HomeMy WebLinkAboutRead Aloud Book Gr. 1-Lesson 26There are many different kinds of artists. Some artists make paintings that
hang in museums. Other artists make posters to sell things like toys and cars.
And then there are artists who make pictures that illustrate the stories or
information in books. These pictures can help readers see what is happening in a
story. They can bring a story to life or make information easier to understand.
An artist who illustrates books has an interesting job. The artist cannot draw
the same kind of picture for every book. He or she has to think about what
makes each book special. Then the artist must choose the best way to illustrate
that book.
For example, an artist working on a book of funny stories might use a pen
to make quick, loose scribbles. The scribbles might make the people in the
pictures look like cartoons. For something like a history book, though, an artist
might use a brush to paint long, smooth strokes. The brush strokes might make
these pictures look more serious. And then, for something like a book about
art, an artist might use bits of paper, cloth, or foil to create different textures
on the page. Textures can help an illustration stand out and make a story more
interesting.
Although the pictures look very different in the end, most artists begin making
pictures in the same way. An artist will usually make sketches. These show
a rough outline of the artist’s ideas. The sketches help him or her plan each
picture and decide what changes to make. Sometimes an artist might try tracing
things, such as photographs, to create sharp, exact drawings. This can help an
illustration look very real.
Artists who illustrate books are often trying to think of new ways to make
pictures. This helps them come up with great ideas for every book.
COMPREHENSION What words help you understand the different ways
an artist can illustrate a book? Why does an artist need to keep trying new
things?
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One Friday afternoon, Gina heard squeaking and creaking in her driveway.
“That must be Nick, riding his bike,” she thought.
Gina’s older brother, Nick, had an old bike. When Nick rode his bike, the
wheels squeaked. The frame creaked. Nick thought his bike was too old. But
Gina thought he was lucky, because she did not have a bike of her own.
Gina walked outside. “Hello, Nick,” she called.
Nick quickly brought his bike to a stop. He said, “I am so tired of this rickety
old bike! It’s wobbly, and it’s falling apart. It’s ugly, too. When my bike was new,
it was bright red with blue stripes. Now the stripes look all blurry and fuzzy,
and the red paint looks pink.”
Nick got off the bike. “Ouch!” he cried. A bent wire poked out from under
the bicycle seat. The wire had scratched Nick’s leg.
“That’s it!” yelled Nick. “I’m throwing this bike away!” He wheeled the bike
down the driveway. He leaned it against a trash can. Then he went inside.
Gina waited until Nick was inside the house and then wheeled the bike into
the garage. She had a plan.
Early Saturday morning, Gina went into the garage. There she found a
screwdriver, a can of oil, and a hammer. She also found a paintbrush, paint,
and some cloth rags.
Gina tightened screws with the screwdriver. Now the bike would not creak.
She oiled the wheels of the bike. Now they would not squeak. She hammered
the bent wire straight. Now it did not poke out from under the seat. She
wiggled the handlebars back and forth until they were balanced on both sides.
Then Gina repainted the bike red. She added blue stripes with crisp edges.
Later, Gina polished the bike with a rag until it was shiny. The bike was as good
as new!
Later, Nick saw Gina riding her new bike in the driveway. “Hey! That bike was
broken!” he said.
“Yesterday it was broken,” Gina said, smiling. “Today, it’s just fi ne.”
COMPREHENSION How does Gina’s hard work reward her in the end?
What words from the story help you picture how the bike looks before
and after Gina fi xes it?
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