working for the witch. The reasons for this are laid out in the text.   "Youre nothing but skin and bones!" said the witch, locking Hansel into a cage. I shall fatten you up and eat you!" (Hansel and Gretel). Hansel is locked till he becomes fat enough for the witch to eat him. At the same time the illustration shows Hansel holding a bone for the witch to examine. The text tells us that the witch cannot see properly. “the witch had very bad eyesight” (Hansel and Gretel). Thus Hansel and Gretel deceive her fairly easily. The next illustration shows Gretel pushing the oven door shut with the witch burning inside. This brings out to the reader that the children have finally overcome the evil and destroyed the witch. The text tells us that Gretel pushes her inside “Gretel gave her a tremendous push and slammed the oven door shut” (Hansel and Gretel) and the illustration shows how vigorously Hansel does that. The final illustration shows the children in the woods meeting their father. The smiling faces of the children show them to be very happy. At the same time they are carrying a casket of cold coins. The father is also stretching out his hands towards the children which show that he is welcoming them with happiness. At the same time the colors and the background of the illustration is very bright unlike the illustration which depicts the children in the witch’s house and is filled with somber colors. This also helps in enhancing the happy end of the story. Both the stories are similar in the sense that they are fairy tales depicting monsters and witches. Further both the stories contain a journey that is undertaken by the protagonist children. In both the stories the children come out of their journey victorious. Similarly in both the stories the text works with the illustrations to form the meaning. References Hansel and Gretel, 1997, 13 June 2007, Sendak, Maurice, Where the Wild Things Are Harper Trophy What is a picture book, 1999, 13 June 2007, Read More