The Portrayal of the Family Unit In Children’s Choice Award Books

It is essential that children see themselves and their families in the literature they read (Bracken, Wigutoff & Baker, 1981; Powell, Gillespie, Swearingen & Clements, 1993). Many researchers believe children can also benefit from literature that includes diverse families unlike their own (Allen, Allen & Sigler, 1993; Lowery & Sabis-Burns, 2007). Understanding how children prefer families to be portrayed in the books they read can help guide teachers’ and librarians’ books selections. Therefore, the question addressed in this study was: Based on the illustrations and the text, how are human families portrayed in the International Reading Association’s and Children’s Book Council’s Children’s Choices Books from 2007 to 2012? The research design used for the examination was a mixed method content analysis of 14 picture books including human character family units that won the Children’s Choices Award in the categories of Early Reader and Young Reader. The investigation analyzed familial relationships, role of family in plot, family unit, and cultural/racial representation. The study found that the Children’s Choices books did not display all types of families and the prevalence of diverse family units found in real American homes was not represented in the Children's Choice Award Books. The investigation showed children were more willing to read books in which human families are merely mentioned with the plot centered on another topic. While teachers and librarians may consider the Children’s Choices books as quality literature to motivate students, they need to be aware of the portrayal of human families in the Children’s Choices Award-winning books.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Education (MEd)

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Reading

Grantor dc:publisher

Bowling Green State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Randolph, Amanda

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hendricks, Cindy

• Early Childhood Education
• Education
• Reading Instruction
• families
• content analysis
• children's choice award-winning books
• family unit
• diverse families
• cultural/racial representation
• International Reading Association

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1363622755

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:bgsu1363622755