Cancer in Children's Picturebooks: Examining Quality of Text, Accuracy of Representation, and Reader Response

Autor/in	Doering, Katie L.
Titel	Cancer in Children's Picturebooks: Examining Quality of Text, Accuracy of Representation, and Reader Response
Quelle	In: Journal of Children's Literature, 47 (2021) 1, S.97-110 (14 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1521-7779
Schlagwörter	Cancer; Picture Books; Childrens Literature; Accuracy; Reader Response; Content Analysis; Evaluation Methods; Reading Material Selection; Literary Devices + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Carcinoma; Karzinom; Krebs (med); Krebserkrankung; Picture book; Bilderbuch; 'Children''s literature'; Kinderliteratur; Leserbrief; Inhaltsanalyse; Literaturarbeit
Abstract	Recently, an awareness of the value of representation has demanded an expanded canon of texts that includes those concerning children with illnesses. Research shows that reading such texts to children with illnesses or disabilities has proven validating, comforting, and helpful in the development of a positive self-image (Goddard, 2011). This qualitative research study, combining content analysis and semistructured interviews, is the first to look exclusively at characters with cancer in children's picturebooks. In terms of book quality, many of the picturebooks in this study met most established criteria in the guiding framework related to character. Typical plots involve hair loss, have happy endings and provide nonfictional information, for example, describing treatments in child-friendly, multimodal ways. The children interviewed supported these trends, emphasizing the impact of hair loss, their appreciation of an overall positive tone, and their benefitting from information on their illnesses. Interviews with children with cancer underlined and enhanced content analysis findings. The inclusion of children's voices provided the participants with an opportunity to demonstrate the agency they desired in picturebooks. They enjoyed the opportunity to connect with characters sharing the participants' experiences and saw value in others reading these texts. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	Children's Literature Assembly. e-mail: info@childrensliteratureassembly.org; Web site: https://www.childrensliteratureassembly.org/journal.html
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01