Despite the wealth of publications on the participation of children and young people in research, the connections between participatory research methods (PRM) and literacy studies remain unclear. This paper aims to understand why it is particularly pertinent to use PRM in literacy studies (particularly New Literacy Studies). In order to capture the complexity and plurality of these methods, we discuss two studies: one conducted with children (ages 7-10) in Santiago, Chile and the other with young people (ages 16-30) in Québec, Canada. We argue that by using PRM, researchers can support participants in the appropriation of an alternative and potentially empowering view of literacy.Keywords participatory research methods; New Literacy Studies; children; young people; voice in research; literacy practices; views of literacy Introduction While there is an ever-growing body of literature on the participation of children and young people in research, as well as the various interpretations of the concept of participation itself (for instance Hart's, 1992 ladder of participation and subsequent adaptations; Tisdall et al., 2014) little attention has been paid to the connections between participatory research methods (PRM) and literacy studies. We, as researchers, had recurring discussions about what it meant to use participatory research methods in literacy studies. Despite the wealth of publications on participation in research, the connections between the two fields remain unclear. Beyond the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), we felt that there were other reasons why participation in research was particularly suited for literacy studies with children and young people. Our paper links current concerns associated with the participation of children and young people in research with core themes of literacy studies, specifically the New Literacy Studies (NLS).Throughout this article, we use the term participatory research methods (PRM) to describe the extensive range of activities that are aimed at involving participants in research. Drawing on our own experiences of using PRM to look at children's and young people's literacy practices, this paper also aims to understand why it is particularly beneficial to use such methods in literacy studies. In order to capture the complexity and plurality of these methods, we analyse two studies, one conducted with children in Santiago (Chile) and the other with young people in Québec (Canada).