Children’s Book Illustration:
Marianthe’s Story
One: Painted Words
Two: Spoken Memories
By Aliki

Greenwillow Books, New York, 1998

This visual interpretive analysis was designed by Patricia Joel.

What do you think Aliki is communicating in this cover illustration?

Which interpretation most closely resembles your own?

The girl is is not ready to "face" us.
The girl is using her painting to express herself.
Art is an activity that comes naturally to the girl.

Click on the paintbrush to see if your interpretation is supported by the text and other illustrations
 
 

Aliki's Life Story 

Getting to know all the parts of Marianthe's life was like "peeling an orange" to reveal the different segments.	Note that Book One describes Mari's PRESENT life, while Book Two describes Mari's PAST life. This helps to create the air of mystery about the new girl in the class. When we read Book One, we do not know any more about Mari than her classmates do.
Where would you like to begin peeling back the layers of Aliki's Life Story? You may go in any order you want.
Aliki's Life as a Child Aliki's Life as an Adult Aliki's Life as an Author/Illustrator "How a Book is Made"

 

Aliki's Interests 

Aliki sprinkled picture clues about her interests throughout the book.

These interests form the basis of other books by Aliki. Dinosaurs Bones and Fossils How People Feel About Themselves How People Treat Each Other

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