2021 Volume 62 Issue 2 Pages 85-97
The influence of textbooks on learners obtaining a librarian certification is significant. Textbooks relating to library service for children are not exceptions. These learners will eventually become librarians, and they will select picture books as part of their library service for children. For studying the implications of selecting picture books in librarian training courses, we have analyzed the characteristics of textbooks on library service for children using the descriptions about picture books in five textbooks published after 2009. We have investigated the picture books’ title, publisher, year of publication, and other details. In addition, qualitative evaluations of the descriptions about selecting books has been carried out on the five textbooks. As the result, the majority of the picture books introduced and recommended in the textbooks were those which have been popular for a long time. Additionally, approximately half of all picture books introduced in the five textbooks have been published by Fukuinkan Shoten. On the other hand, newly published picture books have been introduced and recommended in the textbooks,but they are fewer in number. The investigation also indicates that the newly published textbooks introduce fewer picture books than the older textbooks. However, the newer textbooks tend to introduced a larger percentage of newer picture books. The emphasis in newer picture books as compared to older classics and the reduction in the number of recommended picture books in the more recent textbooks indicate a change in values.
