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Connecting the Dots: Exploring Themes in Adoption Picturebooks.

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Title: Connecting the Dots: Exploring Themes in Adoption Picturebooks.
Authors: Mattix, April1 amattix@gmail.com, Crawford, Patricia1 pcrawfor@pitt.edu
Source: Early Childhood Education Journal. Dec2011, Vol. 39 Issue 5, p313-321. 9p. 1 Chart.
Subject Terms: *Education of adopted children, *Adoption, *Picture books for children & education, *Children's literature, Social aspects, Identity (Psychology) in children, Adoption in literature, Story plots
Abstract: Approximately 1.4 million school-aged children entered their families through adoption. As such, adoption represents a real and complex social issue with which young children-adopted or not-can grapple. Adoption picturebooks provide a medium by which children can explore this complicated concept. This manuscript analyzes a standard library collection of adoption picturebooks to explore the salient themes that arise throughout this body of children's literature. Four major, yet overlapping themes emerged: the adopted child as 'precious', the search for identity, the pursuit of adoption, and the need to establish a sense of belonging. This study shows that the themes located within this subset of children's literature are broad, fluid and often intricately woven together; a complexity that is mirrored through the same qualities in life. Through adoption picturebooks, children are provided with a terrain in which to explore the conceptual components that frame their identities and are presented with a space to examine the realities of adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Education Research Complete
Description
Abstract:Approximately 1.4 million school-aged children entered their families through adoption. As such, adoption represents a real and complex social issue with which young children-adopted or not-can grapple. Adoption picturebooks provide a medium by which children can explore this complicated concept. This manuscript analyzes a standard library collection of adoption picturebooks to explore the salient themes that arise throughout this body of children's literature. Four major, yet overlapping themes emerged: the adopted child as 'precious', the search for identity, the pursuit of adoption, and the need to establish a sense of belonging. This study shows that the themes located within this subset of children's literature are broad, fluid and often intricately woven together; a complexity that is mirrored through the same qualities in life. Through adoption picturebooks, children are provided with a terrain in which to explore the conceptual components that frame their identities and are presented with a space to examine the realities of adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:10823301
DOI:10.1007/s10643-011-0475-8