In Pictures and In Words - Chapter 8

Yes. I am really behind in this book study... story of my summer. Ever onward and upward! 

Moving on to chapter 8! 

I really liked this chapter, because a lot of it seemed pretty obvious because, let's be honest, kinders are really good at noticing details.
{Except when I cut 16 1/2 inches off my hair!! But that's a story for another time.}

I liked when Ray described details as

  Life blood. Life. Authenticity. 

Those are things that are necessary. Not optional. 

So it is with detail. 

Details are so critical! Writers and illustrators have a big job in this.

Ray clarifies later saying

 "A detailed description is not about the quantity of detail, but rather the quality " (pg. 133). 

Soooo, detail is important and necessary, but does not necessarily have to be evidenced in lots and lots of words or in incredibly detailed illustrations. It's quality that counts...

So could Lois Ehlert's Growing Vegetable Soup be considered for detail study? I've never really considered it a book with much detail, BUT it's the quality of the detail that counts, not the amount of detail, right? 

I'm still letting that idea roll around in my brain I don't know if I've fully wrapped myself around it yet.
 Let me know if you can add any insight to the idea. 

Finally, I liked how Ray pointed out that there are 2 levels of observing details: 

1) Studying details in illustrations

2) Studying details in the world

So writing time is no longer confined to just writing time! When we are doing a science experiment, or going on a walk, or in PE or music class, we are observing details in our world! 

Our entire life can be study of detail observation, if we choose to be so observant! 

Here are a couple book choices I would use with chapter 8: 

 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi and Ronald Barrett

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett

(Really any Jan Brett books - she adds lots of details. I love pointing out her borders to my kinders. They love guessing what's coming up!)