Introduction
The publisher of Angel Child, Dragon Child needs your help. Many teachers have been asking for posters about Vietnam to help their students learn about this country. The original illustrator is busy working on another project. Since you're an illustrator who's very familiar with the story, you've been selected. Congratulations!

The Task
You will be working with a partner who is also an illustrator. You will need to learn more about Vietnam so you'll be doing research. The two of you will then create a poster with information about some of the physical characteristics and culture of Vietnam. When you finish each of you will write a letter to the publisher to explain what you've included on your poster and why you've included it. Finally, you will present your project to the publisher to be approved for printing.

Resources

• Any book in our classroom library - especially Postcards from Vietnam
• Any video in our classroom library - including Journey to Planet Earth - Rivers of Destiny from PBS and Full Circle - Vietnam, with Michael Palin
• Golden Book Encyclopedia - CD-ROM
• The following websites:

A Picture Book of Vietnam http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/vietnam/book.htm

Facts about School in Vietnam http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/vietnam/know.htm

A Quiz About Vietnam http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/vietnam/quiz/quiz.htm

Photographs of Vietnam http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/vietnam/photosites.htm

The Process
Here are the steps you will follow:

1. First, you will pick a partner. Your teacher may need to help so that everyone has someone to work with. (A group of three may be necessary.)
2. You and your partner will be responsible for keeping a folder were you will save all notes, activity sheets and sketches that you work on.
3. You will listen to your teacher read the book Postcards from Vietnam. The class will watch the videos together.
4. You will discuss as a class the "areas" of interest that would be important to somehow represent on your poster. Your teacher will record these ideas on a large chart for you to refer to.
5. You and your partner will discuss and then decide on four areas from the chart to do more research on. These areas should be something that you think other children would be interested in. You will each label a graphic organizer with these areas.
6. You may use any of the resources listed. As you are reading or looking at pictures and photographs, you should record information on your organizer and make sketches.
7. When you think you've collected enough information, you should review it in a conference with your teacher to check for accuracy.
8. You will then begin working on a rough copy of your poster. You may organize it in any way you choose - as a mural or divided into sections. You must include the name of the country in big, bold lettering and illustrations of your 4 topics. You may include labels, words, sentences, and word balloons.
9. When you and your partner have discussed, revised, and edited your rough copy you should conference with your teacher for final approval. You may then begin working on your actual poster.
10. When the poster is finished, each of you will write a letter to the publisher. You need to tell him/her that you are ready to present your poster. You should also tell about the four areas you picked to illustrate and why you think children would be interested in learning about them.
11. Finally, you will present (share and explain) your poster to the staff of the publishing company (your class).

Evaluation
Use your checklist before your final conference with your teacher. The publisher (your teacher) will use a rubric to evaluate your poster, letter and presentation.

Conclusion
Wow! You should feel great! You've just completed your first big job as an illustrator. Your poster will be part of a display at the publishing company. You and your partner have been invited to a reception where many people will be viewing all the posters that were created. You may be asked questions about your work. You may also be able to meet the other illustrators and ask them questions about their posters. The two of you may want to continue reading to be prepared for this. Check out this site if you're interested.

Teacher Note:  Areas of Interest