Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize children’s perspectives on a picture book’s themes and characters by examining their drawings. The study was conducted over a five-month period in a public kindergarten in southern Taiwan, with six children aged 5-6 years. Picture book appreciation activities focused on eight picture books. Research data were collected via digital recordings of participants’ appreciation and art-making activities, interviews, and associate teachers’ feedback. A qualitative research method was used to process and analyze data. Study results indicate that with regard to theme, children could clearly identify and characterize a story’s theme but seldom offered in-depth interpretations. With regard to character, children could describe a picture book character’s outward appearance and inner feelings but could not present its inner feelings in their drawings. These and other findings from this study could aid early childhood educators in conducting picture book appreciation activities in the future.

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