Icelandic alphabet books : a key to the culture

• Main Author: Buzukina, Viktoriia, 1987-
• Other Authors: Listaháskóli Íslands
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Grafísk hönnun; Stafrófskver; Íslenskar bókmenntir; Börn; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/15511

This essay is a research and analysis of first alphabet books for children under three years old, the requirements in designing them with the main emphasis on the visual part, which is a key to the culture and environment of a child. The study is applied on the Icelandic market. The importance of early literacy is described, as well as mentioned when it is better to start introducing children to the letters of the alphabet. The Icelandic traditions are not in favor of learning letters of the alphabet before preschool, so these are not published for children aged zero to three. The small market in Iceland also creates some limits. The research shows that most of the first high-quality and fully illustrated books available in Iceland are by foreign authors and illustrators. Interviews with people in the fields of literature and education, editors at publishing houses, Icelandic writers and illustrators as well as my close look at Icelandic alphabet books show that the visual culture is very poor and not developed properly. The research summarizes problems in Icelandic ABC books and suggests ways to improve the visual part of alphabet learning materials.