Analysis of Picture Books Related to Sleep for Young Children

This study aims to examine how the characteristics of sleep, a crucial factor in the growth and development of young children, are portrayed in picture books. To achieve this, a content analysis was conducted on 24 domestic and international picture books in which sleep serves as a central theme. The analysis focused on the frequency and narrative content related to the characteristics of the main characters and the process leading to sleep. The results indicated the following. First, among the types of characters shown sleeping, animals were the most frequent, followed by young children, with boys more commonly represented than girls. Mothers were most frequently depicted as caregivers assisting with sleep. Second, regarding the pre-sleep process, bedtime routines most often included basic daily activities and the use of attachment objects. Resistance to sleep was more commonly portrayed than smooth transitions to sleep. In terms of sleep environments, the most common setting was the familiar home environment. These findings suggest that picture books can serve as effective tools for parents and educators to understand young children's sleep-related behaviors and emotional expressions. Furthermore, the results provide meaningful implications for the development of picture books related to sleep in early childhood education.