Illustrations in Children’s Literature: Commonplaces of Culture and Identity

Despite a largely global existence surrounded by technology and multimodal literacies, in many multicultural societies children grow up hearing place-based stories and viewing the illustrations that define their culture. Place-base storybooks tap into children's knowing by locating characters and action in panoramic or close up shots of geographical landscapes. Over time, the literature and art blend together to crystallize an image that says, "This is who we are." These shared stories and illustrations provide a commonplace with its values and beliefs, its goals and traditions that form a deeply ischolar_mained backdrop to culture and identity. A legacy of literature and art reflect an intimate relationship, even a sense of belonging with the land. In this presentation, the researchers will discuss the textual interpretation of visual and written narratives in place-based picture storybooks (from Canada, USA, Australia, and New Zealand). They will highlight how learning from the local landscapes provides children with the opportunity to create long-term identity with and respect for places where they live. These engagements with place-specific images and text bridge the interconnections between story and a sense of care for the environment.