Exploring Children's Voices on Picture Books Through the Lens of Joy

ABSTRACT This study aims to understand how young children interpret picture books, highlighting their authentic voices through Gholdy Muhammad's Unearthing Joy framework (2023). Using teacher–child discussions ( n = 41) and children's drawings ( n = 40), we explore how children aged 36–74 months construct identity, build skills, engage intellectually, think critically, and experience joy through picture books. Our findings show that children can connect stories to their experiences, such as distinguishing real fears from fictional safety, and creatively reimagining stories supported by children's drawings. By centering children's perspectives, we highlight their agency in shaping literary experiences and offer insights for educators to enhance early learning through joy‐centered literacy practices.