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Resolution: Frog takes the cookies off the shelf and gives them to the birds.
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C H A P T E R 2 :
Elements of Quality Children’s Literature

39
from what happens in the story. I find theme to be the most obscure and elusive of 
the literary elements. To complicate this, some books have a secondary theme or 
even multiple themes, and others have themes that are so vague they are difficult to 
express in words. 
A theme is more easily understood if it is stated in a complete sentence. For 
example, “remember” is a word. “Important to remember” is a phrase that adds 
a little more meaning. However, “It is important to remember the history of your 
culture” is a sentence and thus a complete thought. It is also the theme of The Devil’s 
Arithmetic (Yolen). 
To determine the theme of a book, ask yourself these questions: 
•
What is the underlying meaning or significance of this story?
•
What was the author’s purpose in writing the story?
•
What did the author say to me through the story?
•
What are the comments the author makes about beliefs, fundamental truths, 
human nature, life, society, human conditions, or values?
•
What is the common idea that ties the story together?
Responding to Literature 
Determining the Themes of Lionni’s Books
To gain a better understanding of 
theme and how to determine it, read picture books by Leo Lionni, such as
Frederick
. Lionni’s 
themes are usually morals and are easy to detect. Write the theme of each book in a complete 
sentence.
Writing Style 
Writing Style 
Style cannot be isolated from the words of the story, and often style is challenging 
to detect. It is the manner in which a writer expresses his or her ideas to convey 
a story. It permeates every sentence of the work and sets the mood of the story. 
Style has to do with the writing as opposed to the content of a book. It is how
an author says something as opposed to what she or he says. Authors have many 
ways to use words to express their ideas. Some of these are tone (discussed next), 
use of imagery, figurative language, allusion, irony, selection of vocabulary, gram-
matical structure, symbolism, and dialect—as well as the devices of comparison, 
sound, and rhythm. Style is what makes one author’s work distinctive from works 
of others writers. 
Children often select multiple books by the same author because they like the 
author’s distinctive style, such as the styles of Judy Blume and Gary Paulsen. How-
ever, most authors will vary their style when writing for different age groups or 
when they feel a certain story warrants it. Style is truly the author’s personal choice, 
depending on the characters, setting, and plot of the story. 
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