For a picture book that has an interesting main character, like The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle, students can create the character out of papier mache. To make the spider, have each student inflate a balloon and give out 1-inch strips of newspaper paper. Mix flour and water into a paste and distribute it to the children. Have the students dip the strips of newspaper into the paste, and wrap them around the balloon. After the balloons are covered with two layers of paste-covered newspaper, let them dry overnight. The next day, tape pipe cleaners on for legs and add two more layers of papier mache. When dry, pop the balloon and remove it. The spider is then ready for painting. Paint the body, then paint on the eyes. This project, based on a project from the Read, Write, Think website, teaches characteristics of a character in a picture book.
Hand out large photocopies of the illustrations in the picture book. After hearing the story once or twice, instruct the children to come to the front of the room and hold the illustrations up. Ask them to arrange themselves in the sequence the pictures appear in the book, as described on the El Paso Cooperative website. Students can then retell the story using the student-held illustrations as a prompt. Have the students draw their own versions of the illustrations. The teacher can put the illustrations into book form.
The Child Drama site suggests using narrative pantomime, inviting students to stand around the room while leaving space between them. As the teacher reads the picture book, students act out the story and "experience" what the protagonist experiences, without making a sound. Students are instructed to concentrate on what the main character sees, hears, feels, tastes and smells. Then the teacher can read the book to the students while showing them the illustrations. To dramatize the picture book, students are assigned parts and interact with each other. If they know the story well enough, they can ad lib the lines.
As a culmination to a picture book unit, students can work in teams to create their own picture book, as described on the Read, Write, Think website. They can think up a few characters, create a story line with a problem and a resolution and place the characters and plot in a setting. The next step is to create storyboards to plan out the illustrations and text. When they are finished, they can bind the pages and present the story to the class.