Learning about Illustration and Illustrators

One lesson I like to do with Kindergarteners is one that teaches about the roll of the illustrator. We discuss how the illustrator must work with the author to get a "picture" about what the story is about so that their illustrations help reflect the words.

I use a poem, author unknown, called "Listen My Children", which discribes an imaginary creature, which has not been seen in it's entirety by anyone. The students listen to the poem once without drawing, just to get an idea in their head. Then the poem is read several times over, while the students are drawing their illustration. We even discuss parts of the description and what it actually says, and what it doesn't say. It is really intersting to see what they create.