The influence of expressive vs. conventional typography on parent-child shared book-reading

Research explored the impact of expressive typography on parent-child shared book-reading experiences and parental attitudes. The study, involving 72 parent-child dyads, investigated how parents perceive and engage with books featuring varied font, size, style, color, or position of type, compared to conventional typography. The findings indicate that typographic design elements are considered meaning-making components and can influence shared reading dynamics, although specific outcomes are not detailed in the provided summary.

Why it matters

This research highlights the often-overlooked strategic role of typographic design in content presentation, particularly for educational or communicative materials aimed at engaging specific audiences. Understanding how visual elements like typography influence interaction and meaning-making can inform content development, engagement strategies, and the design of materials intended for shared learning or communication experiences across various sectors.

Key insights

• Typography, encompassing typeface, size, style, color, and position, is considered a fundamental element in meaning-making within textual materials.
• The study investigated parental attitudes towards expressive typography (e.g., changes in font, size, added/flipped letters) in children's books.
• Parent-child shared book-reading interactions were examined in the context of both expressive and conventional typographic styles.
• Seventy-two parent-child dyads participated, with children averaging 61.86 months of age.
• Each dyad read two books in both conventional and expressive typography, with interactions recorded.

Source

Frontiers in Education — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1907493