En bild av döden : En innehållsanalys av hur barns sorg speglas i biderböcker

Sammanfattning: How is death presented in picture books? Does it matter how the characters in picture books react to grief and death? This study analyses four picture books with the intention of establishing which norms and core values are consistently reflected. The aim is to determine whether the reactions of characters to grief and death in illustrated literature are consistent with previous research findings in this field about Children’s reactions to sorrow and death. Illustrated literature is a fundamental feature of early year’s development at preschool. It plays a critical role in assisting children with visualization of “normal” reactions and emotions triggered by everyday life. Carefully selected illustrated literature can therefore be used to explain difficult situations such as death and grief processing. Children are able to identify with the characters presented and take guidance and influence from the illustrated reactions presented to Grief. The theoretical basis of the essay is John Bowlbys attachment theory on Children’s reactions to the loss of a connected person and its inherent normcritical perspective on gender. The method used is a targeted qualitative content analysis based on pre-defined themes and categories. The results show that the Children’s reactions to sorrow and death are indeed consistent with those recorded and presented previously when examining common reactions in children to mourning. The study also shows a deviation in the literature in question from social stereotypes on male and female behavior. Breaking these norms may mean that the behaviors presented in the books will eventually be normalized by the children.