Picture Book Analysis: Literary and Language of 'Too Much Garbage'

This report provides a comprehensive literary and language analysis of the picture book "Too Much Garbage" by Fulvio Testa. It employs the functional model to explore the interplay of images and texts, examining the book's environmental theme and its effectiveness in engaging young learners. The analysis delves into literary elements, including text types, context, and reader responses, and explores the use of visual and functional grammar. The report critiques the book's potential gender insensitivity and monotonous use of imagery while highlighting its strengths in evoking mood and vocabulary through colorful illustrations and relatable characters. The study also discusses the book's fiction genre, its interactive features, and the correlation between the visual elements and the external environment. Ultimately, the analysis emphasizes the book's role in delivering complex messages, such as climate change, to children through the use of image-texts and its potential for use in classroom practices, capitalizing on audiovisual learning activities.

Literary and
Language Analysis of
Picture Book
“ Too Much Garbage”
By Fluvio Testa

Introduction
 The functional model used in this language analysis is effective in supporting
language systems for different situations (Derewianka & Jones, 2012) . It
facilitates for greater communication based on the ability of the learners at
the lower level of learning. The colored picture book makes use of this by
creating an interaction between images and texts. The brilliantly colored
picture book breaks down elements of language theory for in depth meaning
behind the interconnections.
 The conceptual framework featuring an environmental theme demonstrated
in the pictures is essential for engaging the children as learners and it
supports reading and exploration. Thinking through color is essential for
learning because it enables the student to develop:
 themes
 moods and
 emotional connection
Young learners respond through colour, picture symbols and images

Literacy Language Analysis
Too Much Garbage is a powerful modern picture book designed with a
social purpose of informing children about protecting the environment.
Literacy analysis looks at the effectiveness of the book as a piece of
literature for its learners ( McDonald, 2013, p. 12).
 Analyzing literacy involves interpretation of texts using its functional
elements. Therefore, it comprises of:
1. Literary text type
2. Context text
3. Responding to text
4. Examining text
Literature designed for primary level of learning have a narrative
approach to learning. It involves fair tales, paintings, epic stories and
fables among others.

Literary Text
 Literary text is anything readable (Widdowson, 2008). . It includes
signs, words, phrases and images among others. It captures
descriptive and instructional texts.
 Fulvio uses texts to support colorful descriptions as shown below. The
front page is a summary of what to expect in the book ( junk from the
house placed in plastic bags and thrown into the environment).

Literary Text Examples
 Image showing children looking
at the environmental
destruction in the gutter
 Image of children in a filthy
playground suffocating with
garbage.

Literary Text and Personal
Repertoire
 The book uses an environmental theme involving a personal
repertoire of two children ( Billy and Tony) taking a walk, playing
together and doing things that young children do. These friends take
the reader on a journey around their world showing social challenges
that they face.
 A repertoire elaborates the theme for the readers allowing them to
capture the essence of the story. This is critical for young learners
who learn by repetition ( McDonald, 2013).
 Repertoire is also evident in the reorganization of the position of the
two friends with Bill taking most of the conversations.

Context Text
 Pictures give a summary of the real meaning. The link between the
text and discourse comes to life in a picture book depending on the
context(Song, 2010). Pictures have an impact and sometimes the
meaning overlaps.
 The image below shows an example of overlapping meaning in
Fulvio’s picture book. It shows the social and cultural themes of
environmental degradation and human beings cohabiting with nature
( the cat walks beside the two boys)

Critique of the Context
 Critiques of the picture book may argue that it has a gender insensitive
focus because the two boys feature as characters yet there are male and
female learners. images through out the book show case Billy and Tony as
main characters.
 Others may criticize the use of plastic bags to highlight this theme as

Responding to the Text
 When students engage with a book, they respond in different ways.
The use of pictures to communicate calls for effective approaches to
support effective interpretation. This picture book brings out the
meaning in conversation as shown in the image below highlighting
the conversation between the two characters in the book.

Critique of Reading Text
 Although the author uses texts in some plain images, it would be
better to have a caption on some images to create more sense. For
example, the image below could have more meaning with words
attached to it.

Literary elements
 The book uses setting to illustrate change from one scene to another. as the events
unfold, the setting show cases places in the city, the playground and gutter or
garbage heap. These are all areas filled with rubbish.
 Plot shapes the structure of the book to communicate events in the book. These lead
to a resolution about the surrounding environment being unhealthy from every angle.
 The theme and symbol indicate a constrained coexistence between animals, humans
and plants. It shows nature suffocating while garbage fills up the e struggle
environment.
 Style is used effectively as the author brings a variety of images in the layout. Interior
and exterior, in the city and in playground
 Evoking mood and vocabulary is evident with the attempt to use images and
conversations
 Characteristics in the picture book comprise of imagination of colorful illustrations and
characters like Billy which readers can easily identify.

Examining the Text
 Leaners examine texts for characters, style, structure and
components of a text(Bernstein, 1990). . This picture book develops
themes and groups through genre specific tasks. Learners at beginner
levels develop their mental processes through repetition and
instructions.
 Children and adults connect to texts through themes and symbols.
Teachers break down complex topics using simple messages designed
for the older generation.
 Images are effective in adding knowledge, teaching and giving
insights ( Callow, 2006).