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Children with autism and picture books: extending the reading experiences of autistic learners of primary age
Author(s) -
Tabernero Rosa,
Calvo Virginia
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
literacy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1741-4369
pISSN - 1741-4350
DOI - 10.1111/lit.12182
Subject(s) - autism , psychology , reading (process) , meaning (existential) , developmental psychology , picture books , nonverbal communication , cognitive psychology , linguistics , visual arts , psychotherapist , art , philosophy
Autistic learners master visual and spatial abilities; they use visual language to organise, understand and give meaning to the world. Although they might struggle with verbal skills, they have an associative way of thinking. Taking into consideration the characteristics of seven autistic pupils, the aim of this paper was to identify the potential of picture books in relation to autistic readers in order to explain why picture books can be supportive tools for improving verbal and social communication skills. The findings, based on a qualitative case study and a reader response framework, show that picture books help children with autism develop social and communication skills as well as foster imagination. Their written outcomes clearly showed children's need to tell stories.