- Definition
An illustration is a picture or drawing that helps tell a story or explain something, often found in books or advertisements.
A drawing in a picture book that shows a bear sleeping in a cave is an illustration that helps tell the story.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: An illustration is like a visual helper in a storybook that shows you exactly what the words are describing.
Ask your child: What part of the story does this illustration help you understand better?
Common mix-up: Kids may think an illustration is just any drawing. An illustration has a specific job: to communicate an idea, explain something, or help tell a story.
Examples
- A diagram in a science book showing how a plant grows from a seed.
- The colourful drawing on the front of a board game box that shows how fun the game is.
illustration is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
