Typographic Decision-Making: Children\u27s Book Design

Most children\u27s first encounter with words and the act of reading is in the form of having a children\u27s book read to them. Whether it is a cardboard book with only a sprinkling of words, an illustrated storybook with more narrative, or an independent reader with a few images and a larger concentration of words, children\u27s books are essential to developing a child\u27s reading ability and to fostering an enthusiasm for reading. Despite the importance of these books, their typographic design is often neglected. Little attention is paid to the integration of text and image, and typographic variables are often overused. Both of these mistakes can obscure comprehension of the story. This thesis will define what factors influence reading comprehension in children, from early childhood when the reading process is beginning through the later stages of development until approximately age ten. Through the study of typographic variables as they apply to page layout and overall book design for children, the strategies and roles of meaningful typographic decision-making will be identified, and the ways in which these decisions can aid in the development of reading skills in children will be explored