Home in Asian American Children’s Picture Books

• In Event: Sunday Roundtable Session 3:05 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Cultural Perspectives in Child Development (Table 3)

Abstract

Home is a fundamental concept for our lives, and the concept of home also permeates children’s literature. This study examines how home is addressed in Asian American children’s picture books published between 2010 and 2022, highlighting how home is associated with mobility in these books. The data show that the picture books tend to reflect the normalized notion of home as static and fixed location/site. While some books include elements of transnational mobility, most books signify a mix of home as origin and destination. The data also reveal that the notion of homes as feeling or emotion is deeply associated with family members, cultural experiences, and cultural objects. This study provides implications for teachers, authors/illustrators, and future research.

Authors

• Jinhee Kim, Kennesaw State University

• Tai Lew, Fulton County Schools