Culturally sustaining picture books about sensitive topics for young readers

Children's literature serves various purposes in early years such as addressing sensitive topics within classroom settings. Acknowledging these sensitive topics as an integral part of children's experiences and developmental needs, we advocate for the sustainability of their presence in educational environments by incorporating culturally sustaining children's literature. In this study, we analyzed Turkish picture books featuring sensitive topics to comprehend the topics addressed and how these themes are portrayed to support cultu- rally sustaining pedagogy. These sensitive topics are significant part of students' lives. Our findings reveal that sensitive topics are often represented through narratives highlighting a transition from negative to positive perceptions coupled with didactic representations. As one of the first studies about sensitive topics in Turkish children's literature with a focus on reinforcing culturally sustaining pedagogy, we posit a set of questions intended to guide teachers in identifying culturally sustaining children's literature for integration into their classroom practices, thereby fostering the preservation and appreciation of students' cultural identities.