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6.3 How Picture Books Work: Anisha Badesha

This document summarizes and analyzes the picture book "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". It discusses how the illustrations effectively depict emotion and advance the plot, using Buffy's determination and her friends' fear as an example. It also explores how onomatopoeia and the theme of facing fears engage students. Finally, it summarizes that the book and its colorful illustrations convey the message of accepting others despite differences.

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64 views

6.3 How Picture Books Work: Anisha Badesha

This document summarizes and analyzes the picture book "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". It discusses how the illustrations effectively depict emotion and advance the plot, using Buffy's determination and her friends' fear as an example. It also explores how onomatopoeia and the theme of facing fears engage students. Finally, it summarizes that the book and its colorful illustrations convey the message of accepting others despite differences.

Uploaded by

api-533726217
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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6.

3 How
Picture
Books Work
Anisha Badesha
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is a picture book
adaptation based on the hit and cult classic
television series and illustrated by Kim Smith.
This is a fun and enjoyable text that uses the
metaphor of facing monsters as facing your
fears and encourages bravery, courage and
the acceptance of others -- who may or may
not look just like you. The 'Chosen One'
storyline, vivid imagery, onomatopoeia and
illustrations serve as an interactive interface
that highly engages my students who always
want to read more about Buffy and her
friends adventures.
Illustrations
THE USE OF WORDS - ONOMATOPOEIA

Kim Smith is great at depicting emotion through


expressions despite the colourful pop-like style of the
illustrations. The showing of emotion provides deep
narration where words are not often needed. On the
picture on the right, you can see Buffy's determination
and her friends' fear. The book also uses
onomatopoeia, which provides a great sense of word
play that students love to hear. "Onomatopoeia is used
to enhance the setting and the tone of the narrative.
Children's books demonstrate this distinction
beautifully, as they can provide 'real world' examples of
how fun and effective this writing device can be (Betsy,
n.d.) It also creates a sense of anticipation when
reading as students wonder what is making the noise in
the closet.
Illustrations
THE THEME OF BEING BRAVE

Buffy is vulnerable in telling her audience that she


used to be afraid of the dark when she was
younger, a fear that many children share and can
relate to and often brings about much conversation
in classrooms. As Fang surmises, “Illustrations help
develop the characters by depicting situations and
emotions” (1996.) With the illustrations, a reader
can tell that Buffy is scared to face whatever
"monster" is in her closet, the worry palpable on
her features as she lays in bed. Her librarian, Giles,
tells her to "just need to act brave" because she
has the courage inside her to face her fears (Smith
& Whedon, 2018.)
Illustrations
Fang states that “in picture storybooks the
plot can be extended or rounded a little by
illustrations” (1996). That is exactly what is
happening here, as Buffy opens the closet to
face the monsters within. Her friends are
visibly afraid, and using a chair and cushion
to sooth themselves, something students can
relate to (using a blanket at night, a night
light etc.Buffy's expressions showcase her
determination and bravery to be heroic and
make her friends feel safe at their sleepover.
Even with little words, the illustrations are
really what drive this story forward.
Illustrations
THEME: THE ACCEPTANCE OF OTHERS

In the end, Buffy and her friends that the monsters in her
closets that they were afraid of, were in fact, afraid of them
as humans. Showing empathy, Buffy and her friends offer
them blankets, food and tissues and they all get together and
watch television and have a sleep over. The colourful
illustrations offer a more friendlier and child-friendly version
of the monsters alongside a beautiful message of not judging
people outwardly and getting along despite our differences.

HOW I USE THIS BOOK IN MY CLASSROOM

SEL: To start discussion on bravery, courage and facing our


fears.
L.A: A "Dear Buffy..." letter (What would you tell Buffy so
they would stop being afraid of the monsters in their closet.)
Art activity: Drawing what a friendly monster in my student's
closet.
REFERENCES
Betsy (n.d.). Children's books to use in onomatopoeia lesson plans. Retrieved March 20, 2021,
from https://www.the-best-childrens-books.org/onomatopoeia-lesson-plans.html

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. (2019, September 10). Retrieved March 20, 2021, from
https://kimillustration.com/index.php/portfolio/buffy/

Fang, Z. (1996). Illustrations, Text, and the Child Reader: What are Pictures in Children's
Storybooks for?. Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts, 37 (2). Retrieved
from https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/reading_horizons/vol37/iss2/3

Smith, K., & Whedon, J. (2018). Buffy the vampire slayer. Philadelphia: Quirk Books.

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