Exploring Children's Literature by Topic, Theme, or Form: Visual Elements & Artistic Media

Drawing

The Tate Glossary defines drawing as "a technique in which images are depicted on the surface by making lines... drawings can also contain tonal areas, washes, and other non linear marks." The media most commonly used in drawings are ink, pencil, crayon, and chalk. Explore the prominent titles below to view examples of when drawing was used as the primary illustration form in children's literature. 

References

Hammond, H., & Nordstrom, G. D. (2014). Reading the art in Caldecott Award books: A guide to the illustrations. Rowman & Littlefield. doi.org/10.5771/9781442239241

Tate. (n.d.) Drawing. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/d/drawing

Mixed Media

The term mixed media is used to describe art that is composed using a variety of different media or material. Mixed media is a common form of illustration in children's literature, as illustrators will often utilize several mediums, like ink, watercolor, and collage, to match the style and tone they want for the book. Explore several examples of mixed media picture books below. 

References

American Library Association. (n.d.). Smoky Night. https://www.ala.org/winner/smoky-night 

Hammond, H., & Nordstrom, G. D. (2014). Reading the art in Caldecott Award books: A guide to the illustrations. Rowman & Littlefield. doi.org/10.5771/9781442239241

Schuit, M. (2020, July 14). Let's talk illustrators #149: Stacy Innerst. Let's Talk Picture Books. https://www.letstalkpicturebooks.com/2020/07/lets-talk-illustrators-149-stacy-innerst.html  

Painting

Explore several examples below where painting is used as the primary artistic form for illustrations in children's books. 

References

Hammond, H., & Nordstrom, G. D. (2014). Reading the art in Caldecott Award books: A guide to the illustrations. Rowman & Littlefield. doi.org/10.5771/9781442239241

Photography

Below, browse through a list of children's picture books that use photographs as their form of illustration. 

Digital Art

Digital art is a term used to describe any art that is created using digital technology, such as tools like digital drawing pads or software such as photoshop. Below are several examples of titles that feature digitally created illustrations. 

References

Cushman, A. (n.d.). How to illustrate a children’s book: Getting started (part 1). Abi Cushman. https://www.abicushman.com/how-to-articles/how-to-illustrate-a-childrens-book-getting-started-part-1/

Hurd, Y. (2023, June 7). Jovita wore pants review. Association of Children's Librarians. https://www.bayviews.org/review/jovita-wore-pants-review/

Kelly, J. (2019, Sept. 24). Hollywood star Lupita Nyong’o taps best-selling UVA alumna for new children’s book. UVA Today. https://news.virginia.edu/content/hollywood-star-lupita-nyongo-taps-best-selling-uva-alumna-new-childrens-book#:~:text=for%20this%20book?-,A.,might%20otherwise%20not%20be%20visible. 

Saxon, A. (2025, May 01). Q & A with Corey R. Tabor. Publishers Weekly. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/97672-q-a-with-corey-r-tabor.html

Schuit, M. (2020, February 13). Let's Talk Illustrators #131: Pete Oswald. Let's Talk Picture Books. https://www.letstalkpicturebooks.com/2020/02/lets-talk-illustrators-130-pete-oswald.html