Housing Images Portrayed in 50 Years of Picture Storybooks

Abstract

Images of housing portrayed in preschool picture storybooks influence the developing concept of home. Storybooks contribute to children’s socialization and function as cultural artifacts. This content analysis study of 100 preschool storybooks about family life published in the United States over 50 years focused on three housing images found in text and illustrations: geographical location, dwelling type, and types of residential spaces where family activities were portrayed. Change over time was represented by publication dates grouped into five time periods.Two-way chi-square analyses found no significant differences among time periods infrequency of portrayed housing characteristics. The dominant image of single-family detached housing in non-urban locations with typical room types was consistent across 50 years. Storybook housing images were compared to changes in housing patterns in the U.S. Census.