Picture BookPeerReviewRubric(Students)

Title of Picture Book Reviewed: OH NO, OKAY

Type of Picture Book (digital or print): Print
Student Author: Madeleine Stein
StudentPeerReviewer: John Bishara

Category (Exemplary Goal) RatingandComments

(Boldy o u r ratingandprovidecomments)
Story/Concept:
Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary
Theme/Purpose/Focus

The theme or purpose of the picture book is strongly evident

early on.
Comments: The theme is incredibly clear: something bad
happens (Oh no!), and then it is salvaged and becomes
A clear focus is maintained throughout. Okay.

Target Audience
Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary Exemplary
The target audience is clear and appropriate the
chosen art, text, and design are well attuned to the
intended age range.
Comments: It is very well constructed for younger
audiences, with its limited vocabulary, and its sub-theme
of having everything happen with each color of the
rainbow.

Narrative Plot or Informational Sequence

Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary
Contains a strong narrative plot with a distinctive
beginning, middle, and end (if a story)
Or
Comments: While it's not a story with a beginning, middle, and
end in the narrative sense, it is a series of small conflicts that
A strong progression/sequence (if a concept book)
become resolved and becomes an exercise in pattern recognition.
While the rainbow color theme isn't directly tied to the concept of
"Bad becomes good", it still serves as yet another pattern for the
reader to recognize.
Coherence/Relation Between Text & Visual
Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary
Pictures

Strong coherent relation between the text and

visual pictures across the spreads in the picture
book.
All chosen images are stylistically related, and the
images may communicate symbolism and/or
metaphors.
Comments: The pictures are very well done, being the
primary source of communication since the words used
are limited to only two phrases ("Oh no" and "Okay"). The
line art is coherent, and the use of single colors for each
scenario helps tie everything together.

Text and pictures consistently complement each

other with each telling a different part of the story
or concept.

Leaves room for the child (or adult reading the

book) to interpret the story or concept.

Rubric designed by Denise Kreiger, IDTS, School of Communication & Information, 3/2016 1
 Picture BookPeerReviewRubric(Students) (continued)
Title of Digital Picture Book Reviewed: Oh No, Okay
Type of Picture Book (digital or print): Print
Student Author: Madeleine Stein
StudentPeerReviewer: John Bishara
Storytelling Techniques Used
Incorporates diverse storytelling techniques (e.g.,
rhythm, repetition, rhyme, word play, voice, flow,
onomatopoeia, sensory words, simile, emotion,
noises, tension/suspense, excitement/drama, big
reveal/surprise ending, etc.) to engage the reader.
Picture book is ideally suited to be read aloud.
Techniques show original thought, and ideas are
creative and inventive.
Physical Structure/Design
Contains the required cover with 13 spreads (26
pages).
The layout of text and images on each spread is
visually appealing, placed creatively on the page
with effective use of space that creates interest
for the reader.
Writing Quality/Flow
Well written in age-appropriate language with no
errors in grammar, usage, spelling, etc.
Writing demonstrates strong flow that contributes
to clarity, style, and development of the
story/concept.
Overall
Howwouldyouratethis picture book overall?
Whatwasparticularlyeffectiveabout it?
Anysuggestedimprovements?
Rubric designed by Denise Kreiger, IDTS, School of Communication & Information, 3/2016
Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary
Comments: While repetition of word is the most obvious
component (with "Oh no" and "Okay" being the only
phrases used), what makes the book work is the
repetition of situation, where something seemingly bad
happens, only to be salvaged. The use of a single color in
each scenario, brought together at the end as a rainbow,
is also compelling, making the reader feel that a pattern
was completed.
Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary
Comments: There is the cover and 12 spreads. The
layouts are generally consistent, swapping between
having Oh No scenarios and Okay scenarios happen on
separate spreads or the same spread, mixing things up
enough to keep the audience's interest while still
maintaining the general pattern.
Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary
Comments: The entire point of the book is that everything
is either described as "Oh no" or "Okay". That strong
consistency is what makes the book, although sometimes
it's not clear why the number of "Oh no" and "Okay" are
the way they are, and whether you're meant to read all of
them in a particular spread, or if they're just meant to be
part of the visuals.
Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary
Comments: It's a clear concept executed competently-
repeat a pattern of bad things becoming good, and
include other patterns like a developing rainbow. My only
suggestion would be to have the actual events be more
closely connected, like having one scenario lead to the
next scenario (for example, before the child gets a
scraped knee, have the scenario before it show him get
injured), but the book works as is since the pattern is so
strong.
2
Rubric designed by Denise Kreiger, IDTS, School of Communication & Information, 3/2016 3