I looked at two different books for my research to analyze the visual elements more. Storytelling is not just the text but also the illustrations, which are very important for children.
On the left:
- Style: It is a bright, airy illustration style with soft watercolor textures and delicate, detailed linework. It encourages exploration and point out context clues for the story
- Color palette: Pastel greens, blues and generally more cool-toned colors, but they are still creating a light, inviting tone
- Layout: Full double-page scenes with characters integrated into large nature environments
- Text placement: Typically left-aligned blocks on white space within the scene. It has a clear but subtle presence and is still easily readable.
On the right:
- Style: It is a bold, very cartoonish illustrations made up of simplified shapes and heavier outlines. The characters and their facial expressions are central in this style, making emotional interactions clear and readable
- Color palette: Warmer, saturated tones with prominent reds, browns, and yellows, giving a cozy, direct feel
- Layout: Focus on characters in the foreground, with minimal background elements, emphasizing interaction and expression
- Text placement: Larger, bolder fonts with clear speech bubbles or separated lines for dialogue, placed prominently within the visual flow
Both these styles are what kids gravitate towards for different reasons. But when looking at the illustrations isolated, the illustrations on the left underline the story better in the sense that they tell the story more forwardly, while the ones on the right are rather supporting.
