Presenter: Charlotte Elizabeth Canterbury

Faculty Sponsor: Trevor Kearns

School: Greenfield Community College

Research Area: Literature

Session: Poster Session 4, 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM, Auditorium, A70

ABSTRACT

This project explores how children’s literature can shape a child’s perception of creativity, beauty, and the natural world. My 32-page fully illustrated book, God Painted the Sky, encourages young readers to view creation as an intentional work of art. The project was inspired by the question of how storytelling and visual design can cultivate wonder and attentiveness in children rather than passive consumption of images and narratives.

Drawing on narrative and illustration techniques studied in ENG 241 (Children’s Literature), I crafted a story that combines lyrical language, repetition, and sensory imagery to make abstract ideas accessible to early readers. The book’s structure follows a gentle, reflective progression that mirrors a child’s curiosity about the sky and surrounding environment. The illustrations are fully integrated with the text, using color, scale, and perspective to reinforce emotional tone.

A key component of the visual design incorporates the psychology of darkness and snugness. Research on children’s media suggests that dim lighting, enclosed spaces, and warm tones evoke feelings of safety and intimacy. By placing expansive depictions of the sky within cozy visual frames, the book creates an emotional balance between comfort and awe.

Ultimately, this project demonstrates how intentional literary and artistic choices can shape emotional engagement and meaning-making, highlighting the formative power of children’s literature in shaping imagination and perception.