Illustrate a Favorite Story Scene

When you draw a scene from a story, you have to think carefully about what really happened — who was there, where they were, and what they were doing. A good story illustration is not just any picture — it is a picture that proves you read and understood the text.

What is a scene?

• A scene is one specific moment in a story — a short stretch of action that happens in one place at one time.
• Good scenes to illustrate are usually turning points: the moment the problem is discovered, a character makes a key decision, or the problem is solved.
• Avoid choosing a vague or general part of the story — pick one clear moment you can picture in your mind.

What makes a strong story illustration?

• Accurate characters — the characters look the way the text describes them, not just how you imagine anyone.
• Accurate setting — the background should reflect where the scene takes place.
• Clear action — the viewer should be able to tell what is happening just by looking.
• Labels — short words with arrows pointing to characters, objects, or places in the drawing.
• Caption — one or two sentences below the illustration describing the scene in your own words.

Illustration vs. decoration

• A decoration is a pretty picture that could belong to any story.
• An illustration is a picture tied to specific details in the text — someone who has read the book would immediately recognize which scene it is.