Books to Teach Relationship between Illustrations and Text

Common Core requires students at all levels to be able to pull information from illustrations that accompany the text to add meaning to what is being read.

Kindergarten: RL K.7  With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).

First Grade:  RL 1.7  Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

Second GradeL RL 2.7 Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.

Third Grade:  RL 3.7  Explain how specific aspects of a text’s illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting).

The first two books will help you plan lessons to meet this standard and are probably already on your bookshelf.

All of Chris Van Allsburg's books have wonderful illustrations. Jumanji is just one. Remind students to look for the little white bull terrier that appears  in most of his books and write reasons why the dog belongs in the particular story.

Jumanji

Who doesn't love the zany antics of Gloria?

Cover up the words with Post-its and let students guess which safety rule is illustrated.

Officer Buckle and Gloria

You might not have a copy of Van Allsburg's The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, but if you don't, go order one now.  I have one of the portfolio sets so that I can post one of the pictures and the caption in the room or in a literacy station. My students love when I put one of these up. They will scour the picture for details.

Here's a link to the portfolio edition.

And last, but not least, is a collection of short stories written by familiar authors telling what they think happened in the Harris Burdick pictures. This one is on my wish list, but I think it will be fun to share these stories with my kiddos after they write their own.

Do you have any other books that are your favorites for linking illustrations with the text? Share them in a comment. I'll choose one of the comments to win a product of your choice from my TpT store. Leave your comment and email address before 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 2.

My Favorite Snow Books -- and Another First Five Wins!

Since snow is still on my mind, I'm pulling out all my snow books to use with my kiddos. Here's a list of some of my favorites and a freebie to go with them. (I've included links to Amazon so you can get more info about the books.)

Here's an oldie, but goodie. I love anything by Ezra Jack Keats

Another oldie, but goodie….

White Snow, Bright Snow, by Tresselt and Duvoisin

Snowmen at Night, by Carolyn Buehner

My kiddos are always entranced by learning about Snowflake Bentley.

They pour over the pics in Snowflakes in Photographs by Bentley himself.

I don't have this version, but the description says it includes a CD of the snowflakes. Just imagine what you could do with that!

Gail Gibbons will always have a place on my bookshelf. She is a great introduction to informational text.

Here's your freebie for both snow-themed literature and informational text. I've included the CC ELA standards for first, second, and third grades. These graphic organizers help guide your students' thinking about what they have read.

Just click on the pic above to get the file.

I'll also give away a free product from my TpT store to the first five people who follow my TpT store and comment with the name they use to follow, their email address, and the product they want me to send.