| Title: |
The role of illustrations in children's sustainability-related picture books |
| Authors: |
Kolehmainen, Mirka |
| Contributors: |
Jalas, Mikko; Taiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulu; School of Arts, Design and Architecture; Department of Design; Muotoilun laitos; Aalto University; Aalto-yliopisto |
| Publication Year: |
2018 |
| Subject Terms: |
children’s sustainability-related literature; early education for sustainable development; text-illustration relationships in picture books; education for environment; children’s literature as a means of early education; envir; psy |
| Description: |
At the time when mankind is facing growing sustainability challenges there is an urgent need for adequate early education for sustainable development (ESD). The way people educate their children and the way next generations respond to nature will shape the conditions of our societies. Children’s literature has significance in instilling values and shaping one’s behavior which will eventually form the way of life. A key premise of this study is that children’s sustainability-related picture books can be harnessed for early educational purposes in order to instill a sustainable lifestyle. Children’s picture books convey meaning through two symbol systems: text and pictures. While the dynamics of texts and pictures in picture books, and their significance for children’s learning, have been well-researched, the research specifically focusing on the use of picture books and illustrations in early ESD is largely lacking. Furthermore the perceptions of illustrators and their contribution to narrative meaning-making have not been widely investigated. The purpose of this study was to shed light on how the complex construction of texts and pictures convey meaning in sustainability-related educational picture books. The particular focus of the study was to examine the role of illustrations in relation to text and how illustrators perceive this dynamics. This qualitative study analyzed text-illustration relationships in Finnish sustainability-related picture books. In addition semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted in order to investigate illustrators’ perceptions of the subject. The findings of the study laid foundation for my own picture book concept which aims at providing an ideal resource for children to learn from. Based on the study findings I chose to utilize symmetrical or complementary text-illustration relationships in my book concept in order to provide information in the most comprehensible way. This thesis provides evidence that illustrations play a significant role in children’s . |
| Document Type: |
thesis |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/32343 |
| Availability: |
https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/32343 |
| Rights: |
undefined |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.45D398C9 |
| Database: |
BASE |