1 THE STORY SO FAR …. THE USE OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE IN FACILITATING PRESCHOOLERS ’ AWARENESS OF, AND SENSITIVITIES TO SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

This paper will outline and discuss qualitative research into the above topic at the time of the ARECE 2007 conference. The PhD research project will be at the point of beginning to synthesise findings; hence the title “The story so far…” The aims of the research, guided by interpretative perspectives, hermeneutics and a constructive paradigm, are: To investigate ways in which children’s literature (picture books) can help preschoolers ’ to reflect upon, clarify and articulate their awareness of, and sensitivities to social justice issues; To explore whether preschoolers can critically examine children’s literature to identify social injustices; To identify transformative and productive ways of sharing the teaching/learning experience that work to enhance preschool children’s awareness and understanding of social justice issues through storytime sessions. The research design is Participatory Action Research. This paper will discuss the research process so far: the topic’s background and literature review, purposeful participant recruitment, methodology, data gathering and initial findings and how they may contribute to early childhood education as a whole and specifically to teaching for social justice. However, this research story is a work in progress as data gathering was only recently completed and synthesis and thorough analysis are now in progress. As the title suggests this research story is “To be continued …” Key Words: Social justice; children’s literature; early childhood education