Where Are The Wild Things Are By Mabel Segun

Picturebooks are a combination of words and visual art. Words and pictures are equally significant in picturebooks. Mabel Segun stresses on illustrations role by stating that “Illustrations are literature in their own right, and whether used by themselves or integrated with written texts, they sharpen the perception of children, stimulate their imagination and increase their sense of observation. The overall development of children can be aided by good illustrations”. No doubt that proper illustrations are the key elements that helps children to enhance their imagination and creativity. However, the idea of illustrations standing on their own in picturebooks is open to discussion. At times illustrations applies more sense than a text does in
picturebooks, however, other times words tells us more about the story. Pictures stand memorable better than words for toddlers and young readers because they are highly sensitive to visual effects. Even before they learn to speak or read, they have the ability to recognize familiar faces and objects. Their visual sensitivity increases as they grow up, and when children are able to read, text comes as important as illustrations. Illustration’s role is essential in Picturebooks, but then again, words complete pictures to tell a story. I will be focusing on illustration and its elements and what is their addition to picturebooks. On the other hand, I will also be arguing whether illustrations can stand on their own in a picturebook showing that text has an essential role as illustrations as well. I shall then display that in order to extract the most benefits of picturebooks for children, texts and illustrations must be working together to create a proper picturebook that participate in children’s development. My discussion will be Supported by a number of critical views. This argument will include examples from picturebooks I have studied in this course and other books that I have read.
Reading Illustrations Illustrations enrich picturebooks and adds depth to it. As pictures are the child first impression of a book, covers tell a lot of what the story is standing for, creating a sense of suspense and delight to discover what is in it. Illustrations capture the child’s eye and attention, providing details that can bring events from the past or creates events in the future that children readers have never experienced before. Moreover, some features of visual design help to set a mood or shifting it such as Shapes, lines and colours. “Changes in color can be signs of changing mood….” (Kiefer, 1995, p. 28) each colour is symbol for a certain mood or emotion; like happy colours and calming colours for instance.
An example from Voices in the park by Anthony brown, we see the separated background colours when Smudge is talking to Charles, from dark and gloomy greyish where was Charles sitting, to the bright and joyful green where Smudge was sitting and asking him to play with her. Charles was sad and Smudge is happy. Transforming the reader’s mood from sadness to happiness as the two dogs cross over the picture into the two different moods from left to right as the story is moving forward. Also in Where are the wild things are? “A study of Sendak’s illustrations reveals that the color used is generally of low intensity and dark tone, and that shades of blue predominate. Sendak’s choices are predicated on his illustrating a story that is a dream or fantasy, taking place at night or twilight” (Kiefer, 1995, p. 28). With proper illustration, children will be able to recall highest information associated with pictures and learn how to read a story on their own. Pictures motivate children’s imagination and creativity; they can tell a story from their own point of view. Illustrations attract children’s minds moving them forward in the story settings, characters and message detection. It also can be narrated from more than one perspective. These perspectives and point of views are variable because it depends on what children see in a
picturebook and what they think. Pictures cannot be neglected in picturebooks, because again, pictures have an impact on us sometimes even more than words. Illustrations do provide us with details more than words can sometimes. For example, potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit we see Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton tail and the mother faces are shown; a reader would probably be asking where is Peter? Searching the illustration, we find a cute tiny half bunny bottom is somehow stuck in the tree trunk. First of all, the picture tells us that Peter is different or perhaps that he is not like the other rabbits in the picture (beatrix, 1902, P. 6). The illustration gives us a clue and sense that Peter might be a little naughty and get himself in trouble by some means. Second, it is a funny scene, this illustration holds a sense of humour which is very important thing that words cannot offer in a story. As Segun stated “Humorous treatment of illustrations arouses the interest of children. Who does not enjoy humour?” (Segun, 1988, p. 26). Also one of the remarkable illustrations in this picturebook (Beatrix, 1902, P. 60,61), where Mr. McGregor hangs Peter’s jacket to scare the blackbirds. Peter does not appear in the picture, nor Peter’s name was mentioned in the text, yet we can feel his presence because his belongings are in the picture, as if we can visualize his figure in our mind. That what illustration do in picturebooks, it stimulates our imagination. Illustrations also holds some kind of cods and covert messages. For instance, Browne’s Voices in the park, illustrations express many ideas, morals and lessons. Screaming faces are hidden in newspapers and trees which the can be a symbol of dysfunctional relationship between the mother and Charles. Hats are also one of the many cods that we can find in this picturebook, it could be standing for the captivity of Charles or that the mother does not listen to anyone but herself or perhaps it could stand for her status. Shadows also plays a huge role in this story as the mother shadows appears like a dog shadow meaning that the dog is her priority and not her own son. Many values are applied through illustrations, but will they survive with the absence of text in such picturebooks? Therefore, attention must be given to the text significant as well.

Words guides pictures Referring to Mabel Segun’s statement above, I fairly agree with her because it is absolutely true that illustrations are essential in picturebooks and that art does enhance a storytelling. Nevertheless, I think that as much as illustrations are important in a picturebook, words are equally central. Details and narrative perspective would be absent without a text. They story Itself won’t be carried properly. Considering a picturebook with no text would be unfair to the readers because words add facts as much as the illustration adds to a story. As David Lewis argued “Pictures show and words tell. The images on their own simply do not offer up ‘information’ or ‘statements’ or ‘stories’ in quite the way that words do” (Lewis, 2001, p. 96), we can see how this applies in The Tale of Peter Rabbit when p Peter’s mother said; “Your father had an accident there, he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.” (Beatrix, 1902, P. 11) If we consider the illustration presented on the opposite side of the page where Mrs. McGregor is serving a pie as a nice person not appearing as a threaten, the picture does not show us that Peter’s father is actually cooked in the pie, but the text tells us so, and it also alarms us that Mrs. McGregor is dangerous. By looking at the illustration only, the reader cannot tell such information. Texts in picturebooks provide us with details such as actions and motions by describing them. For example, we won’t know that Peter is running unless the text tells us the he is, the picture shows Peter’s figure standing on his two feet, where the text says “But Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor’s garden,” (Beatrix, 1902. p. 18,19). Although Anthony Browne’s books are famous of being highly illustrated in a sophisticated way, text is well treated as much as the illustrations in Brown’s Voices in The Park. His postmodern picturebook displays the significance of the text, even the text font is changing with each voice. Charlies said “I’m good at climbing trees, so I showed her how to it. She told me her name was Smudge – a funny name. I know, but she’s quite nice. Then Mummy caught us talking together and I had to go home.”, Charlies mother does not appear in the picture, nor the action of Smudge and Charlies being caught, however, the text offers these specific details in order to convey the story’s climax at this point. In few cases, the absence of illustration is required; for example, “Where are the wild things are?” by Maurice Sendak, Max’s mother does not appear in the story, what we see is the mother’s tokens as Moebius descried; only a cake, milk and what seems to be a bowl of soup. “On the final page, without a picture, the text tells us “And it was still hot”. Here “it” emerges as unspeakable and unseeable motherlove” (Moebius,1986). Moreover, illustrations in the case of picturebooks would possibly be standing on their own only if it was to encourage young children who cannot read, however, sooner or later they will be able to read and start associating illustrations with words.
Children and Picturebooks One of the many occupations of picturebooks is sharpening children’s perception by increasing their ability to identify pictures and convey them into meaningful words through linking them together.
Illustrations not only offers information, but it allows the child to be engaged with this information. They are able to identify colours, shapes, animals and other objects which help them to create a proper vocabulary. In order to learn how to read, text is a necessary here because it engages children and develop their reading experience. The habit of grabbing a book and going through its pages encourages children to be independent. They will be able to grow this habit in the future and reading will be something major in their life. Picturebooks enhance reading abilities in young readers as Anthony Brown stated, “people who were early pushed away from Picturebooks into what they call proper book (book with no pictures), are more likely to face reading difficulties” (Browne). Picturebooks also enrich children’s imaginations and creativity and teach them to grow up. Sometimes texts tell us additional facts than pictures and here comes the adults’ role to enhance children’s understanding of the story. What makes picturebooks valuable is that they are enjoyable for both children and adults, which invents a connection between adults and young readers. The relationship between words and pictures reflects the relationship between children and adults. (Anthony Brown) Children
read pictures as the parent or adults read words where they meet somewhere in the middle. Normally, conversation, arguments, discussions and questions will arise. This connection creates a bond between the child and adult which is communication. Illustrations in this since are necessary to enhance imagination and creativity and develop their ability of perception. By looking the illustrations in picture books, sense of observation will be increasing, let them think for a while and understand the story more clearly and in delight manner. Where they can link text and images together. “Art can help a young child to discover his own identity and cultural heritage” (Segun, 1988, p.25)

Illustrations are important in children’s picturebook; I am not saying that I disagree with Segun’s statement, but I do think that text must be valued as much as illustrations. Sometimes picture can stand on its own but it would be much more effective if it is associated with proper text to guide the readers. From my experience as an English teacher for pre-schoolers, I have experienced a variety of children’s books. Ones are the most loved by children are Eric Carle’s stories, needles to mention his famous illustration style that grabs children’s attention. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of my favourites. Although it can be considered as a picture book because children can understand the text without illustrations and vice versa. Thus, I believe that in picturebooks words and illustrations cannot be separated. Such tie between text and illustrations is what creates a proper picturebook. Picturebooks with such harmony between its words and illustrations will indeed help to build an independent children and develop their personalities. Good books construct an educated and great generations.