Barndom och kulturella artefakter: platsen som skapas runt bilderboken.

The purpose of this study is to examine the position and importance of the picture book as a facilitator for 'places for children' and 'children's places' at Swedish daycare centres.

The study shows that the picture book can support children in transforming the 'places for children' to 'children's places' because the pictures in picture books are cultural artefacts that stimulate the imagination and creativity of children and thus support their own culture creation.  The author found that children use the picture book in an active and complex manner in the ongoing interpretation and negotiation process. The children not only want to listen to the story, they want to ‘read’ the pictures themselves to create their own ideas about the story. Through interaction, children generate three-dimensional spaces on the basis of two-dimensional pictures. The pictures in the picture book describe an environment that the children adopt and develop. The challenge and pleasure of creating a place seems very important to the children - perhaps more important than the final product. The picture book constitutes a common space that can be used to exclude others. Child and youth educators might disturb the children's fictional places when the picture book is introduced as a common place for all. There may also be more spaces at the same time around a picture book - such as spectators and shoppers. The book can also help create a peaceful space characterised by bodily well-being, recreation and protection.

An ethnographic study including observation over 13 weeks resulting in 35 hours of video footage. The study involves 53 children aged three to five (25 girls and 28 boys).

Simonsson, M. (2007). Barndom och kulturella artefakter: platsen som skapas runt bilderboken. I: Halldén, G. (red). Den moderna barndomen och barns vardagsliv (S. 119-139). Stockholm: Carlsson Bokförlag.