Picture books
Introduction
Ezekiel Kwaymullina & Sally Morgan, My Country, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8071396
Ezekiel Kwaymullina & Sally Morgan, My Country, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8071396
Alison Lester, Imagine, 2017, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn7417864
Alison Lester, Imagine, 2017, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn7417864
Shaun Tan is a well-known author and illustrator of children's books in Australia. His first children's book, The Haunted Playground, was released in 1997 and he has since written and illustrated a further 13 children's books. He also worked as a concept artist for animated films such as Pixar's WALL-E. Many of Shaun Tan's books include themes of acceptance, difference, immigration and belonging.
Jeannie Baker, Hidden Forest, Bull kelp detail, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-971159954
Jeannie Baker, Hidden Forest, Bull kelp detail, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-971159954
Jeannie Baker, Hidden Forest, Fortescue Bay, high tide, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-971476340
Jeannie Baker, Hidden Forest, Fortescue Bay, high tide, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-971476340
Jeannie Baker, Hidden Forest, Fortescue Bay with boat close up, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-971476354
Jeannie Baker, Hidden Forest, Fortescue Bay with boat close up, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-971476354
Jeannie Baker, Hidden Forest, Endpapers, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-971313378
Jeannie Baker, Hidden Forest, Endpapers, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-971313378
Learning activities
- Select a Jeannie Baker book to read with your class. Some of her books are beautiful examples of stories without text (Mirror, Belonging and Window). The artworks throughout Jeannie's books are miniature collage constructions. Jeannie begins her artworks by first drawing the picture, then building them up using natural and artificial materials to create a collage. The textures of the natural materials are used to make the artworks look realistic and to bring a three-dimensional feel to them.
- Divide the students into small groups and give them an A3 printed page from the book. Images are available from the NLA catalogue. Ask students to analyse the pictures:
- Can you identify any of the materials used in the collage?
- Are you able to understand the story just from the images?
- Do you think you can tell a story using a collage? Provide students with white paper, various collage materials and glue to make their own collages.
More to learn and do
