Caldecott-winning illustrator Lane Smith was born in 1959.
Event Description
Lane Smith has collaborated with Jon Scieszka on titles including the Caldecott Honor book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Stories and the best-selling The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. In addition to his collaboration with Scieszka and other authors, he has written and illustrated several of his own children's stories. His illustrations have appeared in several publications other than books, including The Atlantic Monthly and Newsweek.
Classroom Activity
Discuss with your students some of the ways in which illustrations can enhance a story. Begin by reading just the text of a picture book. Then share the actual book, pointing out the illustrations. Ask students how the pictures help them understand the story better. Then, have your students become illustrators, using a variety of media. Offer choices including paint, pencil or colored pencil, pen and ink, felt-tipped markers, or collage. Offer students a variety of choices such as:
- Illustrate a favorite story they have written.
- Collaborate with a partner and become an author—illustrator team. Alternatively, each student writes a story and then illustrates each other's works.
- Select a favorite children's book and mimic the illustrator's style, or create illustrations for the story in their own style.
When students have completed their illustrations and stories, be sure to display them in the classroom or school library!
Websites
This site offers information on the adventures of the Time Warp Trio, as well as links for games and the TV show. There is also a section of links for teachers and parents.
Penguin Publishers offers this biography of Smith. Also included are links to an author interview and a booklist.
This resource from Scholastic provides suggested activities for teaching Squids Will Be Squids by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. There is a link on the page to similar resources for The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.
Lane Smith's website offers a brief biography and bibliography, as well as sketches, videos, and games related to his work.