Inclusivity in Children’s Literature: Examining Quality of Text, Accuracy of Representation of Children with Cancer in Picturebooks, and Children’s Response to Three Specific Texts.
Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Children’s picturebooks are considered to be accessible, multimodal texts effective for increasing knowledge, awareness, and an understanding of underrepresented populations, including children with disabilities. Reading picturebooks to children with disabilities has proven validating, comforting, and helpful in the development of a positive self-image. While content analyses examining the portrayal of characters with various disabilities have been conducted, none have looked solely at characters with cancer, and few have considered reader response. This study combines a qualitative content analysis of children’s picturebooks whose main characters have cancer with semi-structured interviews of five children in active cancer treatment. Overall, I analyzed twenty picturebooks written in North America from 2006 to 2017 for quality and accuracy of representation. Following this analysis, I read the top three-rated texts to five children with cancer in the grade four to six range. The findings indicate improvements in the overall quality of the books and the portrayal of the main characters as most books include multidimensionality, excellent illustrations, appropriate language, and relatable but predictable plot lines highlighting common treatments and stressors (e.g., hair loss). Weaknesses in the texts are also noted. Gender stereotyping; underdeveloped secondary characters and relationships; a lack of diversity; the inability to accurately portray the illness experience; and low entertainment value problematized the stories. While complementing the content analysis, children’s interview responses revealed additional information about the lived experiences of having cancer related to diagnosis impact; communication and comprehension; means of approaching cancer; and the desire for agency. Overall, this study highlights the usefulness of triangulating content analysis findings with reader response and the effectiveness of using children’s books as a medium for garnering information about children’s lived experiences. Furthermore, it stresses the value of books featuring main characters with cancer and, in turn, provides suggestions for individuals interested in selecting, using, or writing these types of texts.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Katie Leigh Doering
Language: English
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3116476313