The Stories - Introduction
A word about copyright:
All of the materials on this site - stories, photos and pictures - are original and belong to those involved in this project.
All of the materials on this site - stories, photos and pictures - are original and belong to those involved in this project.
The Pictures
Honestly, for a lot of children the most important part of a story is the pictures. If they like the pictures then they will want to read the words.
So - where do you get the pictures from?
So - where are we getting the pictures from?
So - where do you get the pictures from?
- If you are printing one or two stories / booklets for just your class to use, then there is really no harm in searching Google Images and using whatever you like.
- If you are self-publishing a story / booklet that may be made generally available in print and/or on the Internet, then you need to be careful about copyright. Do not steal pictures or ideas from someone else.
So - where are we getting the pictures from?
- Photos we have taken - we have copyright on them.
- Drawings and pictures the children have created.
- Pictures we have drawn / created.
Creating Your Own Pictures
Most adults tell me they can't draw.
And yet kids rarely say that. If you ask a kid to draw something, they just give it a go.
So - think like a kid. (Or you can just ask a kid to draw your pictures.)
Kids don't really mind what your pictures are like, they will be fascinated regardless. here are some ideas:
With each of the stories included on this website, we have included information about where the pictures came from.
And yet kids rarely say that. If you ask a kid to draw something, they just give it a go.
So - think like a kid. (Or you can just ask a kid to draw your pictures.)
Kids don't really mind what your pictures are like, they will be fascinated regardless. here are some ideas:
- Use the tools that kids like to use - get yourself some crayons / pencils / paints. I usually draw the picture and then scan it and insert it into the story.
- Keep it simple - you don't have to draw the whole panorama. There are many ways to draw a picture without drawing faces - if that is the part you have difficulty with. Just draw the important part.
- Use lots of colour. Or do it in black and white and let the children colour it in. (Black and white is better for print / photocopy. It depends how you are going to use the book.)
- Adapt and practise. Find a picture or photo that has all or part of what you want to depict, and try copying it ... but don't worry if yours doesn't look the same! The original is just a starting point. And you don't want to break copyright by making it exactly the same.
- Use an App. This is my favourite. Rather than drawing and then scanning pictures, I like to draw / create pictures on my iPad. Maybe you have access to something similar.
With each of the stories included on this website, we have included information about where the pictures came from.
Here is an example of making an illustration
This is how I have been creating illustrations.
1. Enter a search word into Google Images search - in this case I wanted a picture of someone "window shopping".
1. Enter a search word into Google Images search - in this case I wanted a picture of someone "window shopping".
I selected this picture.
2. Trace the picture, and adapt it to suit my story. (I use the app "Tracing Paper" on my iPad.)
2. Trace the picture, and adapt it to suit my story. (I use the app "Tracing Paper" on my iPad.)
I changed it into a picture of two women in headscarves window shopping.
3. Colour the picture. I use that old program that comes on most computers - "Paint". If you have never used it, you should check whether you have it on your computer (you probably do) and try it, because it is a lot of fun. You can use it for drawing as well.
3. Colour the picture. I use that old program that comes on most computers - "Paint". If you have never used it, you should check whether you have it on your computer (you probably do) and try it, because it is a lot of fun. You can use it for drawing as well.
Why don't we just use the original picture? Because it's not mine, the copyright belongs to someone. But this is MY picture, my drawing and my colouring.