Picture This!

Artistic media in children’s picture books

This booklist highlights styles of art found in children’s picture books with examples of each artistic media. See other books by these recommended illustrators for more examples.

ACRYLIC PAINT
Asch, Frank. Good Night, Baby Bear. (Ej As)
Baker, Keith. Who is the Beast? (Ej Ba)
Cooney, Barbara. Hattie and the Wild Waves. (Ej Co)
Hines, Anna Grossnickle. Miss Emma's Wild Garden. (Ej Hi)
Johnson, Adrian. What! Cried Granny: an Almost Bedtime Story. Text: Kate Lum. (Ej Lu)
Johnson, Paul Brett. Farmers' Market. (Ej Jo)
Lopez-Escriva, Ana. How Can You Dance? Text: Rick Walton. (Ej Wa)
Mockford, Caroline. Cleo on the Move. (Ej Mo)
Ringgold, Faith. Tar Beach. (Ej Ri)
Sanchez, Enrique O. Amelia's Road. Text: Linda Jacobs Altman. (Ej Al)
Smith, Maggie. Book! Text: Kristine O'Connell George. (Ej Ge)
Stringer, Laure. Scarecrow. Text: Cynthia Rylant. (Ej Ry)

CHARCOAL
Falconer, Ian. Olivia. (Ej Fa) (charcoal with gouache)
Newberry, Clare T. Marshmallow. (Ej Ne)
Shattuck, William. Moonlight on the River. Text: Deborah Kovacs. (Ej Ko)
Van Allsburg, Chris. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. (J Va)
Vincent, Gabrielle. A Day, a Dog. (J Vi)
Wiesner, David. Night of the Gargoyles. Text: Eve Bunting. (Ej Bu)
Wilcox, Brian. Full Moon. (Ej Wi)
Young, Ed. Cat and Rat: the Legend of the Chinese Zodiac. (J398.2 Ca) (charcoal and pastel)

COLLAGE: MIXED MEDIA
Baker, Jeannie. Window. (Ej Ba)
Baker, Keith. Little Green. (Ej Ba)
Bang, Molly. Red Dragonfly on My Shoulder. (J895.6 Re)
Carle, Eric. From Head to Toe. (Ej Ca)
Chitwood, Suzanne Tanner. Wake Up, Big Barn! (Ej Ch)
Desimini, Lisa. My House. (Ej De)
Diaz, David. Smoky Night. Text: Eve Bunting. (Ej Bu)
Ehlert, Lois. Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf. (Ej582.16 Eh)
Jocelyn, Marthe. Hannah's Collections. (Ej Jo)
Keats, Jack. The Snowy Day. (Ej Ke)
Paley, Joan. What’s That Sound, Woolly Bear? Text: Philemon Sturges. (Ej595.7 St)
Roth, Susan L. Happy Birthday Mr. Kang. (J Ro)
Schneider, R. M. Add It, Dip It, Fix It. (Ej428.1 Sc)

COMPUTER GENERATED/ENHANCED ART
Cahoon, Heather. Rock It, Sock It, Number Line. Text: Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson. (Ej Ma)
Corrigan, Pat. The Little Squeegy Bug. Text: Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson. (Ej Ma)
Desimini. Lisa. Sun and Moon: a Giant Love Story. (Ej De)
Freymann, Saxton. Gus and Button. (Ej Fr)
Garland, Michael. Last Night at the Zoo. (Ej Ga)
Glaser, Byron & Sandra Higashi. Round the Garden. Text: Omri Glaser. (Ej Gl)
Mayer, Mercer. Shibumi and the Kitemaker. (Ej Ma)
Petrone, Valeria. Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin. Text: Mary Serfozo. Holiday (Ej Se)
Wattenberg, Jane. This Is the Rain. Text: Lola M. Schaefer. (Ej551.48 Sc)
Wood, Bruce. Alphabet Adventure. Text: Audrey Wood. (Ej Wo)

CUT PAPER (see also “Collage”)
Bochak, Grayce. Paper Boats. Text: Rabindranath Tagore. (Ej Ta)
Donohue, Dorothy. Splish, Splash, Spring. Text: Jan Carr (Ej Ca)
Emberley, Rebecca. City Sounds. (Ej307.76 Em)
Howell, Will C. Zoo Flakes ABC. (Ej411 Ho)
Jenkins, Steve. Biggest, Strongest, Fastest. (Ej591 Je)
Knutson, Kimberlye. Bed Bouncers. (Ej Kn)
Laroche, Giles. The Color Box. Text: Dayle Ann Dodds. (Ej535.6 Do)
Lee, Huy Voun. 1,2,3 Go! (J495.1 Le)
Lomas Garza, Carmen. Magic Windows. (J759.13 Lom)
Meade, Holly. Hush!: a Thai Lullaby. Text: Minfong Ho. (J811.54 Ho)
Miller, David. Boo to a Goose. Text: Mem Fox. (Ej Fo)
Sabuda, Robert. The Paper Dragon. Text: Marguerite Davol. (J Da)
Sogabe, Aki. The Loyal Cat. Reteller: Lensey Namioka. (J398.2 Lo)
Swan, Susan. It’s Fall. Text: Linda Glaser. (Ej525.5 Gl)
Walrod, Amy. The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza). Reteller: Philemon Sturges. (J398.2 Li)
Walsh, Ellen Stoll. Jack’s Tale. (Ej Wa)
Wisniewski, David. The Golem. (J398.2 Go)

FABRIC ART
Andrews, Benny. Sky Sash So Blue. Text: Libby Hathorn. (Ej Ha)
Beaton, Clare. One Moose, Twenty Mice. (Ej 510 Be)
Cha, Chue & Nhia Thao. Dia’s Story Cloth. Text: Dia Cha. (J973.0495 Ch)
Hines, Anna Grossnickle. Pieces : A Year in Poems & Quilts. (J811.54 Hi)
Hurst, Margaret M. Grannie and the Jumbie : a Caribbean Tale. (J398.2 Gr)
Mavor, Salley. In the Heart. Text: Ann Turner. (Ej Tu)
Sabuda, Robert. The Blizzard's Robe. (Ej Sa) (batik)

GOUACHE
Bang, Molly. When Sophie Gets Angry – Really Really Angry … (Ej Ba)
George, Lindsay Barrett. In the Woods : Who's Been Here? (Ej591 Ge)
Hull, Richard. My Sister's Rusty Bike. Text: Jim Aylesworth. (Ej Ay)
Hutchins, Pat. Shrinking Mouse. (Ej Hu)
Kasza, Keiko. The Mightiest. (Ej Ka)
Lin, Grace. Round is a Mooncake. Text: Roseanne Thong. (Ej513 Th)
Noll, Sally. What Color Was the Sky Today? Text: Miela Ford. (Ej Fo)
Root, Barry. Someplace Else. Text: Carol P. Saul. (Ej Ro)
Russo, Marisabina. Swim! Text: Eve Rice. (Ej Ri)
Priceman, Marjorie. Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin. Text: Lloyd Moss (Ej Mo)
Shed, Greg. Dandelions. Text: Eve Bunting. (J Bu)
Sis, Peter. Fire Truck. (Ej Si)
Williams, Vera B. “More, More, More,” Said the Baby. (Ej Wi)

MIXED MEDIA
Diaz, David. Smoky Night. text: Eve Bunting. (Ej Bu) (acrylic paintings with mixed media collage)
Hyman, Trina Schart. Saint George and the Dragon. Text by Margaret Hodges. (J398.2 Sa) (acryclics, pen and ink)
Macaulay, David. Black and White. (Ej Ma) (watercolor, ink, gouache)
Myers, Christopher. Harlem. Text: Walter Dean Myers. (J811.54 My) (ink, gouache, cut paper collage)
Schoenherr, John. Owl Moon. Text: Jane Yolen. (Ej Yo) (pen and ink, watercolor)
Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. (Ej Se) (tempera, ink)
Small, David. The Gardener. Text: Sarah Stewart (Ej St) (watercolor, ink, crayon)
Steptoe, John. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters. (J398.2 Mu) (pen and ink, watercolor)
Stevens, Janet. Tops and Bottoms. (J398.2 To) (watercolor, colored pencil, gesso)
Taback, Simms. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. (J398.2 So) (watercolor, gouache, pencil, ink, and collage)

MODELLING CLAY
Fernandes, Kim. One Gray Mouse. Text: Katherine Burton. (Ej 510 Bu)
Garcia, Stephanie. Snapshots from the Wedding. Text: Gary Soto. (Ej So) (clay and collage)
Raymond, Victoria. Still-Life Stew. Text: Helena Clare Pittman. (Ej Pi)
Reid, Barbara. The Party. (Ej Re)

OIL PAINT
Blake, Robert J. Akiak : a Tale from the Iditarod. (Ej Bl)
Bowers, Tim. Little Whistle. Text: Cynthia Rylant. (Ej Ry)
Cepeda, Joe. We Were Tired of Living in a House. Text: Liesel Moak Skorpen. (Ej Sk)
Cooper, Floyd. Be Good to Eddie Lee. Text: Virginia Fleming. (Ej Fl) (oil washes)
Johnson, Steve & Lou Fancher. New York's Bravest. Text: Mary Pope Osborne. (Ej Os)
Kastner, Jill. In November. Text: Cynthia Rylant. (Ej Ry)
Kirk, David. Little Bunny, Biddle Bunny. (Ej Ki)
Locker, Thomas. Family Farm. (Ej Lo)
Morrissey, Dean. Ship of Dreams. (Ej Mo)
Ransome, James. Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later). Text: Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard. (Ej Ho)
Rohmann, Eric. Time Flies. (Ej Ro)
Wood, Don. King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub. Text: Audrey Wood. (Ej Wo)
Zelinsky, Paul. Swamp Angel. Text: Anne Isaacs. (Ej Is)

PASTELS
Birmingham, Christian. A Baby for Grace. Text: Ian Whybrow. (Ej Wh)
Garns, Allen. Astronauts Are Sleeping. Text: Natalie Standiford. (Ej St)
Godon, Ingrid. One Beautiful Baby. Text: Martine Oborne. (Ej Ob)
Lambert, Stephen. Fly By Night. Text: June Crebbin (Ej Cr)
Saport, Linda. Subira Subira. Reteller: Tololwa M. Mollel. (J398.2 Li)
Schindler, S. D. Don't Fidget a Feather! Text: Erica Silverman. (Ej Si)
Van Allsburg, Chris. The Polar Express. Holiday (Ej Va)
Weiner, Jonathan. Nadia's Hands. Text: Karen English. (Ej En)

PEN AND INK/MARKERS
Alborough, Jex. Hug. (Ej Al) (markers)
Blegvad, Eric. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. Text: Judith Viorst (Ej Vi) (pen and ink)
Frazee, Marla. The Seven Silly Eaters. Text: Mary Ann Hoberman. (Ej Ho) (colored inks)
Hutchins, Pat. There's Only One Of Me! (Ej Hu) (pen and ink and felt tip markers)
Isadora, Rachel. Ben’s Trumpet. (Ej Is) (pen and ink)
Knight, Hilary. Eloise. Text: Kay Thompson. (J Classics Th) (pen and ink)
Macaulay, David. Cathedral. (J726.6 Ma) (pen and ink)
Maland, Nick. Big Blue Whale. Text: Nicola Davies. (J599.5248 Da) (pen and ink)
Parnall, Peter. Hawk, I’m Your Brother. Text: Byrd Baylor. (J Ba) (pen and ink)
Schumaker, Ward. Mouse Chase. Text: Vivian Sathre. (Ej Sa)

PENCIL/COLORED PENCILS
Gammell, Stephen. Song and Dance Man. Text: Karen Ackerman. (Ej Ac)
Hubbell, Will. Apples Here! (Ej634.1 Hu)
Lobel, Arnold. Frog and Toad Are Friends. (J-ER Lo)
Marcellino, Fred. Puss in Boots. (J398.2 Pu)
McCarty, Peter. Baby Steps. (Ej Ma)
Selznick, Brian. The Boy of a Thousand Faces. (J Se)
Steptoe, John. The Story of Jumping Mouse. (J398.2 St)
Van Allsburg, Chris. Jumanji. (J Va)

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO MONTAGE
Bial, Raymond. Where Lincoln Walked. (J921 Lin)
Crews, Nina. Snowball. (Ej Cr)
Hoban, Tana. More, Fewer, Less. (Ej512 Ho)
Maizlish, Lisa. The Ring. (Ej Ma)
McMillan, Bruce. Jelly Beans for Sale. (Ej512 Ma)

PRINTS (see also Woodcut)
Chodos-Irvine, Margaret. Buzz. Text: Janet S. Wong. (Ej Wo)
Evans, Leslie. Autumn : an Alphabet Acrostic. Text: Steven Schnur. (J793.73 Sc) (linoleum)
Geisert, Arthur. The Giant Ball of String. (Ej Ge) (etching)
Gouldthorpe, Peter. The Wonder Thing. Text: Libby Hathorn. (Ej551.46 Ha) (linoleum)
Hale, Christy. Juan Bobo and the Pig. Reteller: Felix Pitre. (J398.2 Ju) (linoleum)
McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings. (Ej Ma) (lithograph)
Mordan, C.B. Lost: A Story in String. Text: Paul Fleischman. (J Fl)
Rayevsky, Robert. Joan of Arc: The Lily Maid. Text: Margaret Hodges. (J921 Joa) (etching and dry point)
Sabuda, Robert. I Hear America Singing. Text: Walt Whitman. (J811.3 Wh)
Wolff, Ashley. Goody O'Grumpity. Text: Carol Ryrie Brink (Ej Br) (linoleum)
Wormell, Christopher. What I Eat. (Ej591.53 Wo) (linoleum)
Wormell, Mary. Hilda Hen’s Happy Birthday. (Ej Wo) (linoleum)
Zerbetz, Evon. The Blueberry Shoe. Text: Ann Dixon. (Ej Di) (linoleum)

SCRATCHBOARD
Bent, Jennifer. Tower to Heaven. Retold by Ruby Dee. (J398.2 To)
Colon, Raul. Tomas and the Library Lady. Text: Pat Mora. (Ej Mo)
Cyrus, Kurt. The Bones of Fred McFee. Text: Eve Bunting. Holiday (Ej Bu)
Hewitson, Jennifer. Mother Earth, Father Sky: Poems of Our Planet. Selected by Jane Yolen. (J808.81 Mo)
Keller, Katie. Seven Loaves of Bread. Text: Ferida Wolff. (Ej Wo)
Knutson, Barbara. How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots. (J398.2 Ho)
Krommes, Beth. The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish. Text: Jacqueline Briggs Martin. (J919.8 Ma)
McCurdy, Michael. The Seasons Sewn. Text: Ann Whitford Paul. (J746.46 Pa)
Pinkney, J. Brian The Elephant’s Wrestling Match. Text: Judy Sierra. (J398.2 El)
Smith, Jos. A. A Creepy Countdown. Text: Charlotte Huck. Holiday (Ej Hu)

TEMPERA
Milhous, Katherine. The Egg Tree. (Holiday Ej Mi)
Politi, Leo. Song of the Swallows. (Ej Po)
Sendak, Maurice. The Moon Jumpers. Text: Janice May Udry. (Ej Ud)
Sidjakov, Nicolas. Baboushka and the Three Kings. Reteller: Ruth Robbins. (Holiday J398.2 Ba)
Watson, Richard Jesse. The High Rise Glorious Skittle Skat Roarious Text: Nancy Willard. (J Wi)

WATERCOLOR
Bates, Ivan. Do Like a Duck Does! Text: Judy Hindley (Ej Hi)
Egielski, Richard. Hey, Al. Text: Arthur Yorinks (Ej Yo)
Fitzpatrick, Marie-Louise. I’m a Tiger Too! (Ej Fi)
Henkes, Kevin. Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. (Ej He) (watercolor with ink outlines)
Lewin, Betsy. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. Text: Doreen Cronin. (Ej Cr)
Lewin, Ted. Peppe the Lamplighter. Text: Elisa Bartone. (Ej Ba)
McCully, Emily Arnold. Mirette on the Highwire. (Ej Ma)
Pinkney, Jerry. The Ugly Duckling. Text: Hans Christian Andersen. (J Classics An)
Say, Allen. Grandfather’s Journey. (Ej Sa)
Small, David. The Gardener. Text: Sarah Stewart. (Ej Sm)
So, Meilo. A Bunny for All Seasons. Text: Janet Schulman. (Ej Sc)
Steig, William. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. (Ej St) (watercolor and pen outlines)
Wiesner, David. Tuesday. (Ej Wi)
Wolff, Ashley. Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? Text: Bonnie Lass & Philemon Sturges. (Ej La) (watercolor and pen)

WOODCUT
Araki, Mie. The Magic Toolbox. (Ej Ar)
Azarian, Mary. Snowflake Bentley. (J921 Ben)
Bowen, Betsy. Gathering : a Northwoods Counting Book. (Ej510 Bo)
Emberley, Ed. Drummer Hoff. Text: Barbara Emberley (Ej Em)
Frampton, David. The Whole Night Through. (Ej Fr)
Haley, Gail E. A Story, a Story. (J398.2 An)
Manson, Christopher. The Tree in the Wood: an Old Nursery Song. (J782.42162 Ma)
McCurdy, Michael. Hannah’s Farm. (Ej Ma)
Ness, Evaline. Tom Tit Tot : an English Folk Tale. (J398.2 Ru)
Rohmann, Eric. My Friend Rabbit. (Ej Ro)
Tejima, Keizaburo. Woodpecker Forest. (Ej Te)

For a good deal of information on artistic media in children’s books, see Denise Matulka’s “Picturing Books” site at http://picturingbooks.imaginarylands.org/

Compiled by Mary D'Eliso for MCPL Children's Services (2004).