Why Geronimo Stilton Is Great For Kids (2)

This is the second in a series of five articles discussing the benefits of Geronimo Stilton Books for emerging readers. 

In the first part of the series we ask the question "Who is Geronimo Stilton and Why Is He So Popular?" and try to answer by beginning to list five reasons why Geronimo Stilton Books are attractive and rewarding reads for kids.

The first reason was the series' nontraditional use of fonts and colors in the text.

This, the 2nd reason Geronimo Stilton books are great for kids,  addresses the use of cartoon-like illustrations to attract readers and add to the dynamic flow of the book.

2: The Cartoon Illustrations

The illustrations in a Geronimo Stilton book are not your traditional children’s book style (if there can be said to exist a traditional style in children’s books!).  The images look like they belong in animated cartoons on TV or in movies, rather than books, and it is here that the illustrators have taken their inspiration.

The characters and backgrounds are detailed with black outlines then rendered with shades of bright colors (especially in later volumes), the technique often used for comic books and animation. 

Moreover the characters in Geronimo Stilton Book illustrations are depicted with dynamic gestures and exaggerated expressions, also a mainstay of comic and cartoon characters.

It is often said in animation that the silhouette of drawn character should convey its emotion and intention, without words or detail needed, and in Geronimo Stilton books this is most definitely the case.

Take a look at the illustration taken from Geronimo Stilton Down And Out Down Under ( I can't help it, as an Australian its one of my favourite books!). First you have the cute boardshorts icon up in the top left, signifying the chapter name.

Then the different fonts and colored text (discussed in the last post) leads us down to the hungry shark which is inset right into the text. The full page illustration on the next page is beautiful and this scan does not do it justice.  All the characters have different expressions on their faces and the black outlines and vibrant colors really make them pop out of the page.

Cartoons and comics have long fascinated children (and child-like adults). By incorporating the wonders of those mediums into a traditional book format the illustrators of the Geronimo Stilton books have brought the characters and settings alive in vivid and dynamic detail.

The illustrative team (yes there is often more than one illustrator per book) of the Geronimo Stilton books are to be commended on their efforts, they are a significant part of the success of the series.

The third part of this series, discusses the factfiles and information pages in Geronimo Stilton Books.