You don't need paint or markers to create illustrations; paper, glue and imagination will do.

Lois Ehlert creates her illustrations with collage.  

She uses paper to create her images,

as well as real items to create layers and textures.

Judah: I am using the wood sticks to make a nest and the feather is a part of the bird.

We discovered that Lois Ehlert created the images to one of our favorite books: 

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

We created our own trees.

Morah Katie: Looking at the books in our library, how are Lois Ehlert books different from Eric Carle or Kevin Henkes?

Judah: Well she just uses stuff in collage. 

Clara: She uses a lot of shapes in her books to make her pictures.

Evan: The Color Farm book is really funny.  But they all like animals.  They all have animals in their books.

A few moments of play and discovery.

Lochlan created a road with bridges for his truck.

Play dough is always fun.

Nora: I am squeezing it all by myself. AND I'm putting the colors together.

Sharing and creating strengthens friendships.

Ari: Morah Katie guess what? I bet you didn't know I was hiding one pyramid in another! 

And there is still another one! 

Three. I made 3 pyramids.

Augie: I built this one, and I built this one so now I am moving on to this one. 

They are not easy but I really like it. 

So I'm just going to do it.

We have taken a close look at 3 very different author/illustrators. 

Next week, we will become the authors and illustrators. 

With all the imagination and curiosity these children possess,  

I have no doubt a Caldecott winner is in our midst.