This qualitative case study investigated how two White female preschool teachers, who were familiar with anti-bias pedagogy, discussed gender non-conformity using a book in their classrooms. The book discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed. Teachers challenged some of the children's gender stereotypes about gender non-conformity; however,…

Eighty-six 4- and 5-year-old children were assigned to one of four conditions, three experimental conditions, in which children read a story about a famous scientist, and one baseline condition. In the "Achievement" condition: the scientist was described as receiving awards and recognition through their lifetime, with no discussion of…

This article describes how young children and their families and community members came together with researchers to co-create books in children's languages about their worlds in Fiji, to foster children's multilingual literacies. The co-creation of these books in children's and families' Fijian homes and community settings connected with their…

Children's early knowledge and skills set the stage for later reading development. The present studies examined children's conceptual knowledge of reading prior to formal literacy instruction. Young children's knowledge about who is able to read books and what readers are reading when they read books has been studied primarily through interviews.…

Background: In many educational systems internationally, promoting reading for pleasure (RfP) is embedded within curricula and practice. Primary school teachers regularly and routinely engage in activities designed to encourage and sustain children's reading enjoyment. However, what are children's perspectives and experiences of these different…

Liminality, both etymologically and practically, is generally meant to be navigated through, not permanently occupied. The Disney "Descendants" series, marketed for ages seven to twelve, is an example of children's literature that engages with liminality as not only a lasting choice but also one of joy and reconciliation. The books…

Research has shown that book ownership has a significant impact on life outcomes. In 2019, we found that that children who reported that they had a book of their own were not only more engaged with reading but also six times more likely to read above the level expected for their age than children who did not own a book (22% vs. 3.6%). We included…

This study was designed to assess parental beliefs, motivations, and facilitative co-use of print and digital media with preschoolers and identify differences between parents' and children's perceptions of these media. We surveyed 43 parents and interviewed their 3- to 5-year-old children. Parents reported their child enjoyed print more than…

This article addresses the ways young children in culturally and linguistically diverse settings were involved in the meaningful development of identity texts in the form of personalized books. In the study, Canadian and Tanzanian children aged 4 to 6 shared their favorite learning experiences and spaces at school through their use of multiple…

Although there is a growing body of literature which focuses on museums' role in supporting children's literacy, there is also a need for studies to show ways in which museums can support refugee families' literacy practices. In light of this gap, this qualitative study explores the role of a children's museum in the literacy practices of a recent…