Best. Illustrator. Ever.
If I were an artwork collecting type, I would cover my walls with prints of Trina Schart Hyman's works. As it is, any time one of her books hits the discards (they are getting old!), I automatically buy them and bring them home. Don't care what the text is, just want the pictures!
I mean, just look at these:
That Caldecott medal comes as no surprise, amiright?
Swoon!
Coupled with a favorite author:
And she doesn't just do fairy tales!
Just look at those faces!
From The Shy Little Girl by Phyllis Krasilovsky:
Obviously, those are all books you need to read together today! Do a search at your library online and see what other treasures you can find. Since many of her titles are older, and you may not be able to get a copy, I won't give activities centered around specific ones. In general, however, you can:
- Talk about the Caldecott medal, what it means, and what books have earned it. Collect a pile of as many Caldecott Medal/Honor winners as you can, and vote on the best of the best!
- Many of her books are fairy tales. Choose your favorite fairy tale and read as many versions as you can. Use a chart or Venn diagram to compare similarities and differences in each variation.
- Faces and hands are considered two of the most difficult things to draw, and Hyman was amazing at both. Try to draw each others' faces or hands, or your own. Then find some books or tutorials to help you improve your skills.
Social Studies
Talk about what it means to be shy. Does that description fit anyone in your household? Are any of you shy in certain situations and not in others? What can cause shyness? (Uncertainty, a person who makes you uncomfortable, etc.) Is it a bad thing to be shy? How can you recognize someone who maybe wants to be friends, but is shy? How can you become friends with them?
Construction
Are your kids familiar with the idea of a buddy bench? If they are not home schooled, do they have one at their school? If not, this may be a great time to learn some construction skills AND give back to their community! A quick search for "bench construction plans" will net you dozens of styles to choose from, many needing only a few cuts and screws and then some sanding and painting.
As you build, talk about different types of tools, and relate them to simple machines. A saw is a wedge! A hammer is a lever! A screw is...a screw!
Community
I am told by others who knew her that she was a truly delightful person. What do you suppose that means? Is it something you would like people to say about you? Who in your life might you describe that way? What attributes would make you say that about someone?
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