, Question 1 (30 marks)
1.1.1 What role does reading for fun play in building a positive relationship
with children’s literature?
Reading for pleasure plays a foundational role in cultivating a meaningful and lasting
relationship with literature among children. When reading is approached as an
enjoyable and voluntary activity rather than a compulsory task, children experience
intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and engagement, which are essential for developing
literacy skills (Cunningham & Stanovich, 2001). Pleasure reading encourages
autonomy, allowing learners to select texts that align with their personal interests,
thereby fostering a sense of ownership and agency in their reading practices.
Repeated positive experiences with books also enhance self-efficacy and confidence
as emerging readers, while simultaneously nurturing imagination and empathy
through engagement with diverse narratives (Nikolajeva, 2014). By positioning
reading as a source of enjoyment, children are more likely to internalize reading as a
meaningful activity, creating the basis for a lifelong, positive relationship with
literature (Ghosh, 2018).
1.1.2 How do stories in children’s literature help children develop their own
identity as readers?
Stories in children’s literature serve as both mirrors and windows for young readers,
enabling them to see themselves reflected in characters’ experiences while also
exploring perspectives beyond their immediate context (Bishop, 1990). Through
identifying with relatable characters, children are able to negotiate aspects of their
own identity, fostering self-awareness and a sense of agency in their engagement
with texts. Moreover, exposure to a variety of genres, narrative structures, and
thematic elements allows children to explore personal preferences and develop
distinctive reading tastes. This active negotiation between self and text not only
cultivates independent reading habits but also contributes to the formation of a
child’s self-concept as a reader, strengthening both cognitive and emotional literacy
(Ghosh, 2018).
1.1.1 What role does reading for fun play in building a positive relationship
with children’s literature?
Reading for pleasure plays a foundational role in cultivating a meaningful and lasting
relationship with literature among children. When reading is approached as an
enjoyable and voluntary activity rather than a compulsory task, children experience
intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and engagement, which are essential for developing
literacy skills (Cunningham & Stanovich, 2001). Pleasure reading encourages
autonomy, allowing learners to select texts that align with their personal interests,
thereby fostering a sense of ownership and agency in their reading practices.
Repeated positive experiences with books also enhance self-efficacy and confidence
as emerging readers, while simultaneously nurturing imagination and empathy
through engagement with diverse narratives (Nikolajeva, 2014). By positioning
reading as a source of enjoyment, children are more likely to internalize reading as a
meaningful activity, creating the basis for a lifelong, positive relationship with
literature (Ghosh, 2018).
1.1.2 How do stories in children’s literature help children develop their own
identity as readers?
Stories in children’s literature serve as both mirrors and windows for young readers,
enabling them to see themselves reflected in characters’ experiences while also
exploring perspectives beyond their immediate context (Bishop, 1990). Through
identifying with relatable characters, children are able to negotiate aspects of their
own identity, fostering self-awareness and a sense of agency in their engagement
with texts. Moreover, exposure to a variety of genres, narrative structures, and
thematic elements allows children to explore personal preferences and develop
distinctive reading tastes. This active negotiation between self and text not only
cultivates independent reading habits but also contributes to the formation of a
child’s self-concept as a reader, strengthening both cognitive and emotional literacy
(Ghosh, 2018).
