@article{2015,title={How Do Children Interpret Pictures In A Picturebook? A Research On Children’s Visual Reading of “Uyurgezer Fil” by Behiç Ak},abstractNode={The purpose of this study is to determine the level of interpretation of first grade students’ responses to Uyurgezer Fil, a picturebook written by Behiç Ak. Within the scope of the study, 39 first grade students from two public elementary schools were interviewed. The participants reviewed and responded to the pictures of the book. A researcher took interview notes. Next, participants’ levels of interpretation were determined via content analysis. The levels of interpretation were (1) description, (2) basic interpretation, (3) imaginative interpretation and (4) critical understanding. The analyses were carried out to understand the level of interpretation of each sentence shared by the participants. Overall 39 participants generated 465 sentences to interpret pictures. It was found out that most of the interpretations were at the description level. The numbers of sentences at this level were considerably more than the sum of the sentences in all other levels. The numbers of sentences at the critical understanding level were very limited. Also, one in every five sentences was coded under the imaginative interpretation level and there were fewer sentences coded under the basic interpretation level. There were some considerable differences between the findings of the present study and that of previous research. Findings of similar studies conducted in other countries show that children’s interpretations of pictures involve more artistic awareness, critical understanding and holistic understanding of the pictures. Recommendations are made to improve practice.},author={Kevser KOÇ-- Sibel YILDIZ - Rana COŞKUN},year={2015},journal={Journal of Turkish Studies}}