Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook

Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook

by Michael Garland

From the front cover of this book, I think the illustrator reveals how it will be incredible because there are so many people, animals and some characters. (from some well-known storybook, i.e., little red riding hood.) This interesting scene triggers me perhaps I’ve already fall into the “pitfall” that made by the illustrator.

While I opened the page which are two big people occupied both pages. The left side was the student, Zack; the right side (whole page) was the new teacher, Miss Smith. At the first sight, I was drew attention by this fashionable teacher!! Not only is her figure of whole page, but also her eye-catching clothes. She had the red erinaceous hairstyle and wore the black leather jacket. Does it also match the button: CLASH in front of her chest?? Overall, she was an extraordinary teacher as I thought. Since Miss Smith wore so unusual that it may show she was going to do something different in this new school.

Zack was excited while Miss Smith started reading her book which had brought with her. When Miss Smith said: “It’s story time,” every students including Zack wouldn’t believe their eyes. As the teacher told a story, its characters from the story book would all came to life. For instance, the pirates came out while Miss Smith told the pirate tale. Interestingly, when I turned the page, the scene turned into all the students and Miss Smith studied on the pirate boat; the plot of little red riding hood was threatened by the wolf vividly presented in front of the students. They all fascinated in the stories whatever Miss Smith told. However, one day Miss Smith was stuck in traffic; therefore the principal temporarily charged with the class. Miss Smith asked the principal to read those stories as before till she arrived at the school. As usual, the story characters jump out while principal read them out but no one knew how to ask those figures back to story while finished it. He ran out to ask for help and the other students were curious about what the next story it was. Gradually, as long as the student began reading other story, the classroom was crowed and no room for the rest popping up characters: three pigs, a knight, and the dragon!! Fortunately Miss Smith arrived just in time so that she seemed had a magical incantation that got those naught characters back to their own place where they should be. At the end, everything was settled down and all the students again surrounded with Miss Smith, looking forward to the next story, I thought. But there was a teddy bead hidden behind the bookcase. Did it all completely finish or was it just a toy of teddy bear??

I must say the using of color of this book gives me a joyful reading experience. All the characters are so vivid and bright because the illustrator mostly used pure color of each figure. It is too real to makes me afraid of all of them popping out instantly!! The more saturated colors the illustrator used, the more vibrant character it was. I think most people will love it because the lively pictures will help you get involved this amazing story as well!! Besides, I felt very comfortable and enjoyable while reading because of the proper placement of pictures and context. Most every page was occupied with a whole picture which makes me see not only clearly but also falls into the climax easily. The illustrator made tension and unexpected scenes successfully, waiting readers to experience each climax. In addition, most pictures are wider or bigger than narrative illustrations. Most of time, I spend much time on watching the lively pictures; therefore, such a page layout gives me focus on the quality of pictures and well matched with context. This incredible story book I think gives Miss Smith students’ strong desires to hear the next story and at the same time the book also makes me have an incredible reading adventure.