Analysis of a Picture Book

by Lori NiemoellerJune 1, 2007

A little about Denise Fleming…

Denise Fleming• Denise Fleming was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1950.

• Denise Fleming grew up in a household that supported creativity.

• Her father built furniture in a basement workshop. Denise created things in this workshop as well.

• Her love of color was inspired by her mother’s decorating. Her mother filled their home and garden with bright colors.

• She creates the pictures for her books by a process called pulp painting, a unique paper-making technique.

• She uses bright, strong colors in her illustrations.

An analysis of an illustration from

In the Tall, Tall Grassby Denise Fleming

This illustration shows good use of a double-page spread and gutter. These allow a full, uninterrupted,

panoramic view of the scene.

The positioning of the text effects the mood of the story and reinforces what the words are saying.

In this illustration the words “pull” and “tug” are positioned to look like those actions.

Big, bold type is used to demonstrate that the words are important and are integrated into the picture as well.

The size of the illustrations makes you feel like you are in the grass with the creatures.

The colors in the story change from the bright, bold colors seen here to darker, more muted colors as the story

progresses and changes from daytime to night.

Complementary colors are used. This gives the feeling of movement and excitement and makes

the illustrations stand out.

An analysis of an illustration from

The Cow Who Cluckedby Denise Fleming

This illustration demonstrates good use of the double-page spread. The reader can view the entire scene. The gutter

also does not interfere with the illustration.

The rich, warm colors used in this pulp painting establish a calm feeling with the scene. This supports the fact that

time has passed, the day is ending, and things are going to be okay for the cow who lost her moo.

Different materials have been added to the paper pulp in this illustration. This provides texture and

adds depth to the picture and makes the road, grass, and path seem realistic.

The lines used in the illustration are soft and horizontal. Again, this adds to the calmness of this part of the story. The horizontal lines also help with continuation in the picture and draw the reader’s eyes along

the path from the cow to the barn in the distance.

The reader cannot see the cow’s eyes in this illustration but the cow’s body language seems to suggest the cow is

longingly gazing toward the barn wondering if her moo ever will return.

Bibliography of reading and resources:

CCBC Choices 2007

Fleming, Denise. The Cow Who Clucked. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2006.

Fleming, Denise. In The Tall, Tall Grass. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1991.

Horning, Kathleen. From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children’s Books. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997.

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Online resources:

www.denisefleming.com

www.teachingbooks.net

www.nccil.org