A descriptive study on research in the field of children's literature: The case of USA

Literature, one of the significant elements of personal development, holds great importance for children due to its richness tailored for them. The contribution of children's literature to the development of children in various areas has led scholars to engage in research in this field and necessitated the examination of this domain. Over the years, ongoing research has reached many children and yielded meaningful results on various subjects. This study aims to conduct a descriptive analysis of research conducted in the field of children's literature in the United States between 2018 and 2023. To achieve this goal, a literature review was conducted, and doctoral dissertations, master's theses, and research articles were examined using descriptive analysis, a qualitative research method. The classification scale used in the research was derived from Short's (1995) work titled "Research and Professional Resources in Children's Literature: Piecing A Patchwork Quilt." The analysis revealed that research articles were more prevalent in the data set, and studies generally preferred qualitative research methods. The classification resulted in a concentration of research on the theme of "thematic content analysis." Topics addressed within the theme of "thematic content analysis" included race, school life, children's personality development, literary examinations based on countries' cultures, reflections of gender preferences in literature, gender roles, body perceptions, adolescent sexuality, war, etc. Theoretical frameworks of the studies were examined, and it was determined that studies highly incorporated theoretical frameworks. Recommendations regarding the research findings were provided at the end of the study. Keywords: Children, literature, children's literature, children's literature in the United States, descriptive analysis.