THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS, Colorful Writing

[Mrs. Saint]

Go to Student Illustrations and "read" through an illustrated summary of the book. Choose one scene that is NOT in this illustrated edition and "draw" it for me using vivid word pictures. Feel free to make a few comments about the accuracy of the web book and your opinions of the student-artists.

[Nathan S]

Well, as for talent, I think I've seen second graders do almost just as good, but the sad part is - I might not be able to do better, lol, so I'd better not say anything about that. As for accuracy, I'm not sure if Gilly ever talked to Mrs. Trotter and W.E. on the phone or not (she was pictured doing so various times). I thought the book said she wrote various letters/postcards. Also, I didn't get the feeling that Gilly was glad her letter brought her grandmother to take her away, but the picture had her smiling.

I think they covered most of the "intersting" scenes, but if I had to draw one, I might draw the spookyness of being in Gilly's mother's bedroom, the dolls and stuff that might usually look pretty and attractive, all of a sudden seeming scary and frightening. I might draw the stuff a little bit out of proportion to make Gilly look small in the room (as she probably felt) and might make the room be a little darker than it really was (again, as Gilly probably felt it was)

[Mrs. Saint]

Nate, I can picture you additional drawing. I like the physical ways you would show how Gilly was feeling. If only your artistic talent could match your good ideas....