Author:
Jenella Little
Subject:
Information Science, Reading Foundation Skills
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Level:
Lower Primary
Grade:
1, 2
Tags:
  • Black Mountain College
  • Caldecott Award
  • Jean Charlot
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
    Language:
    English

    Children's Book Illustrator Jean Charlot

    Overview

    RL.K.7 With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).

    RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

    RL.2.7. Explain how specific aspects of a text’s illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting).

     

    Students in grades K-2 learn about Children's book authors and illustrators. We study various illustrators of Caldecott Award winning and Honor books each year. Students are very familiar with illustrators such as Eric Carle, Chris Van Allsburg, and Dr. Seuss. This lesson introduces students to some lesser known illustrators such as Jean Charlot.

    Jean Charlot is the illustrator of Margaret Wise Brown's book A Child's Goodnight Book. This book is a Caldecott Honor Book for 1944. Charlot also illustrated The Whipping Boy, ...And Now Miguel and the Timid Ghost to name a few. 

    In the summer of 1944 he was invited to teach at the inaugural Summer Institute. During his time he created two murals, "Inspiration" and "Knowledge" on the pylons of the Studies Building to commemorate the event. 

    Charlot is not the only children's book author to spend time at Black Mountain College. Leo Lionni was part of the 1946 Summer Institiute Faculty and illustrated several Caldecott Honor books such as Frederick, Swimmy, and Inch by Inch. Vera Williams graduated from Black Mountain College and illustrated Caldecott Honor Book More, More, More Said the Baby.

    In the wrap up of this lesson, students will connect Jean Charlot to these other lesser known illustrators. The teacher will show students other book covers from Leo Lionni and Vera Williams and discuss their connection to Black Mountain College as well. 

    Students will then see pictures and can view a short video about Black Mountain College. 

     

     

     

    A Children's Goodnight Book

    The teacher will read A Children's Goodnight Book or have students view the attached video. 

    Ask students:

    1. What do you see in the illustration on the cover?

    2. How do you think this illustration might encourage you to read the story?

    3. How do the illustrations make you feel as you listen to the story?

    4. What type of illustrations did the author use? (pen and ink, paper mache, colored pencils, water color)?

    Who is Jean Charlot?

    A children's Goodnight Book was a Caldecott Honor Book in 1944. In 1944 Jean Charlot was also invited to teach during Black Mountain College's inaugural Summer Institute. 

    To mark the occasion he created two murals, Inspiration and Knowledge. 

    Have students view the image of Jean Charlot

    Have students view images of the murals. 

    1. How are these murals different than the pictures in our Caldecott Honor Book?

     

    Black Mountain College overview

    The teacher will introduce Leo Loni and Vera Williams. Leo Lionni was part of the faculty of the 1946 Summer Institute and Vera Williams graduated from Black Mountain College. 

    The teacher will show students some of the covers from these artists Caldecott Honor books and give a short overview of what Black Mountain College was. 

    Students wlll view images of Leo Lionni's and Vera Williams Caldecott Honor Books. 

    1. How are their illustrations similar to and different from those of Jean Charlot?

    Students will watch the short overview video of Black Mountain College.

    2. How do you think attending a college like Black Mountain College with no grades, required classes, and that allowed illustrators freedom to explore art in different ways might have influenced their works?