Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Figures, Boxes and Case Studies
- Acknowledgements
- Foreword
- 1 In the Frame: What is Visual Literacy and Why Does it 1 Matter?
- 2 The Big Picture: Terminology for Talking About and Critiquing Illustration
- 3 The Reading Journey: the Developmental Stages of Reading
- 4 Close Inspection: Influences and Insights Into People and Processes that Shape Visual Narratives
- 5 Windows into Worlds: the Importance of Visual Representation and Inclusion
- 6 Prize-winning Pictures: an Exploration of Awards and Honours
- 7 Looking to Learn: an Insight into Visual Literacy for Information
- 8 A Room with a View: Making the Most of Visual Literacy in Libraries and in Creating Reading Environments
- Conclusion
- Afterword
- Glossary
- References
- Index
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Figures, Boxes and Case Studies
- Acknowledgements
- Foreword
- 1 In the Frame: What is Visual Literacy and Why Does it 1 Matter?
- 2 The Big Picture: Terminology for Talking About and Critiquing Illustration
- 3 The Reading Journey: the Developmental Stages of Reading
- 4 Close Inspection: Influences and Insights Into People and Processes that Shape Visual Narratives
- 5 Windows into Worlds: the Importance of Visual Representation and Inclusion
- 6 Prize-winning Pictures: an Exploration of Awards and Honours
- 7 Looking to Learn: an Insight into Visual Literacy for Information
- 8 A Room with a View: Making the Most of Visual Literacy in Libraries and in Creating Reading Environments
- Conclusion
- Afterword
- Glossary
- References
- Index
Summary
Books can be without borders, pictures can show us routes into the past, present and also into possible futures. Through looking at the history of visual literacy, many of the aspects and considerations involved in its creation and use, it is hoped that readers will have an increased understanding of the role it is able to play in our daily lives. The guidance and case studies that the book ends with will hopefully stimulate thinking and applied use, helping to increase confidence and awareness among practitioners as to the impact that visual literacy is able to play in young people's reading and creativity.
Vivian French (2019), author and co-founder of the Picture Hooks initiative, which aims to provide illustrators with mentors and development opportunities, is well-versed in using visuals as a means for stimulating children's creativity. She discusses her approach:
I regularly run writing/illustration workshops for children, often with an illustrator, and in my experience prioritising the visual aspect works wonderfully well. Hopefully it feels more like participatory play than serious literary application.
Children respond with such enthusiasm to pictures; I find that they all too often describe ‘writing’ as boring and formulaic. Illustrations are enticing, not threatening – a wonderful springboard to encourage a class to actually WANT to use their imagination and create a story.
Very briefly, I work like this:
I ask for a feeling, and we discuss who has the feeling… and why… and we draw the character. Then, I ask, if this is the beginning of the story, how does the character feel at the end? And we draw that. What's the difference? What has changed? WHY has it changed?
This leads to what I call the story map, where we link the beginning and end together – and at every stage I ask the children for their ideas. It’s hugely important to state that no idea is ever a bad idea – if it's not appropriate for the story, put it in a ‘brilliant ideas’ box for use another time, and collect more suggestions before choosing the best. Encouragement and enthusiasm are so essential… story writing should be FUN!
Visual literacy can invigorate and inspire so many areas of reading and of library provision, helping to make settings immersive, meanings immediate and services enticing.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Seeing SenseVisual Literacy as a Tool for Libraries, Learning and Reader Development, pp. 171 - 172Publisher: FacetPrint publication year: 2020