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"I'm Just Looking at the Pictures and ... ": The Role of Illustrations in Books from the Perspective of Preschool Children.

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Title: "I'm Just Looking at the Pictures and ... ": The Role of Illustrations in Books from the Perspective of Preschool Children.
Authors: Jančík Petrová, Zuzana1,2 (AUTHOR) zpetrova@utb.cz, Vašíková, Jana1 (AUTHOR), Žáková, Iva1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Research in Childhood Education. 2026, Vol. 40 Issue 3, p492-507. 16p.
Subject Terms: *Reading comprehension, *Picture books, *Qualitative research, *Preschool children, *Engaged reading, Illustration (Art), Youth psychology
Abstract: This qualitative study explores perceptions of preschool children on the role of illustrations in books. Participants included 141 children (69 boys and 82 girls) age 5–6 years (average age: 5 years and 9 months). We used semi-structured interviews with children on their favorite book to stimulate conversation on how they conceive illustrations in the book and how they use them in book- and reading-related activities. The data collected from the interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analyses. Data analyses showed that from children's perspective, illustrations are important stimuli to become and stay interested in a book and that they play an important role in navigating the book and the text and in aiding their comprehension of the text. The potential of illustration to capture children's attention and to foster their enthusiasm to actively engage in reading books has been found to be essential from the perspective of children. In addition, active attention to illustrations can serve as a tool to increase children's independence from adults when reading books and engaging in book-related activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Research in Childhood Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: "I'm Just Looking at the Pictures and ... ": The Role of Illustrations in Books from the Perspective of Preschool Children.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jančík+Petrová%2C+Zuzana%22">Jančík Petrová, Zuzana</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> zpetrova@utb.cz</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vašíková%2C+Jana%22">Vašíková, Jana</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Žáková%2C+Iva%22">Žáková, Iva</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Research+in+Childhood+Education%22">Journal of Research in Childhood Education</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 40 Issue 3, p492-507. 16p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reading+comprehension%22">Reading comprehension</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Picture+books%22">Picture books</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+children%22">Preschool children</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Engaged+reading%22">Engaged reading</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Illustration+%28Art%29%22">Illustration (Art)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Youth+psychology%22">Youth psychology</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This qualitative study explores perceptions of preschool children on the role of illustrations in books. Participants included 141 children (69 boys and 82 girls) age 5–6 years (average age: 5 years and 9 months). We used semi-structured interviews with children on their favorite book to stimulate conversation on how they conceive illustrations in the book and how they use them in book- and reading-related activities. The data collected from the interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analyses. Data analyses showed that from children's perspective, illustrations are important stimuli to become and stay interested in a book and that they play an important role in navigating the book and the text and in aiding their comprehension of the text. The potential of illustration to capture children's attention and to foster their enthusiasm to actively engage in reading books has been found to be essential from the perspective of children. In addition, active attention to illustrations can serve as a tool to increase children's independence from adults when reading books and engaging in book-related activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Research in Childhood Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/02568543.2025.2461563
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 492
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      – SubjectFull: Reading comprehension
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Picture books
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Engaged reading
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Illustration (Art)
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      – SubjectFull: Youth psychology
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      – TitleFull: "I'm Just Looking at the Pictures and ... ": The Role of Illustrations in Books from the Perspective of Preschool Children.
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            NameFull: Jančík Petrová, Zuzana
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            NameFull: Vašíková, Jana
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            NameFull: Žáková, Iva
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            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: 2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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            – TitleFull: Journal of Research in Childhood Education
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