Do Picture Books About Starting Kindergarten Portray the Kindergarten Experience in Developmentally Appropriate Ways?

This study examines the illustrations and the texts of thirteen picture books for young children on the topic of preparing for and starting kindergarten to assess whether, and to what extent, they depict forty-nine criteria for developmentally appropriate kindergarten practice. Results show that the books vary in quality and coverage, but they are strongest at foregrounding developmentally appropriate learning contexts, depicting child-sized play areas, and accurately representing 5-year-old child development. There is a pressing need, however, for authors and illustrators to pay increasing attention to portraying positive child/teacher interactions, racial and ethnic diversity, family involvement, and quiet time and private spaces.