Examining the format-content and readability of problem-oriented children's books published by (TÜBİTAK)

In this study, the examination of 39 problem-oriented children's literature artworks published by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey was aimed in terms of format-content and readability. In the research, a qualitative research method, case work has been used. The research method applied in the study is the primary qualitative research method based on document analysis. During litarature reasearch, five different data collection tools; 'the design and editing characteristics of the books,' 'author and book information of the books,' 'the language and expression characteristics of the books' and 'the characteristics of the books' which were developed by Demircan (2006) intended for determining the artworks' internal and external structure criterion, containing a total of 75 questions were utilized. Data related to these qualities were analyzed with SPSS 22 program and the obtained results were interpreted. When the findings obtained regarding the internal and external structure characteristics of the problem-focused children's books published by TÜBİTAK are examined; It shows that the books carry most of the internal and external structure criteria that should be in a children's book. As a result of the examination, 57 of the 75 items used to determine the internal and external structure criteria were found to be 'sufficient. Therefore, the qualification rate of the books is 76%. However, it has also been found that there are some deficiencies in terms of both internal and external structure criteria with research results. Among the design and editing features, inadequacies are detected that the fonts used, the spaces between the lines, and the picture on the book cover are not in the book. When the author and book information of the problem-oriented children's books are examined; there are no tables of contents in the books, there are no dictionaries for unknown words in the majority of the books, the age groups on which the book is directed are not indicated on the inner covers, the books do not have reading guides, the authors are not introduced, the scientific advisors of the texts are not given, and the information of the other books of the authors are not given. None of them have the approval of the Board of Education. In the books examined, inadequacies that the sentences were clear and comprehensible, the meanings of unknown words were given on the same page, the length of the paragraphs was appropriate for the age groups, and the essential places were emphasized with various writing tones were found. At the same time, the study examined the readability levels of problem-oriented children's books. Determining the readability levels of these books was based on the formula, which was adapted from Flesch for Turkish by Ateşman, grounding on the word and sentence lengths. As a result of the evaluations, it was determined that the readability level of the problem-oriented books varies between easy and moderate levels, according to the Flesch Formula adapted to Turkish by Ateşman. Of the 39 books examined, 28 were found to be easy to read, and 14 were moderately difficult to read. It was concluded that 39 of the books were narrative text, and 28 of the 39 books that were narrative in terms of readability were easy, and 11 of them were of medium difficulty. Keywords: TÜBITAK, Problem-Oriented, Internal-External, Readibility