Abstract

The evolution of text into multi-media has affected not only electronic media, but also more traditional forms of communication such as children’s picturebooks. Because picturebooks in the Digital Age contain many traits common in websites, advertising, movies, etc. these books can be valuable teaching tools to prepare young children for life in our increasingly multi-literate world. This ‘partnership’ between books and digital media warrants examination. Eliza Dresang’s Radical Change Model (1999) provides a ‘critical lens’ for describing these literary-digital connections in terms of changes in format, perspective and boundary. Building on this model, the current study creates and applies content analysis tools to examine these connections from an educational perspective. By analyzing winners of Caldecott and Children’s Choice awards over the past 20 years, the study explores the impact of the Digital Age on award-winning American children’s picturebooks. It reveals the extent to which these changes have been accepted by judges, young and old. By comparing the award-winners selected by children for themselves and those selected by adults for children, the study paints a picture of the digital elements present in each set of award-winners and discusses their implications for the development of the multi-literacy skills required in the 21st century.