Name: _________________________ 

Period: _____________ 
 
Focusing on How Theme is Developed: 
Creating Your Own Children’s Book​ ​Rationale Form 
 
1.) What project are you going to work on? (Option 1, 2, or 3) 
 
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2.) How exactly are you going to create your picture book? ​Explain the steps of your creation process to me​. 
 
______________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
______________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
3.)Picture books can bring attention to a problem or suggest a solution to a common issue. What is the lesson or theme that 
your picture book will include?   
 
______________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
4.) How do you plan on developing your theme? (Ex: characterization, conflict, literary devices, setting, etc.—be specific!) 
 
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PART 1: DECIDING HOW TO CREATE YOUR STORY 
 
TITLE OF YOUR STORY: _________________________________________________________ 
Check when completed 
CHARACTERIZATION​:  o  
 
Who is your main character? 
 
 
 
What is unique about this character? 
 
 
SETTING  o  
   
Time -    
   
Place -  
 
Weather –  
 
CONFLICT​ (internal or external conflict and explain it)  o  
   
1.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  o  
THEME 
 
How are you developing your theme in the children’s book? 
 
 
 
Explain:  
 
 
 
 
 
PART II: THE TEXT OF YOUR STORY 
YOUR DECISIONS  HOW IT INFLUENCES THE STORY 
   
Color -    
   
Size -  
 
Font -  
 
Literary Tools - Check all that apply  List the example(s) here 
 
o Repetition  
 
o Onomatopoeia 
 
o Simile or Metaphor 
 
o Hyperbole 
 
o Personification 
 
o Imagery (Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch, Hear) 
 
o Rhyming 
 
 
PART 3: THE ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
1.) How are you going to create your illustrations? (hand drawn, collage, digitally, photographs) 
 
______________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
______________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 
Mrs. Gruber’s signature goes here when you’re ready to move to the final product: _______________________________ 
 
 
 
Name: ___________________ 
Period: __________ 
 
STORY BOOK CREATION 
 

OPTION 1:​ You take an ​already written story​ and create a 12-panel children’s book. This children’s book can be made 
using collages, illustrations, pictures, etc. Keep in mind that many fables are rather short, so you will need to add some 
detail or extend parts of the story in order to create the full 12 pages. 
 
OPTIONAL TEMPLATE FOR CHILDREN’S BOOK 
PAGE 1-2  PAGE 3  PAGE 4-5  PAGE 6 
Introduce ​characters​ (what  Examine the character’s  Introduce the main ​conflict  Actions taken to deal with 
is unique about them?)   thoughts/feelings  (internal and/or external)  conflict.  
     
Establish the ​setting 
(time, place, weather) 
 
PAGE 7-8  PAGE 9-10   PAGE 11  PAGE 12 
Character obstacles  Climax  Examination of the  Resolution 
    character after climax 
   
 
 
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OPTION 2:​ You create your own 12-panel (minimum) children’s book. This children’s book can be made using 
collages, illustrations, pictures, etc. You will need to change two literary elements. Which TWO literary elements (plot, 
conflict, character, setting, theme) are you going to change in order to remix the picture book, fairy tale, or fable of your 
choice? What will be included in these changes in place of the original elements?  
1. ________________________________________ 2. 
________________________________________________ 
 
OPTIONAL TEMPLATE FOR REMIX CHILDREN’S BOOK 
PAGE 1-2  PAGE 3  PAGE 4-5  PAGE 6 
Introduce ​characters​ (what  Examine the character’s  Introduce the main ​conflict  Actions taken to deal with 
is unique about them?)   thoughts/feelings  (internal and/or external)  conflict.  
     
Establish the ​setting 
(time, place, weather) 
 
PAGE 7-8  PAGE 9-10   PAGE 11  PAGE 12 
Character obstacles  Climax  Examination of the  Resolution 
    character after climax 
   
 
 
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OPTION 3​:​ You write an original picture book. This option is for those who are super interested in creative writing 
and want to experiment with how conflict, setting, characterization, and literary tools help shape theme.   
 
 
For all three projects, you will need to fill out a ​rationale form​ to explain the decisions you’ve made with your project. The 
rationale form ​must be completed before you start working on the project.