Name: Danica Christman  

Period: 4 
_15/_15 points  
 
Picture Book Analysis Paths 
Reflection 
 
AREA E: CONSIDERING THEME 
 
1. What is the theme of the story? (4 points)  

The theme of the story is that it is okay not to win. The main character, Hannah, does not win any of the games at her 
birthday party. She continuously gets angry, and the climax is when she has a full-on fit. Her mother then talks to her 
about it and tells Hannah that it is okay to not win. 
 
 
 

4  3  2  1-0 
● A clear universal theme  ● A clear universal theme  ● The stated theme is too  ● The stated theme is not 
is stated.   is stated.   specific to the story and  supported by the text. 
● The theme represents  ● The theme represents  not universal.   ● The theme does not 
the main message or  the main message or  ● The theme may not  represent the main 
lesson communicated  lesson communicated  represent the main  message or lesson 
through the characters  through the characters  message or lesson  communicated through 
and conflict.   and conflict.   communicated through  the characters and 
● Formal tone: No use of  ● Formal tone: Might use  the characters and  conflict.  
“I” or “me”   “I” or “me” infrequently  conflict.   ● Formal tone: Uses “I” or 
● Written in complete  ● Written in complete  ● Formal tone: Uses “I”  “me” frequently. 
sentences.   sentences.   or “me” frequently.   ● Not written in complete 
  ● Mostly written in  sentences.  
  complete sentences.  
 
 
2. After considering the illustrations used, the setting, characterization, conflict, focusing on the protagonist, the front 
cover, and the literary devices from your children’s book, ​identify​ ​two​ items listed above that assisted with establishing 
your theme.  
Then, ​clearly explain​ how these items create your desired theme.   
 
 
Theme Evidence and Explanation  1 p​oint   0 points  

Literary Element or Device #1  The literary elements or  The literary elements or 
  devices listed helps to  devices listed may not 
reveal the theme.   help to reveal the theme, 
Characterization     or it is not listed. 
 

Explanation​: The characterization of Hannah contributes to the theme through her thoughts and actions. Hannah 
thinks and acts as if she should win all of the games at her birthday party. The theme is that it is okay to not win. 
Hannah’s characterization helps develop the theme because her thoughts and actions cause her to learn a lesson, which is 
also the theme. 
 
  
 
 
 
 
2 poin​ts  1 point  0 points 

     
● Explanation clearly connects the  ● Explanation somewhat  ● Explanation does not clearly connect the 
device or element to how it reveals  connects the device or element  device or element to how it reveals the 
the theme.   to how it reveals the theme.   theme.  
● Uses clear evidence or description  ● May not use clear evidence or  ● Does not use clear evidence or description 
of element or device.   description of element or  of element or device.  
● Formal tone: No use of “I” or  device.   ● Formal tone: Uses “I” or “me”  
“me”   ● Formal tone: Uses “I” or  ● Not written in complete sentences.  
● Written in complete sentences.   “me”  
  ● Written in complete sentences.  
 
 
Theme Evidence and Explanation  1 point   0 points  

Literary Element or Device #2:   The literary element or  The literary element or 
  device listed helps to  device listed may not 
reveal the theme.   help to reveal the theme, 
Conflict     or it is not listed. 
 

Explanation​: The conflict of Hannah continuously getting angry about her not winning the games. This causes her 
mother to talk to her about what the meaning of the games is (to have fun). This is how the theme is shown, through the 
lesson learned from the conflict. 
 
 
 
 
 
2 points  1 point  0 points 

     
● Explanation clearly connects the  ● Explanation somewhat  ● Explanation does not clearly connect the 
device or element to how it reveals  connects the device or element  device or element to how it reveals the 
the theme.   to how it reveals the theme.   theme.  
● Uses clear evidence or description  ● May not use clear evidence or  ● Does not use clear evidence or description 
of element or device.   description of element or  of element or device.  
● Formal tone: No use of “I” or  device.   ● Formal tone: Uses “I” or “me”  
“me”   ● Formal tone: Uses “I” or  ● Not written in complete sentences.  
● Written in complete sentences.   “me”    
  ● Written in complete sentences.    
   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Picture Book Analysis/Creation Process Reflection: 5 points (Each answer must be a minimum of two 
complete sentences) 

1. How could you expand your answers above into an essay with your original analysis graphic 
organizer? What steps would you need to take, or what would you choose to include to show the 
theme developing​?  
I would use the boxes as different paragraphs. For example, the first box would be the introduction. I 
would need to add the main parts of on introduction. The two boxes with the literary elements would be 
body paragraphs. Lastly, I would need to write a conclusion paragraph. 
 
 
 
 
2. ​What do you wish you would have spent more time on, or what would you choose to do differently 
next time, if you had the chance to do this process over again? Why​?  
I wish that I would have spent more time on the illustrations because they were not my best work, and were 
plain. I feel like I rushed on them. If I were to do it again, I would have done it digitally because my 
hand-done book was a bit messy looking. 
 
 
 
3. ​What part of this process did you do your best work on? Why do you think so? 
I think the part that I did the best on was the actual writing of the story. I feel that I had a well developed 
conflict, and theme. 
 
 
 
4​. What part of the process did you enjoy the most or find most beneficial or helpful? Why? 
I enjoyed actually putting the book together (making the collage, illustrations, adding the text). I think that 
seeing it all come together was fun. 
 
 
 
5. ​What was the least enjoyable part of this process for you? Why? 
The thing that I enjoyed the least was coloring the illustrations. I do not enjoy coloring very much, and it 
looked messy.