Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to study the attitudes of 9-14 years old children towards the Thai award-winning books for children especially in their contents, illustrations and language usages. The 18 books used as research population were the Thai award-winning books for children from 1981 to 1984. The samples selected by Simple Random Sampling techniques were 300 children, 150 boys and 150 girls, enrolled on pratom 4,5 and 6 in Tesaban Pakpanang 1 School and Matayom Suksa 1,2 and 3 in Satripakpanang School and Pakpanang School. These schools are in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The results of the research are four titles of fiction: Pluakhoikapkhwamsuk, Chowpa, Meeyaiphachonphai and Tonmaimiphuan for the elementary pupils are rated that their contents, usages of language and illustrations and the three criteria as a whole are very good or the pupils like most. Two titles of verse: Thammachatkhuenkhru and K kh kharkhan for the elementary pupils are rated that their contents, usages of language and illustrations and the three criteria as a whole are very good or the pupils like most. Four titles of fiction, four titles of non-fictions and four titles of verse for the secondary pupils are rated that seven titles are very good on content (one non-fiction: Waothai, three fiction: Khanamnoiklangthungna, Lukpa and Phuanthae and three verse: Nithanphapphutaraksa, Yingdee and Sakawasuphasit). Four titles are rated good (two non-fiction: Chiwittaithalethai and Pluakhoikhongthai, one fiction: Yieokhadoan and one verse: Sowrun). Considering their usages of language, eleven titles are rated very good (four fiction: Khanamnoiklangthungna, Lukpa, Phuanthae and Yieokhadoan, three non-fiction: Chiwittaithalethai, Pluakhoikhongthai and Thieowatpho and four verse: Nithanphapphutaraksa, Yingdee, Sakawasuphasit and Sowrun). One title is rated good (non-fiction: Waothai). As for their illustrations, six titles are rated very good (three non-fiction: Chiwittaithalethai, Pluakhoikhongthai and Thieowatpho, one fiction: Phuanthae and two verse: Yingdee and Sakawasuphasit). Three titles are rated good (one fiction: Yieokhadoan and two verse: Nithanphapphutaraksa and Sowrun). Considering the three criteria as a whole, it was found that nine titles are rated very good (three fiction: Khanamnoiklangthungna, Lukpa and Phuanthae, three non-fiction: Chiwittaithalethai, Pluakhoikhongthai and Thieowatpho and three verse: Nithanphapphutaraksa, Yingdee and Sakawasuphasit). Three titles are rated good (one non-fiction: Waothai, one fiction: Yieokhadoan and one verse: Sowrun). The result of the research meets the hypothesis that the aspects of the content, illustration and language usage of the Thai award-winning books meet the childrens interest and need. The researcher recommends that the publishers and those who concern with producing childrens books should create beautiful and lively illustration in order to attract childrens attention. Moreover, illustration ought to harmonize with content and be at the right size for children at various age levels and realistic, because illustration is an important factor in childrens reading interests. Besides, librarians should encourage children to read more Thai award-winning books for children.