CHILDREN’S BOOKS AS A TOOL FOR TRANSMITTING GENDER ROLES

Introduction and Purpose: In early childhood, environmental stimuli, family, peers and friends are effective in the child’s development. The quality of the materials presented to the child is important in achieving the determined goal. Each material should be examined from many aspects, especially in terms of the messages it gives to the child. In early childhood education institutions, children often engage with and study printed materials. Hence educators must be careful and selective about the quality of the materials to be selected. Educational environments and the social messages presented to children in these environments are gaining importance. In this respect, the information given in the illustrated children’s books that children encounter in early childhood institutions, the messages and themes covered are very important. The child, who is exposed to picture books appropriate to his age, development and interest in the early period, develops language, mental and emotions. Moreover, social development is also positively affected. Materials and Method: This study aims to reveal how gender roles are reflected in children’s books, Max Kocht Spaghetti and Max Raumt Auf by Christian Tielmann translated into Turkish as Çağlar Makarna Pişiriyor and Çağlar Odasını Düzenliyor, Jill and the Dragon by Lesley Barnes translated as Jill ve Ejderha, The Man Cries by Jonty Howley translated as Erkek Adam Ağlar and Turkish book Kendi Yolumu Çiziyorum (I'm Charting My Own Way) by Hatiye Garip. For this purpose, the research is designed with a case study, one of the qualitative research designs. The data obtained is collected by the document review method. The data obtained from the document review is analyzed and interpreted through content analysis. Results: According to the findings, the responsibilities given to men and women and the personal characteristics have taken them out of the ongoing gender perception. Discussion and Conclusion: Considering the characters, it is seen that there are no stereotypical gender roles, responsibilities are shared by male and female characters equally. Moreover, male characters are reflected as being emotional and weak, and the female character is the one who is strong. When the gender reflection of the pictures in the books is examined, it is concluded that the personal characteristics and responsibilities associated with gender are not supported by traditional gender roles. Keywords: Çağlar Makarna Pişiriyor (Max Kocht Spaghetti), Çağlar Odasını Düzenliyor (Max Raumt Auf), Jill ve Ejderha (Jill and the Dragon), Erkek Adam Ağlar (The Man Cries), Kendi Yolumu Çiziyorum, stereotypical gender roles.