The role of children´s books : views on and pedagogical work in preschool

The purpose of this master-thesis in library and information studies is to investigate how different views on children´s literature show up in pedagogical work in preschool. The aim is also to study methods used in the pedagogical work with literature. Are there any connections between views and methods? Is any view predominant or are they used in combination? The question at issue is: "Are there any connections between different views on childrens literature and pedagogical methods in preschool, and if so, how do they show?" The framework of theory is based on epistemological concepts viewing children´s literature by John Hultberg. In "Om humaniora, litteratur och tradition" he sorts out three strategies: the pragmatic, the traditional, and the emancipating. They focus on different points of view: the pragmatic stresses on the importance of literacy, the traditional on cultural values, and the emancipating on liberation in context of society. My aim is to see how these strategies show up in preschool context. The method chosen is qualitative: I have done interviews with six teachers at two preschools with adequate profiles. The results show, that views on literature can be assigned to all three strategies. At one preschool in this study the emancipating view is predominant, at the other the traditional view. According to my interpretation, emancipating views lead to pedagogical methods focusing childrens needs, traditional views to methods focusing literature itself: work on fairy tales and stories generate creative activities. My conclusion is, that there are connections between views on literature and pedagogical methods in preschool.Uppsatsnivå: