There is no definite statement which can be made about the types of pictures children prefer. Inadequately controlled variables, incomplete reporting, and a variety of sample problems do not allow generalizations to be drawn from the existing research. (Author/CB)

Discusses three roles of textbook illustrations--to arrest the reader's attention and arouse interest, to provide explanation and clarification of complex verbal descriptions, and to aid retention of the information presented in the text. It is recommended that illustrations be designed with their specific role(s) in mind. (EAO)

A study of children's preferences in book format factors revealed that children are not as concerned with the eye appeal of materials as they are with order and a desire to avoid confusion when reading. Suggests that designers place illustrations at the top or bottom of a page. (FL)

Focusing on the various problems involved in designing and producing a picturebook, this document consists of opening remarks by Kenneth Morantz; a discussion of design in the context of publishing, by editor Stephen Roxburgh; a discussion of what separates children's book publishing from the rest of the trade as well as what contributes to the…

Intended for use by both producers and evaluators of textbooks and other print instructional materials, this review of the literature focuses on the effectiveness of illustrations for motivation and for learning, and such typographical variables as readibality, legibility, standard typographical conventions, and format and layout. Areas examined…

A study examined the responses of children at several age levels to seven visual elements presented to them on book jackets. Subjects ranged in age from kindergarten to fifth grade. The pairs of book jackets that were selected represented contrasting treatments of seven visual elements: (1) action, (2) color, (3) style, (4) characters, (5) detail,…

The elements of design (line, shape, color, value, and texture) are the artist's lexicon rather than words, and the meaning of these elements is carried in their expressive properties in picture books as well as in paintings. Line can convey repose when horizontal, stability if vertical, and action when diagonal or curving. The element of shape…