What do reluctant readers, bored children, and under-represented pupils have in common? A hunger for powerful pictures guaranteed to grab their attention.

Seeing the story

As adults we remember our favourite children’s books in part because of how they were illustrated: the sketched line drawings of Winnie the Pooh, the bright colours of school-age comics like the Beano, the fantastical visuals of old fairy tales. When done well, it is these illustrations that hook young ones from the front cover first, drawing them in (pun intended!), making a story more tactile and gripping, and ultimately helping to make reading a pleasurable hobby, not a chore.

The best illustrations take the structure of the written story and enhance it, by giving the work an extra dimension that words alone aren’t doing. These pictures can provide the story with a powerful edge, perhaps offering bonus elements, characters, backgrounds and settings that aren’t portrayed in the text; not only complementing what’s there, but elevating it.

Seeing what’s true

When I begin the work of collaborating with writers and publishers – as I do for Pearson’s Bug Club books – the first step involves picturing the storyline in my head, imagining which style of artwork will best suit that book’s audience, and, importantly, aiming to faithfully portray what’s true.

I work with many illustrators through the specialist agency I work for, Collaborate. For me, portraying the whole story means engaging artists from the same background and heritage as the story, to ensure its pictures are as authentic as possible. A children’s non-fiction book based in Japan, for instance, calls out for artwork created by a Japanese artist. Similarly, if a story features a wheelchair user, I will contact a wheelchair user to be the illustrator. Collectively, our aim is to make sure everything is fully representative, enabling children to see different lifestyles, cultures and communities as they really are. 

Seeing ourselves

Diversity in the books we read – and especially the books our children read – is so important. Representative, inclusive illustrations show pupils from every background that they aren’t alone and that they matter; that their experiences matter. A large part of our job as children’s illustrators is to ensure that new readers can see themselves in literature, and feel included there. 

The process is not only about portraying diverse people in a way that is authentic. It’s representing locations, climate, vegetation, and more. For books to be a mirror that pulls pupils in, engaging children with reading from a young age – to set them up for a long-term love of literacy – the reflective powers of illustration are something we should always make the most of.

Starting in classrooms

The process of reflection can start with our young readers – which is why, as well as celebrating the power of illustration in books for children, I want to champion its power in the classroom whenever it comes from children.

Are you struggling to encourage literacy among learners? Try starting with exploring pictures first, not words. It doesn’t matter how expert children’s drawings are, or what style they choose to play with: allowing them to doodle will open the door for their creative ideas. While some children are skilled in writing, and others are skilled in drawing, it is ultimately these ideas that will excite them, and set inspiration flowing.

I always remember one of my first illustrative projects when I was in primary school. I was challenged to illustrate the alphabet and think outside of the box. I loved it and your pupils could too. Encourage them to swap out the standard “A is for Apple” option for something more broad or interesting: apes, antelope, Arctic, almonds. Invite them to represent their lives and values with letters too, and the stories are sure to follow.

Older learners, on the other hand, can be motivated with a task like creating their own comic book or graphic novel. While they do, encourage them to think beyond the basics, considering characters, equipment, settings, villains, etc – then take the words from there. It's important that nothing is seen as wrong to keep creativity flowing. After all, if everyone thought the same way there would be no room for new stories to excite us.

Whatever you do, be sure to make it approachable, and get your pupils talking. Literacy is not a passive activity: it’s a skill that offers room to speak up and share, as well as to read and listen.