Peran Ilustrasi Buku Bergambar terhadap Minat Baca pada Siswa Sekolah Dasar Kelas Tinggi di Kota Binjai

Abstract

The low reading interest among elementary school students remains a major concern in the field of education. One approach believed to help improve reading interest is the use of illustrations in picture books. This study aims to determine whether picture book illustrations play a role in enhancing the reading interest of upper elementary school students in Binjai City. The study involved 161 students selected through purposive sampling. The quality of illustrations was assessed using a rating rubric, while reading interest was measured using a reading interest scale. Descriptive analysis results showed that the illustrations in the books were rated as good, and most students had a high level of reading interest. However, the Spearman correlation test revealed no significant relationship between illustrations and reading interest. The correlation coefficient (r = 0.096) indicated a very weak relationship, and the significance value (p = 0.228; p > 0.05) suggested that the relationship was not statistically strong. Thus, picture book illustrations did not play a significant role in increasing students' reading interest.