Abstract

The purpose of this study is to propose criteria for selecting picture books as various reading education materials for middle school students and to check whether it can be applied to book selection. First, identified the educational value of picture books as reading materials and the criteria for selecting picture books by academic field through previous studies. After integrating the commonalities of various picture book selection criteria presented in previous studies by categorizing them into illustrations, text, and other categories. And it devised selection criteria that can be applied after selecting middle school students as readers. Based on the unified picture book selection criteria, a survey was conducted to ask in-service librarians about the main criteria to consider when selecting picture books for middle school students, and intensive interviews were conducted with experts who have experience in picture book education. As a result, the picture book selection criteria from previous studies were revised and supplemented with two criteria related to text, four criteria related to pictures, and five other criteria, and presented as picture book selection criteria for middle school students. To verify the practicality of the picture book selection criteria, it checked the applicability of each category of criteria to picture books recommended by the Children’s Book Research Society (ages 13 and older). Out of 22 picture books for middle school students, 15 books could be applied to all categories of the selection criteria, showing significant practicality.