Skip to main content
Log in

Developing Young Children’s Physical Literacy Through Picturebooks

  • Published:
Early Childhood Education Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to examine the influence of picturebooks on children’s physical literacy (PL). Fostering PL in early childhood can promote a physically active lifestyle in children and later adults. Picturebook use is a great opportunity for movement exploration in physical education classes, and recent research findings suggest that the joint use of read-aloud picturebooks and movement activities can enhance children’s motor, cognitive, and affective development. Thus, following the research evidence and the emerging importance of PL, in this paper we provide suggestions and support for the effective use of picturebooks as a tool to cultivate PL in early childhood.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Vignette 1
Vignette 2
Vignette 3
Vignette 4
Vignette 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Children's books cited

  • Archer, M., Astley, Ν, & Baker, M. (2015). Peppa’s gym class-Peppa pig (Ladybird, Illus). Penguin Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkins, J. (2008). Get set! Swim (H. Viveros Lee, Illus.). Lee & Low Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellisario, G. (2014). Move your body (R. Kurilla, Illus.). Millbrook Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bluemle, E. (2012). How do you wokka-wokka? (R. Cecil, Illus.). Candlewick.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carle, E. (1999). From head to toeHarper Festival.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, N. (2006). Get up and go! (N. Carlson, Illus.). Viking Juvenile.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleary, B. (2011). Run and hike, play and bike: What is physical activity? (M. Goneau, Illus.). Millbrook Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornwall, G. (2017). Jabari jumps (G. Cornwall, Illus.). Walker Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Couric, K. (2004). The blue ribbon day (M. Priceman, Illus.). Doubleday.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronin, D. (2009). Stretch (S. Menchin, Illus.). Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donaldson, J. (2009). The gruffalo (A. Scheffler, Illus.). MacMillan Children’s Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engel, C. (2016). ABC yoga (C. Engel, Illus.). Walter Foster Jr.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graves, K. (2006). Frank was a monster who wanted to dance (K. Graves, Illus.). Chronicle Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, K. (2014). Daisy and the trouble with sports day (N. Sharratt, Illus.). Red Fox.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nhin, M. (2019). Lazy ninja: A children’s book about setting goals and finding motivation (Ninja life hacks) (J. Stupar, Illus.). Grow Grit Press LLC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabe, T. (2001). The things you can do that are good for you: All about staying healthy (A. Ruiz, Illus.). Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rockwell, L. (2008). The busy body book: A kid’s guide to fitness (L. Rockwell, Illus.). Dragonfly Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seigal, J. (2017). Just like me (A. Falière, Illus.). Flying Eye Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sileo, F. J. (2012). Sally sore loser: A story about winning and losing (C. Pillo, Illus.). Magination Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, P. (2002). My amazing body (L. Harker, Illus.). Sourcebooks Explore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willems, M. (2009). Watch me throw the ball! An elephant and piggie book (M. Willems, Illus.). Hyperion Books for Children.

    Google Scholar 

References

  • Akers, J. S., Higbee, T. S., Gerencser, K. R., & Pellegrino, A. J. (2018). An evaluation of group activity schedules to promote social play in children with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 51(3), 553–570.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akers, J. S., Higbee, T. S., Pollard, J. S., Pellegrino, A. J., & Gerencser, K. R. (2016). An evaluation of photographic activity schedules to increase independent playground skills in young children with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49(4), 954–959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arizpe, E., & Styles, M. (2015). Children reading picturebooks: Interpreting visual texts (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315683911

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Aygün, A., & Abaci, O. (2014). Examination of illustrated story books published between the years of 2004–201 for 4–8 age group children in terms of illustration. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 152(7), 94–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barsalou, L. W. (2008). Grounded cognition. Annual Review of Psychology, 59, 617–645. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.59.103006.093639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becerra, L. A., Higbee, T. S., Vieira, M. C., Pellegrino, A. J., & Hobson, K. (2021). The effect of photographic activity schedules on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 54, 744–759. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chatzipanteli, A. (2015). Metacognition and student-centered teaching styles in early childhood physical education. In K. Vann (Ed.), Early childhood education: Teachers’ perspectives, effective programs and impacts on cognitive development (pp. 93–109). Nova Science Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatzipanteli, A., & Adamakis, E. (2022). Social interaction through structured play activities and games in early childhood. In P. G. Madrona (Ed.), Handbook of research on using motor games in teaching and learning strategy. ΙGI-Global.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatzipanteli, A., Grammatikopoulos, V., & Gregoriadis, A. (2013). Development and evaluation of metacognition in early childhood education. Early Child Development and Care. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2013.861456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chatzipanteli, A., Konstantinidou, E., & Fotiadis, A. (2022). Inclusion teaching style and modifications in physical education. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 93(7), 52–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2022.2102366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chick, K. A. (2002). Challenging gender stereotypes through literature: Picturebooks with strong female characters. Journal of Children’s Literature, 28, 19–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, P., & Hade, D. (2000). Inside the picture, outside the frame: Semiotics and the reading of wordless picture books. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 15(1), 66–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derri, V., Kourtessis, T., Goti-Douma, E., & Kyrgiridis, P. (2010). Physical education and language integration: Effects on oral and written speech of pre-school children. Physical educator, 67(4), 178–186. https://js.sagamorepub.com/index.php/pe/article/view/2100

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, A. (2000). Close interrelation of motor development and cognitive development and of the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex. Child Development, 71(1), 44–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diggelidis, N., Gorozidis, G., Kolovelonis, A., & Lampaki, O. (2021). National curriculum for physical education in lyceum (Translated from Greek). Institute of Educational Policy. Greece.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dohnt, H. K., & Tiggemann, M. (2008). Promoting positive body image in young girls: An evaluation of ‘Shapesville.’ European Eating Disorders Review, 16, 222–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donovan, L., & Pascale, L. (2012). Integrating the arts across the content areas. Shell Educational Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, M., Cunningham, A., & Eyre, E. (2019). A combined movement and storytelling intervention enhances motor competence and language ability in pre-schoolers to a greater extent than movement or storytelling alone. European Physical Education Review, 25(1), 221–235. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X17715772

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durden-Myers, E. J., Green, N. R., & Whitehead, M. E. (2018). Implications for promoting physical literacy progress. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2018-0131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durden-Myers, E. J., Meloche, E. S., & Dhillon, K. K. (2020). The embodied nature of physical literacy: Interconnectedness of lived experience and meaning. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 91(3), 8–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2019.1705213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durden-Myers, E. J., & Whitehead, M. E. (2018). Operationalizing physical literacy: Special Issue Editorial. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 37(3), 234–236. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2018-0130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durden-Myers, E. J., Whitehead, M. E., & Pot, N. (2018). Physical literacy and human flourishing. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 37, 308–311. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2018-0132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eng, C., Godwin, E., & Fisher, A. (2020). Keep it simple: Streamlining book illustrations improves attention and comprehension in beginning readers. Science of Learning, 5(14), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-020-00073-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eyre, E. L. J., Clark, C. C. T., Tallis, J., Hodson, D., Lowton-Smith, S., Nelson, C., Noon, M., & Duncan, M. J. (2020). The effects of combined movement and storytelling intervention on motor skills in South Asian and white children aged 5–6 years living in the United Kingdom. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(10), 3391. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ganea, P. A., & Canfield, C. (2015). Learning from picturebooks: An examination of factors that affect young children’s learning and transfer from picturebooks. In B. Kummerling-Meibauer, J. Meibauer, K. Nachtigaller, & K. Rohlfing (Eds.), Learning from picturebooks: Perspectives from child development and literacy studies (pp. 33–50). Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glenberg, A. M. (2010). Embodiment as a unifying perspective for psychology. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science, 1(4), 586–596. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcs.55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glenberg, A. M., Gutierrez, T., Levin, J. R., Japuntich, S., & Kaschak, M. P. (2004). Activity and imagined activity can enhance young children’s reading comprehension. Journal of Educational Psychology, 96(3), 424–436. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.96.3.424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grindheim, M., Bergesen, S. T., & Ødegaard, E. E. (2022). Children’s movement according to the Norwegian framework plan: A document analysis. Journal for Research in Arts and Sports Education, 6(4), 5–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hasni-Mokhtar, N., Halim, M. F., & Kamarulzaman, S. Z. S. (2011). The effectiveness of storytelling in enhancing communicative skills. Procedia-Social and Behavioural Sciences, 18, 163–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hester, Z. (2018). Storytelling through movement: An analysis of the connections between dance & literature. Undergraduate Honors Theses.

  • Hinaai, S. (2019). What is the importance and impact of illustrations in children’s books? An investigation into children’s responses to illustrations. Arab Journal for Scientific Publishing, 2663, 92–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollett, N., Sluder, J. B., Taunton, S., & Howard-Shaughnessy, C. (2016). Teaching body and spatial awareness in elementary physical education using integration of core content subjects. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 87(7), 31–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPLA-International Physical Literacy Association. (2017). Physical Literacy…for life. https://www.physicalliteracy.org.uk

  • Jablon, J. R., & Wilkinson, M. (2006). Using engagement strategies to facilitate children’s learning and success. Young Children, 61(2), 12–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jurbala, P. (2015). What is physical literacy, really? Quest, 67(4), 367–383. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2015.1084341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly-Ware, J. P., & Daly, N. (2019). Using picturebook illustrations to help young children understand diversity. International Art in Early Childhood Research Journal, 1(1), 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, N. E., Venkadasalam, V. P., & Ganea, P. A. (2020). Prompting children’s belief revision about balance through primary and secondary sources of evidence. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1503. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundvall, S. (2015). Physical literacy in the field of physical education—A challenge and a possibility. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 4(2), 113–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machalicek, W., Shogren, K., Lang, R., Rispoli, M., O’Reilly, M. F., Franco, J. H., & Sigafoos, J. (2009). Increasing play and decreasing the challenging behaviour of children with autism during recess with activity schedules and task correspondence training. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 3(2), 547–555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2008.11.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCabe, J., Fairchild, E., Grauerholz, L., Pescosolido, B., & Tope, D. (2011). Gender in twentieth-century children’s picturebooks: Patterns of disparity in titles and central characters. Gender and Society, 25, 197–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, R. S., Sainato, D. M., Benchaaban, D., & Endo, S. (2002). Increasing play skills of children with autism using activity schedules and correspondence training. Journal of Early Intervention, 25(1), 58–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/105381510202500106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mourão, S. (2012). English picturebook illustrations and language development in early years education. University of Aveiro, Portugal. http://ria.ua.pt/handle/10773/9180

  • Narey, M. (2019). Understanding stories as multimodal experiences in young children’s development. In K. J. Kerry-Moran & J. A. Aerila (Eds.), Story in children’s lives: Contributions of the narrative mode to early childhood development, literacy, and learning. Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholas, J. L. (2007). An exploration of the impact of picturebook illustrations on the comprehension skills and vocabulary development of emergent readers. LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 801. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/801

  • Nikolajeva, M., & Scott, C. (2001). Images of the mind: The depiction of consciousness in picturebooks. CREArTA, 2(1), 12–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • PDST-Professional Development Service for Teachers. (2020). Children's Books for Wellbeing. https://www.scoilnet.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/ChildrensBooksWellebingPE_SPHE.pdf

  • Rezaei, F., Javad Motab, M., & Zhooly, Z. (2022). Effectiveness of movement and storytelling combination on motor skills and anxiety of children with developmental coordination disorder during quarantine. Motor Behavior, 14(49), 157–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roetert, E. P., & MacDonald, L. C. (2015). Unpacking the physical literacy concept for K-12 physical education: What should we expect the learner to master? Journal of Sport and Health Science, 4(2), 108–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, A. C., Pierce-Rivera, M., van Huisstede, L., et al. (2023). What’s the story with storytime?: An examination of preschool teachers’ drama-based and shared reading practices during picturebook read-aloud. Early Childhood Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-023-01554-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strouse, G. A., Nyhout, A., & Ganea, P. A. (2018). The role of book features in young children’s transfer of information from picture books to real-world contexts. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szurmak, J., & Thuna, M. (2013). Tell me a story: The use of narrative as a tool for instruction. American Library Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tare, M., Chiong, C., Ganea, P., & DeLoache, J. (2010). Less is more: How manipulative features affect children’s learning from picture books. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 31, 395–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2010.06.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, M. (2010). Physical literacy: Throughout the life course. Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, M. (Ed.). (2019). Physical literacy across the world (pp. 74–95). Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willson, A. M. (2013). Examining children’s comprehension of conventional, wordless, and postmodern picturebooks. The University of Texas at San Antonio. http://gradworks.umi.com/35/63/3563271.html

  • Wilson, M. (2002). Six views of embodied cognition. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 9(4), 625–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiseman, A. (2011). Interactive read-alouds: Teachers and students constructing knowledge and literacy together. Early Childhood Education Journal, 38(6), 431–438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-010-0426-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfenbarger, C. D., & Sipe, L. (2007). A unique visual and literary art form: Recent research on picturebooks. Language Arts, 83(3), 273–280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Athanasia Chatzipanteli.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

No conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chatzipanteli, A., Gorozidis, G.S. Developing Young Children’s Physical Literacy Through Picturebooks. Early Childhood Educ J (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-024-01652-6

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-024-01652-6

Keywords

Navigation