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Reading on trains. Women of a certain age, white haired women who read.
#invisible

This book is a great tool for morning meeting to show students how even small acts like including others can make a world of difference for some students.

This book masterfully uses color to show Brian‘s feeling of invisibility in the classroom. On the first page, Brian is drawn in black and white, the only non-colorful figure on the watercolor filled page. As Brian begins to make a new friend in new student Justin, he slowly starts to fill with color, ending the book just as colorful as the rest of the characters. This tells the reader that Brian no longer feels invisible.

“'By the way that's a really cool drawing,' he adds before taking off.“

This book could be used in a classroom very easily. The story follows the story of a student who does not feel seen. This could be used in a lesson that focuses on how all students are their own people with their own interests and that we should all be included even if we don't all have the same interests. There's also a bit about culture, where we see Brian be accepting of Justin's bulgogi and that can teach about other cultures.

The illustrator makes use of black and white extremely well in this story. The main character, Brian, feels invisible and the illustrator uses value to show the difference that Brian feels while in the classroom. The illustrator continues to use value as a new student is brought in that starts to help Brain feel more seen. Justin includes him on group projects and during lunch and we see the use color to show Brian beginning to feel seen.

“Can you see Brian, the invisible boy?“

I would use The Invisible Boy in my classroom for students to see how important color can be used to show characters emotions. I would also use this story as a lesson for when students may not feel like they get enough attention in the classroom by a teacher or by their peers.

The Invisible Boy is a children's picture book written by Trudy Ludwig and illustrated by Patrice Barton in 2013. This picture book uses color in a way to portray characters and emotions. The illustrator uses bright colors to depict the students in Brians classroom. The illustrator uses very dull colors for Brian who feels invisible. A student who reads this story may see immediately how Brian feels just by looking at the pictures.