Performing a spontaneous fairy story through bilingual English-Fairy talk

Ann-Carita’s careful study of children’s social interactions with their peers
has been an inspiration to many over the years. Within this impressive catalogue of work, Ann-Carita provides unique insight into such issues as play
performances in games (Evaldsson, 2009) where children actively make peer
culture and wider world issues visible during the co-production of play and
games (Evaldsson & Corsaro, 1998). Micro dramas (Evaldsson, 2021) draw
attention to children’s meaning making and careful negotiation in the orderly
process of pretend play endeavours (Evaldsson, 2004), both of which are specifically significant issues that are explored here when looking closely at the fairy play of children in a New Zealand early childhood centre. Ann-Carita’s
expertise in demonstrating how children’s social organisation encompasses
their social category work through employing membership categorisation
analysis (MCA)—the less visible side of CA—(e.g. Evaldsson, 2005; 2014),
adding a contextual layer of analysis and insight into children’s worlds.