My
current favorites are by author/illustrators who inspire me with their
immaculate balance of words and pictures. Each has a unique way of letting the
text say one thing and then allowing the images to breath life into a deeper
aspect of book- creating subtle space for the story to grow in between the
words and pictures. That is where the magic happens. The text is often minimal
(some more than others); then with graphic compositions, they control how the
reader moves through the book-not only with their eyes, but emotionally. What
is not said is felt through the pictures.
Du Iz Tak? By Carson Ellis
Grandad's Island by Benji Davies
We Found A Hat by Jon Klassen
They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel
Little Elliot Big City by Mike Curato
Jessica is giving away her newest book, Laundry Day, along with two bookmarks and a Before I Leave poster to one lucky winner at the conclusion of ReFoReMo. To be eligible for the giveaway, please leave a comment on this post and strive to read mentor texts regularly.
Jessixa Bagley is a picture book author/illustrator. She currently has three picture books published with Roaring Brook Press: Boats for Papa, Before I Leave, and Laundry Day. Boats for Papa won the 2016 Washington State Scandiuzzi Children’s Book Award. Her next picture book, Vincent Comes Home (Winter 2018), is collaboration with her husband, Aaron Bagley. Jessixa loves both real
and fake hamburgers.
Jessixa,
ReplyDeleteI just finished typing out the text of Before I leave so I can have it to refer to a mentor text. The text is a nice balance with the watercolor and pen drawings. Your books allow children to get in touch with complicated deep feelings that they may not be able to talk about. You're an inspiration.
Jessixa, I love your examples. They are indeed books to study and emulate. I agree with Susan that your books are worthy of this list. I love Boats for Papa.
ReplyDeleteMy girls LOVE inspecting the illustrations in picture books, so it's an extra treat for me, as a parent, when the illustrations tell parts of the story that aren't otherwise told in the text. Good Night Owl is another great example to add to the list above. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, to be an author-illustrator. They do have a great gift for balancing text and images. Looking forward to studying those of these recommendations that I'm not familiar with and see how the artists have done just that. Thanks, Jessica!
ReplyDeleteWhen I see fabulous author/illustrator examples such as these, my admiration continues to expand. I am often in awe at how the synergy of their words and images blend together to create a message more powerful than one versus the other. Thanks for sharing these great examples! P.S. "Boats for Papa" is simply beautiful.
ReplyDeletethese are all good books. I haven't read Granddad's Island. I'll have to look for that one.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read Boats for Papa, I had an "AHA" moment! This is what I aspire to write - and I found my mentor text! The balance between words and pictures is beautiful.Thank you Jessica for inspiring me!
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome! I'm honored to be an inspiration!
DeleteThese are all great books! Thanks for the reminder to look at them again.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jessixa for the wonderful mentor text suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI have re-read and re-read THEY ALL SAW A CAT it made me think on many different levels. nice job with BOATS FOR PAPA.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to study the ones I haven't read before. Thank you so much for this post.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jessixa I do find it hard to leave room for the illustrator so I will look to this books on how to do it.
ReplyDeleteI have to read Granddad's island, but the rest of these truly are super 👍
ReplyDeleteThe marriage between words and pictures is why I love picture books so much. Their combined effort really do make magic and the books you recommended are a perfect examples of that. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWonderful recommendations and BOATS FOR PAPA is fabulous, Jessixa.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Jessixa! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on reading books that deal with the balance between words and pictures. These are great mentor texts. I love They All Saw a Cat!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jessixa! I appreciate these mentor texts. And Loved Boats for Papa.
ReplyDeleteI love books in which illustrations tell the story. Wishing so much that I could draw more than stick figures!
ReplyDeleteThese books have the perfect balance of illustration and text -- including your two! Thanks for a great list. I will have to study them closely.
ReplyDeleteHi from Portland, OR Jessixa! I just read BOATS FOR PAPA last night to my kids...and here you are:> Thank you for your list of recommendations to read and study!!
ReplyDeleteSuccessful PBs are the perfect marriage between words and images. Your books are lovely! Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteJessixa, What a special gift you have of balancing words with illustrations. BEFORE I LEAVE is one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteBoats for Papa is a favorite. Love the tone and what's not said. Looking forward to discovering your other books.
ReplyDeleteThe true artistry of PB writing Is leaving space for the illustrator. Thank you for sharing this list!
ReplyDeleteIt's always so gratifying to read one story in text, and to see another amazing story being told in illustrations. The books you mention here do this brilliantly. Jessica, I look forward to reading your stories as well!
ReplyDeleteWhat is not said is just as important as what is said. Like you, I have begun to think between the words as I write. TY for highlighting these choices today, ,Jessixa. BOATS is sic a wonderful book.
ReplyDeleteYes! Thinking between the words will help you write your stories. It's not easy, but when done well, it will make your story soar!
DeleteSuch wonderful suggestions and insights. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteChildren have so many ways to experience life. A variety of book approaches is important. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGreat mentor texts - thanks for the list.
ReplyDeleteHi Jessixa! Loved Boats for Papa. Thanks for sharing your mentor texts. Carole Calladine
ReplyDeleteLovely collection of books. And I'm sure you know but your work has been cited again and again during Reforemo. Lastly, your website is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt's truly humbling to have my work considered as a mentor text! Thanks so much!
DeleteHi Jessica, I've got Boats for Papa on reserve and will pick up soon. Can't wait to read it. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat book recommendations. I haven't read GRANDAD'S ISLAND, so I've added it to my "To Read" list. I adore your lovely story, BOATS FOR PAPA, and I'm looking forward to reading BEFORE I LEAVE. Thanks for your post.
ReplyDeleteAll of these books are fantastic, including yours. So much depth to each of them in both text and illustration. Would definitely be easier to write that way if I was an illustrator as well. But makes for a new challenge which I am always up to. Good lesson Jessixa. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of "... creating subtle space for the story to grow in between the words and pictures. That is where the magic happens." I think it's genius! Thanks, Jessixa.
ReplyDeleteThat balance between text and illustrations is so important. We writers that are not illustrators must remember to allow for the artwork to extend and deepen what our text is conveying. Thanks for the great examples, Jessixa!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jessixa, for this wonderful list of recommendations (high praise coming from an author like yourself, too)!
ReplyDeleteJessixa, the first time I read BOATS FOR PAPA some time ago, I was so moved by the balance of words and art and the emotion they both conveyed, I had to re-read it a second, and then a third time (each one right after the other). It was as if I couldn't get enough. Such a powerful and heartfelt story, I had to keep reading it because I knew it would inspire and enrich my own writing. So, I am happy to see you here recommending mentor texts for the same reason :)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad Little Elliot is on your list. I adored this one as well and have also read through this one numerous times, having the sparse text combined with the art (which just tugs at your heartstrings and makes the text that much stronger)become a very strong mentor text for my current WIP.
They say that the space between panels of comics is where the reader fills in the story and becomes a part of it. I like the idea of an invisible space like those panel gutters in between the pictures and words of a picture book. Thanks for the insight, Jessixa!
ReplyDeleteThey All Saw A Cat is a wonderful example of the images breathing life into a deeper aspect of the book. Just hearing the story gives one idea of what is happening, but the pictures show something entirely different (or, perhaps better said, add many more layers to the story). Great choices today! Liz Tipping
ReplyDeleteBOATS FOR PAPA is a beautiful book and a wonderful example of "creating subtle space for the story to grow in between the words and pictures." Looking forward to seeing how the "magic happens" in BEFORE I LEAVE.
ReplyDeleteThis is something I'm working on today - that balance between words and illustrations. As a writer-only, I have to stretch my imagination to allow the illustrator the freedom to help the reader feel the story.
ReplyDeleteNot being an illustrator, I'm humbled by these examples that are product of one creator. All fine examples that might help me to think more like an illustrator to help my writing journey. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for these great mentor text suggestions, Jessixa. I have read some of them and look forward to reading the rest.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessixa! I've noticed the lower word counts in author/illustrator PBs.
ReplyDelete"Creating subtle space for the story to grow in between the words and pictures. That is where the magic happens." I have this on a post-it note on my laptop. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWow! You've gathered some of my recent favorites. Love this list, in particular Grandad's Island for its quiet emotional punch. Du Iz Tak and They All Saw A Cat are brilliant. Thank you for sharing, Jessixa :-)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your books! Just had to share. And I agree that I am in awe of author/illustrators and the way they balance their two art forms. Often these are my favorite books as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for suggesting such wonderfully balanced mentor texts today, Jessixa. BOATS FOR PAPA really pulls at those heart strings and such a sweet story.
ReplyDeleteYou've captured what is so hard to do but yet we PB authors strive for. Very inspiring. I'm going to re-read the books you suggested, Jessixa, and check yours out too!
ReplyDeletePerfect choices from an author/illustrator who also minimalizes text and lets illustrations carry emotion. :)
ReplyDeleteWhere would we be without our author/illustrators. Even if we're not illustrators they have much to teach us. Thanks for some great examples, Jessixa.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessixa. Since I am not an illustrator it is a challenge to see my words in balance with pictures that aren't there yet (only in my head, and those may not be the same as the artist's vision!). I'm always second-guessing myself on what to leave in and what to leave out. It's important to review lots of good mentor texts!
ReplyDeleteJessixa, your books are beautiful! I love the comment about the "immaculate balance of words and pictures."
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBoats for Papa is so wonderful! I wish I could find the perfect balance between art and text as a writer-only. It's been a big challenge for me.
ReplyDeleteI love this post, Jessixa. I have a background in Graphic Design and I am absolutely fascinated with how all of the creative disciplines have to enhance each other. I love what you said about the way stories grow between words and pictures. I suspect I will be thinking about this for a while :-) Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jessixa. Great recommendations and I will read BOATS FOR PAPA.
ReplyDeleteGreat examples of that type of ok! I wish I had a better eye for imagining illustrations!
ReplyDeleteIllustrations give life and dimension to our words. Thanks for the great examples!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jessixa, for the examples of finding the balance between words and pictures. I enjoy your books and look forward to the new one :)
ReplyDeleteLovely examples. And as an added note, your Boats for Papa is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I love PBs and their pictures, but I have fallen in love with your illustrations, Jessixa! They are precious! And I will certainly be reading these mentor texts. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAs I am not an illustrator, the magic between illustration and words always fascinates me. By the way, the illustration in Laundry Day where absolutely everything is hung out on the line is perfect. My own laundry lines never looked like that, but my house felt like some little one had that intention.
ReplyDeleteThese are such terrific examples of the intersection of words and art. These remind me as a writer to always leave room for the vast visual creativity an illustrator brings to words. Thanks, Jessixa!
ReplyDeleteGreat examples of the balance between words and pictures. thanks Jessixa.
ReplyDeleteLove these recommendations. Each one, better than the next. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this list, Jessixa. Your books are beautiful. Wishing you continued success is the picture book world!
ReplyDeleteThis is why picture books are, in Lucia Monfried's words, a "sublime form." Thank you for highlighting this!
ReplyDeleteOh, for the lack of artistic talent! How I wish I could draw!
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed reading about 1/2 of the books on your list & I'm looking forward to reading the other 1/2. - Alice Fulgione
ReplyDeleteIt's tough writing a story with just a few words, but that is, of course, what PBs are all about!
ReplyDeleteThere is a definite balance between text and illustrations that seems to be a fine line. I love Boats for Papa and look forward to reading your others.
ReplyDeleteI love ALL of your suggestions and love YOUR work as well! Thank you for reminding us of the balance between text and illustrations.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed each of the books in this list. Thank your for your insight and suggestions.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous mentor list! I love "creating subtle space for the story to grow in between the words and pictures." Thank you, Jessixa!
ReplyDeleteCaught your webinar earlier this year! It was great! Thank you for the wonderful mentor texts!
ReplyDeleteJESSIXA: THANK YOU for the WONDERFUL post! I LOVE the book examples you provided us as mentor texts to show us how to find the delicate balance between words and illustrations to tell the story. I LOVE the wisdom you shared: "a unique way of letting the text say one thing and then allowing the images to breath life into a deeper aspect of book--creating subtle space for the story to grow in between the words and pictures. That is where the magic happens." Just as spring is TRYING to show itself (it is currently snowing where I live, yet there were daffydowndillies and tulips in my yard yesterday! *sigh*),
ReplyDeleteI will endeavor to allow growth to take place on my own page: allowing the story to grow between the intricate dance of illustration of text in a way that creates that subtle space needed for growth. THANK YOU for INSPRIING ME on this snowy "spring" day!
I loved your Boats for Papa. I look forward to reading your other books. Thank you for these mentor texts. Looking forward to studying them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post. Congratulations on being both author and illustrator... such a talent!
ReplyDeleteLoved the perspective changes (paradigm shifts) in They All Saw a Cat. I struggled with Du Iz Tak. Will have to revisit it after ReFoReMo. Thank you for your insightful post. Looking forward to reading the other selections, along with your books.
ReplyDeleteStill choked up over Grandad's Island. Mercy. I'm always jealous of author/illustrators--so much talent in one person. Thanks for this list. A couple of these books I loved. A couple I did not care for at all. And one I'm middling on. But one of the ones I love really spoke to me this time around reading it and gave me some new insight into the simplicity of the texts I want to create. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jessixa for the title suggestions!
ReplyDeleteNicki Jacobsmeyer
You are an artist both with words and with illustration, what a blessing for us all. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your insights, Jessixa, and this great list of mentor texts. I haven't read Grandad's Island. I'll check it out! And, like others, I adore BOATS FOR PAPA!
ReplyDeleteIt seems magical when stories "grow between the words and pictures." Those books are the best! Thank you for your recommendations.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post! I usually focus on words, but your post challenged me to think more specifically about the balance between pictures and words. Boats for Papa is another great example of this balance. It's a favorite!
ReplyDeleteI love these books! Such wonderful studies. Jessica, you are so talented! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJessica you capture so much emotion with your text and pictures with your book "Boats for Papa".
ReplyDeleteJessica you capture so much emotion with your text and pictures with your book "Boats for Papa".
ReplyDeleteI'm always in awe of what illustrators do to bring stories to life. Thanks for these beautiful examples.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insight. I love Boats for Papa and look forward to reading your other books. I enjoyed We Found a Hat more upon this reading (and after reading Klassen's other two hat books in the same sitting).
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful books to accompany your post! I've been finding it difficult to manage the balance in a new story. I find some editors/agents are so averse to illustrator notes, that I'm reluctant to use them. Then I feel I must add more to the text so that the action is clear.
ReplyDeleteI like your book selections. I read They All Saw a Cat and loved it. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI have always found it interesting how the words and illustrations work together or why I don't think they don't. Some I find work beautifully as if musical notes on a page; others seem out of sync to me. Both are learning tools.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts as an author/illustrator. Your perspective is an important one for those of us who are only the authors of a text.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading these books, I envisioned reading each book to a child - without the illustrations.
ReplyDeleteInteresting imagination exercise.
Like reading a book then seeing the movie is a totally different experience vs reading a book after seeing a movie.
Great books and great post.
Your art is gorgeous Jessixa!
ReplyDeleteWonderful books, Jessixa. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts are appreciated, Jessixa. How wonderful that you and your husband collaborated on your upcoming book, VINCENT COMES HOME.
ReplyDelete~Suzy Leopold
Thank you, Jessixa. These books are wonderful--and this is something I'm working on in my own writing/illustrating, so I will be returning to these for mentoring. Also, I love your book, Boats for Papa--looking forward to reading the others.
ReplyDeleteJessixa...I loved listening to you in the 12x12 Webinar...and I loved the books you picked out for us as mentor texts...I am in love with Du Iz Tak?
ReplyDeleteLove these books! We can learn so much from mentor texts. Love your books too! Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteThese books make me wish I were an author/illustrator!
ReplyDeleteI love your books Jessixa. I haven't read Du Is Tak? yet but I am anxiously waiting to get my hands on it. Loved They All Saw A Cat. Very original but an important message.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful collection of picture books, all eminently re-readable, and all worthy of careful study. Thank you for tying them together so nicely!
ReplyDeleteThank you for introducing me to Grandad's Island!
ReplyDeleteOh, to be so talented as to be an author/illustrator. :) Thank you for these wonderful suggestions, Jessixa. Loved Boats for Papa and look forward to reading Laundry Day
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jessixa, for this post. One story on that list I've yet to read. Boats For Papa hit an emotional spot in me, it's so sweet. Your writing is special, so I hope to be able to read all your books.
ReplyDeleteGreat examples of picture books finding that balance between text and illustrations. Boats for Papa is such a wonderful PB! Congrats on the publication of your newest one.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! Thank you! Boats for Papa is one of my favorite picture books.
ReplyDeleteAs an author/illustrator, these are my favorite kinds of books. Thank you for your post and suggestions!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jessixa. I read all three your books. Look forward to the next one too. All the best to you.
ReplyDeleteI love the relationship between art and text.
ReplyDeleteRee
This makes me look at the illustrations from a slightly different perspective. I'm curious to see if it helps my writing. Thank you!
ReplyDeletewhat a fun list to read, thank you!
ReplyDeleteYour insights were eye-opening to me. "...letting the text say one thing and then allowing the images to breath life into a deeper aspect of book..." Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading those I haven't yet discovered!
ReplyDeleteLove Boats for Papa. Thanks for the list.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic list. I adore Boats for Papa. Thanks, Jessixa.
ReplyDeleteGreat list, and I love Boats for Papa too. Such a wonderful book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for inspiring us to go deeper. The author-illustrator perspective is valuable to PB writers.
ReplyDeleteJessixa – thanks so much for sharing these mentor texts that really show the magic that happens between the words and the pictures. I look forward to your next book!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful list Jessixa, thank you. It is PB magic indeed, when subtle space is created for the story to grow in between the words and the pictures.
ReplyDeleteGreat reading/thinking choices. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteLaundry Day looks like a fun day :) Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteAs an aspiring author / illustrator myself I really enjoyed these recommendations. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteDu Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis is unique. I can't wait to get my hands on the other picture books. Thanks for sharing, Jessixa!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendations! Grandad's Island made me cry :(
ReplyDeleteThanks for all these recommendations.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the post!
ReplyDelete