This study intended to examine the differences through comparative analysis of the illustrations and contents in the 3rd-6th grade elementary science textbooks of Korea and Finland. The analysis of the types and illustrations in the Korean and Finnish textbooks revealed that the textbooks of both counties provide many photographs and illustrations, so as to deliver data mainly in the form of realistic illustration. In Korean textbooks, photographs were mainly used to guide the students into experiments and to train the students in analyzing and interpreting data. In contrast, the Finnish textbooks place more emphasis on pictures and photographs to enhance their interests and curiosity and understand. The Korean textbooks should place more emphasis on the pictures in order to encourage elementary school students to interest and understand. As a result the addition of more diverse forms of illustrations and the re-organization of illustrations according to the topic should be considered in future Korean textbooks.