Analysing the Concepts of Hospital and Illness in Illustrated Children’s Books Prepared for Children Between the Ages of Three and Six

This study aimed to examine how the concepts of hospital and illness are represented in picture books prepared for children aged three to six years. The study group consisted of 29 picture children’s books that addressed the themes of hospital and illness and were selected through criterion-based purposive sampling. A qualitative document analysis design was employed. Data were collected using the “Illustrated Storybook Evaluation Scale” to assess formal and content-related characteristics, and the “Book Evaluation Form” to examine how hospital and illness concepts were presented. The data were analyzed using descriptive and categorical content analysis. The findings indicated that the overall form and content quality of the picture books was at a sufficient level. Regarding the representation of hospital and illness, elements such as examination rooms and their features, medical devices used during examination, developmentally appropriate information about disease type, causes, and symptoms, and opportunities for children to express their feelings about illness were commonly included. However, important components such as information about hospital exteriors, gardens, playrooms, operating rooms, pre- and post-surgical procedures, treatment processes, hospital staff, and children’s emotional experiences related to the hospital environment were largely absent. The results were discussed in light of existing literature, and recommendations were provided for the development of more developmentally supportive hospital-themed picture books.