Talking with Children about Cancer: A Content Analysis of Text in Children’s Picture Books

Introduction: To tell children that they are diagnosed with cancer is challenging for any healthcare professional and family. Pictures books are one of the communication tools for talking with children about severe diseases. However, little research is available about the contents of picture books about cancer for children. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the contents of children’s picture books about cancer and explore the advantages and disadvantages of using picture books to communicate with children about cancer. Methods: We searched the picture books about cancer written for children aged under ten years old on the Amazon.com Web site on 5 July 2019 and hand-searched on the cancer-related institutes’ Web site. We extracted the texts of relevant picture books and conducted a content analysis of them. Results: We identified 2555 picture books and included 30 of them. We identified three main contents, 1) cancer-related knowledge, 2) impacts of cancer, and 3) dealing with cancer. These contents were written with simple words and illustrations. Some of them included the essential contents, which might be misunderstood by children. Conclusions: Picture books might be helpful for children to understand about cancer. However, as these books do not include all contents, it is necessary to select and use multiple books depending on the content which is wanted to tell the child. Further research should evaluate the impacts of these books as a communication tool when talking with children diagnosed with cancer.

A Study on the Values and Strategies of English Picture Book Reading for Improving Pupils’ English Reading Literacy

Reading is one of the core skills in English learning.It is indispensable for EFL learners to develop good English reading literacy in primary schools.English picture books are consistent with pupils’cognitive and thinking modes,which is valuable to improve their English reading literacy.However,at present,most Chinese pupils have some problems in English reading.The paper aims at analyzing the current problems in Chinese pupils’English reading and digging out the values and strategies of English picture book reading,so as to stimulate their reading interests,cultivate their intercultural awareness,and improve their English reading literacy.

The Impacts of Co-creation of Local Culture English Books on EFL 5th Graders＇ English Vocabulary Ability and Local Cultural Knowledge

The purpose of this study aims to explore the impacts of task-based co-creation of local picture books on facilitating the development of vocabulary ability and cultural knowledge ofEFL 5th graders with different English proficiency levels in Taiwan. Twenty-one 5th graders participated in this study forty minutes per week, lasting for sixteen weeks. They were required to co-create English picture books of Pinghu through thematic task-based activities. Research data required for the study were collected through the pre-/post-tests of vocabulary and cultural knowledge, a participants＇ feedback questionnaire as well as semi-structured interviews. The results of this study showed that after experimental instruction, EFL 5th graders significantly improved their recognition of the connection between English word sounds and word meanings, word meanings and word forms, word forms and word meanings, as well as spellings. Moreover, their local cultural knowledge was improved significantly as well. Furthermore, based upon the 5th graders＇ responses to questionnaire and semi-structure interview, most of them developed a very positive attitude towards the activities of co-creating local picture books and their interest, self-confidence in English writing, and English learning behavior. Based on the findings, some suggestions were offered for the pedagogical applications and future studies.

A Content Analysis of Multicultural Children＇s Books in the Republic of Korea and America

Picture books are a staple in the kindergarten classroom for teaching content, social expectations, and the joy of reading. The purpose of this study is to explore the representation and depiction of multicultural families in children＇s picture books within kindergarten classroom libraries. Children＇s pictures books are a microcosm of today＇s society. They convey cultural messages and values about society, and help children learn about their heritage and the heritage of others. Children＇s literature is increasingly more reflective of diverse cultures. Children need to see themselves reflected in literature in order to see the lives of others, and in order to see themselves as able to transverse between groups and worlds. America （U.S.） has been and will always be a diverse nation. Likewise, the Republic of Korea （ROK） is quickly becoming a multicultural society as well, and the influx of multicultural families is growing exponentially. Books depicting this growing diversity can dispose of stereotypes that children may have about races other than their own. Children＇s literature is still not authentically portraying a multiethnic Korea. The results of this study show that children who interact with current picture books predominantly see Korean faces. Finding books depicting non-Korean characters, particularly books depicting culturally specific elements, is rare, although there are books depicting culturally neutral and generic characters However, although our classrooms are culturally and ethnically diverse, the books predominantly found in classrooms portray only one race. What does that tell our students？ Seeing diverse populations in children＇s literature needs to become the norm, not the exception.

Children’s Picture Book is a Powerful Method of Cultural Communication of Zhuang Folk Tales

Through the investigation of children’s picture book market,the understanding of the development of picture book design in Chinese and Western countries,the research on the picture book status of Guangxi’s“Zhuang Folk Story”and the combing and induction of relevant theories,the reasons for the blank phenomenon in the research of Guangxi Zhuang Folk Story Picture Book are understood.Through the research and analysis of the present situation,it is necessary to solve the problems such as unclear national characteristics of picture images in picture books,insufficient literariness and interest of picture books to attract readers,and lagging development of related cultural communication and cultural industry.

Modelling Design of Color Graphics Books Using Visual Vocabulary Based on Children’s Color Language Preferences

Color language has important meaning for children’s picture books.Understanding children’s preferences in terms of color language will be helpful when designers model computerized picture books in order to adapt to children’s visual senses and effectively stimulate children’s interest in reading.In this study,we aimed to further explore the general characteristics of children’s preference for colors,color depth and color matching forms in picture books.For the study,256 children between the ages of three and six were selected and divided into four groups.According to the implementation needs of the children’s color preference test,these childrenwere asked to complete a series of tasks so that their choices in the tasks could subsequently be analyzed.The tasks included making the following choices:selecting their preferred colors from nine options(red,orange,yellow,green,cyan,blue,purple,black and white);selecting their preferred color brightness fromthree different color shades;and indicating their preferences in relation to complementary colors,matching colors and pure colors.The experimental results showed that children aged between three and six mainly favor red,blue and yellow,and colors with a high degree of brightness.As children grow older,boys tend to prefer blue,and girls tend to prefer pink,with red remaining the favorite color of both genders.As for complementary colors,matching colors and solid colors,three-to six-year-old children prefer solid colors.In conclusion,it seems that color language preferences in children between the ages of three and six are very similar,which could be of use when designing children’s picture books to match their visual vocabulary and psychological cognition.

On the Modern English Picture Book in the Teaching of English Reading in Lower Grades of Elementary School

Nowadays, more and more educators have affirmed that picture book plays an important significance in the development of children and thought that reading picture book is indispensable to the education of lower grades of elementary school.However, the teaching of reading in English, most teachers have not realized the satisfactory teaching effect, it is necessary to analyze the theoretical basis of English picture book and its application in the teaching of English reading in lower grades of elementary school and dig its value.

Stratified Teaching Method of English Picture Book Reading in Primary Schools

With the advancement of the new curriculum reform,many schools have put forward the idea of combing English reading with stratified teaching.Enhancing the effectiveness of reading English picture books is an important goal that most English teachers uphold when reforming the teaching of English reading.In order to achieve this goal,it is necessary to improve the teaching methods of reading.Reading picture books is an important way to improve students5 core competencies in English.However,at present,the method of teaching reading in primary school is simple;in addition,the teaching activities are not well organized.Therefore,in order to improve students5 core competencies in English,this article points out several issues in the teaching of English picture book reading and provides some pedagogical implications for the teaching in this aspect based on the stratified teaching method and classroom observation by including Class 1,Grade 2 students from a primary school in Leshan as the research subjects.

Research on Teaching Method of Children’s Image Cognition Based on AR Technology

In this paper,the research on the teaching method of children’s image cognition based on AR technology is carried out.By analyzing the principle ofARtechnology to recognize images,we understand thatARtechnology can promote children’s image cognition,and this teaching method is in line with the Tower of Experience theory.It further analyzes the current situation of children’s image cognition teaching with simple teaching methods,backward AR teaching tools,and poor perception of teaching objects.Teachers’traditional image teaching methods cannot effectively and efficiently improve children’s image cognition.Therefore,based on AR technology,two commonly used image cognition teaching methods are proposed:AR interactive picture book education andARinteractive game education.Both of these educational methods can improve children’s ability to recognize images.

The Effects of Shared Singing Picture Book Instruction on Chinese Immersion Kindergarteners’Spoken Vocabulary Recall and Retention

The present study investigates the effects of shared singing of a picture book on the Chinese vocabulary recall and retention of young bilingual learners in Chinese immersion programs using an experimental study design.One hundred and six immersion kindergarteners from three different school districts in the U.S.Midwest were assigned to the experimental group(n=53)and the control group(n=53)at the class level.The experimental group listened to a song-based storybook(also known as a story song)and shared in singing it,while the control group heard the same story,read aloud and shared in reading it.The pre-test was administered to determine the participants’vocabulary level before the study.Immediate and delayed post-tests were used to assess their immediate recall and delayed retention of vocabulary targeted in the shared reading/singing.Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA analysis were employed to examine differences between the two groups in vocabulary recall and retention.The results showed that the experimental group achieved greater improvement in their vocabulary than the control group.This finding suggests that shared singing can be a useful pedagogical tool for spoken vocabulary acquisition and retention in picture books.

A Systemic Functional Semiotic Investigation of Illustrations in Chinese Poem Books:An Ontogenetic Perspective

While images have been sufficiently investigated from the systemic functional semiotic approach in various multimodal text types,illustrations in poem books have received relatively little attention.This paper analyzed 2233 images in 15 poem picture-books(IPBs)targeted at different age groups,and classified as pre-school,school and adult groups.Statistics herein show that visual meanings in different groups manifest significantly different patterns in terms of ideational,interpersonal and compositional functions.The distributions are clearly motivated by different pedagogical functions,moving from basic cognitive development,to literacy cultivation and affiliation,and finally to enculturation of aesthetics and social values.The study therefore informs IPB practitioners how to match the visual design of illustrations with the pedagogical needs of readers of different ages.