The Science of Picture Books

In our August conference I talked about the integration of art and words in picture books. In my preparation, I came across this chart (no credit given) which shows how we express visual and verbal ideas and bring them together.

Maybe its not that profound, but at least it serves as a reminder that there are two separate thought processes at work for writing and illustrating. Words demand abstract thinking, pictures more concrete thinking. Remembering this principle, we can allow each to play to its proper role in a picture book–perhaps the ultimate printed integration of text and images. Show and tell!