Materiality in picturebooks

Abstract

This chapter examines physical, sensory, and metaphoric qualities of materials and structures in picturebooks. Material interactions are increasingly sought after in printed as well as digital picturebooks due to multimodal literacies that are expanding via technological innovations. Materiality in picturebooks is at its height when form-related aspects are intertwined into narratives to further the meaning, a strategy that at times extends to inviting the reader to actually contribute to the narrative. Picturebooks with a design that appeals to the senses create sensory stimuli via the integration of taste, touch, smell, and sound into their design, often supported by the utilization of appropriate materials. The materiality of picturebooks is closely tied to innovations in printing and printable surfaces. Inventive uses of materiality confront the child, with novel problems presented to them about handling the form that need to be solved in order to move on with the narrative.