ERIC Number: EJ1114961
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Nov
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
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Available Date: N/A
Exploring Representations of Characters with Disabilities in Library Books
Price, Charis Lauren; Ostrosky, Michaelene M.; Mouzourou, Chryso
Early Childhood Education Journal, v44 n6 p563-572 Nov 2016
Early literacy experiences are critical for young children's development. More specifically, quality literacy experiences are beneficial to children's understanding of their world. Ensuring that early childhood literature appropriately reflects the diversity of children's life experiences can support their sense of belonging within an early childhood environment. Considering that the number of children with diverse abilities who attend general education classrooms is increasing, it is imperative that these classrooms provide welcoming and supportive environments for all children. One way to support inclusive environments for children with disabilities is to ensure that classroom books include characters with and without disabilities. As many early childhood teachers and family members regularly use community libraries to find books to read to young children, exploring how characters with disabilities are represented in library books is important. Results of a study focusing on children's library books revealed that characters with diverse abilities were represented in ways that promote their inclusion, however some books displayed poor insight into the individual lives of characters with varying abilities. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Descriptors: Emergent Literacy, Literacy Education, Young Children, Disabilities, Early Childhood Education, Libraries, Inclusion, Childrens Literature, Reading Material Selection
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
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Language: English
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