Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Using Illustrated Children’s Book to Strength Fracted / Cracks Identity of (the Israeli) Children

Received: 2 September 2024     Accepted: 18 September 2024     Published: 18 October 2024
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Illustrations in children's books serve as powerful aesthetic devices to address complex emotions and ideologies, particularly in war-torn regions. These visual narratives act as catalysts for moral, value-based, and political discussions, offering a wordless medium that invites diverse interpretations based on the observer's perspective. This approach creates an open dialogue where there are no absolute right or wrong answers. Children's literature, through its illustrations, becomes a significant agent of socialization. These books impart cultural values, ideological concepts, and political behavior patterns, functioning as tools for establishing culturally responsive pedagogy. The images discussed, while originating from Israeli children's books predating the 2023 conflict, possess a timeless and universal quality that transcends their immediate context. Illustrations in children's books can either complement or diverge from the accompanying text, offering varying degrees of precision or poetic license. They carry cultural connotations that encompass symbols, traditions, beliefs, behaviors, and values unique to a particular society, conveying information beyond the apparent narrative. The inherent power of illustration lies in its ability to communicate directly with young children, often without the need for adult mediation. In preschool literature, illustrations serve multiple functions: they parallel written words, demonstrate abstract concepts, provide concrete representations of characters and settings, emphasize or contradict textual elements, and expand the narrative through visual elements not present in the text. Moreover, illustrations possess a psychological-therapeutic function, contributing to indirect treatment techniques. Like all visual representations, they embody simplified messages and shape recognition, conveyed formally and tangibly, with each element having both conscious and unconscious effects on the Therapeutic visual qualities in illustrated books aim to capture emotional nuances, intensify expressions of feeling, and convey concepts that may be challenging to express verbally. This is achieved through original solutions such as symbolism and creative visual metaphors. In conclusion, illustrations in children's books, particularly those addressing complex themes like war and fear, offer a unique and powerful medium for fostering understanding, encouraging dialogue, and providing emotional support. Their ability to transcend linguistic and cultural barriers makes them invaluable tools in shaping young minds and addressing challenging societal issues.

Published in International Journal of Education, Culture and Society (Volume 9, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijecs.20240905.13
Page(s) 238-245
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Illustrated Children's Books, Fractured Identity, War, Israeli Children

References
[1] Adam, H. (2021). When authenticity goes missing: How monocultural children's literature is silencing the voices and contributing to invisibility of children from minority backgrounds. Education Sciences, 11, Article 32.
[2] An, S. (2021). Teaching difficult knowledge of the Korean war through international children's literature. Social Studies and Young Learner, 33(3), 24–32.
[3] An, S. (2022). Selective (un)telling of difficult knowledge of U.S. Wars in children's literature: The Korean war as a case study. The Social Studies, 113(2), 68-80.
[4] Attar, T. (1975). War is a crying thing. Hakibut hmeuhad.
[5] Baratz, L. (2023a). 'Colour Red' that cracks children's souls: A glimpse of life in the 'Otef Gaza' in Israeli children's books. Sumerianz Journal of Education, Linguistics and Literature, 6(1), 20-29.
[6] Baratz, L. (2023b). Fear and anxiety, as reflected in Israeli children's books. Children and Teenagers, 6(2).
[7] Baratz, L. (2023c). Voices of war in children's literature against the background of conflict in the Gaza Strip. International Journal of Social Science Research, 11(2).
[8] Baratz, L., & Zamir, S. (2011). Examining Hebrew-Amharic bilingual children's literature in Israel: Language, themes, and power. Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature, 49(3), 18-24.
[9] Baron, A. (2014). Graduate of the red garden. Zamert.
[10] Bar-Tal, D., Diamond, A. H., & Nasie, M. (2017). Political socialization of young children in intractable conflicts: Conception and evidence. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 41(3), 415–425.
[11] Bar-Tal, D., & Raviv, A. (2021). The comfort zone of a society in conflict. Steimatzky.
[12] Bibi, V. (2018). Let's cook peace. Sha'ar.
[13] Bondi, L. (1993). Locating identity politics. In M. Keith & S. Pile (Eds.), Place and the politics of identity. Routledge.
[14] Cohen, R. H. (2021). Me and Ytotam Hakassam: Songs from the world of the children of Otef Israel. Tov Levvav.
[15] Currie, G. (1995). The moral psychology of fiction. Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 73(2), 250–259.
[16] Currie, G. (1998). Realism of character and the value of fiction. In J. Levinson (Ed.), Aesthetics & ethics: Essays at the intersection (pp. 161–181). Cambridge University Press.
[17] Eilon, L. (2013). Dread shawel of Jordan. Hakibutz Hamehuhad.
[18] Hadar-Shoval, D., & Alon-Tirosh, M. (2019). The unique and joint contributions of various socialization agents to the acquisition of political knowledge among elementary school children in Israel. Journal of Children and Media, 13(2), 163–179.
[19] Keselman, M., Brown, N., & Gold, E. (2019, July 25). Creative arts interventions for older adults with a history of trauma [Conference presentation]. JFNA Center for Advancing Holocaust Survivor Care, The Jewish Federation of North America, Philadelphia, PA.
[20] Krasni, A. (2005). The stereotypical approach of the portrayal of the woman in children's literature. Shaanan, 10, 197-216.
[21] LeDoux, J. (2015). Anxious: The modern mind in the age of anxiety. One World Publications.
[22] Malinen, A., Laine-Frigren, T., & Kaarninen, M. (2022). Rebuilding emotional ties for child evacuees returning from abroad: Children's literature and informal education in post-Second World War Finland. History of Education, 51(4), 578–595.
[23] Messiah, S. (2018). There is no children outside of politics. Restling.
[24] Ofri, I. (2009). Ola, Sa’ar. (Hebrew).
[25] Ong, P. A. L. (2022). Critical multiculturalism and countering cultural hegemony through children's literature. Waikato Journal of Education, 27(1), 51–65.
[26] Papen, U., & Peach, E. (2021). Picture books and critical literacy: Using multimodal interaction analysis to examine children's engagements with a picture book about war and child refugees. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 44, 61–74.
[27] Patterson, M. M. (2019). Children's literature as a vehicle for political socialization: An examination of best-selling picture books 2012–2017. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 180(4-5), 231-250.
[28] Pulimeno, M., Piscitelli, P., & Colazzo, S. (2020). Children's literature to promote students' global development and wellbeing. Health Promotion Perspectives, 10(1), 13-23.
[29] Schwarcz, J. H. (1982). Ways of the illustrator: Visual communication in children's literature. American Library Association.
[30] Schwarcz, J. H., & Schwarcz, C. (1991). The picture book comes of age. American Library Association.
[31] Sovran, T. (2006). Language and meaning – the story of the birth and flowering of the theory of meaning.
[32] Tor-Gonen, R. (1995). Principal messages in Israeli illustrated children's books for very young children. Ma'agalei Kriyah, 23-24, 53-93. (exist in the text)
[33] Tor-Gonen, R. (2000). Between the lines and the forms: Features to explore values in illustration and in illustrated textbooks for children. Small World, 1, 41-70.
[34] Tor-Gonen, R. (2013). To enjoy and to cry: Illustrating children's literature as a transformative medium from causing to forget to causing presence of suffering. Betzalel Ktav Et Letarbut Hazutit Vehomrit.
[35] Zaidi, Z., Verstegen, D., Naqvi, R., Dornan, T., & Morahan, P. (2016). Identity text: An educational intervention to foster cultural interaction. Medical Education Online, 21, Article 33135.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Lea, B. (2024). Using Illustrated Children’s Book to Strength Fracted / Cracks Identity of (the Israeli) Children. International Journal of Education, Culture and Society, 9(5), 238-245. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20240905.13

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Lea, B. Using Illustrated Children’s Book to Strength Fracted / Cracks Identity of (the Israeli) Children. Int. J. Educ. Cult. Soc. 2024, 9(5), 238-245. doi: 10.11648/j.ijecs.20240905.13

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Lea B. Using Illustrated Children’s Book to Strength Fracted / Cracks Identity of (the Israeli) Children. Int J Educ Cult Soc. 2024;9(5):238-245. doi: 10.11648/j.ijecs.20240905.13

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijecs.20240905.13,
      author = {Baratz Lea},
      title = {Using Illustrated Children’s Book to Strength Fracted / Cracks Identity of (the Israeli) Children
    },
      journal = {International Journal of Education, Culture and Society},
      volume = {9},
      number = {5},
      pages = {238-245},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijecs.20240905.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20240905.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijecs.20240905.13},
      abstract = {Illustrations in children's books serve as powerful aesthetic devices to address complex emotions and ideologies, particularly in war-torn regions. These visual narratives act as catalysts for moral, value-based, and political discussions, offering a wordless medium that invites diverse interpretations based on the observer's perspective. This approach creates an open dialogue where there are no absolute right or wrong answers. Children's literature, through its illustrations, becomes a significant agent of socialization. These books impart cultural values, ideological concepts, and political behavior patterns, functioning as tools for establishing culturally responsive pedagogy. The images discussed, while originating from Israeli children's books predating the 2023 conflict, possess a timeless and universal quality that transcends their immediate context. Illustrations in children's books can either complement or diverge from the accompanying text, offering varying degrees of precision or poetic license. They carry cultural connotations that encompass symbols, traditions, beliefs, behaviors, and values unique to a particular society, conveying information beyond the apparent narrative. The inherent power of illustration lies in its ability to communicate directly with young children, often without the need for adult mediation. In preschool literature, illustrations serve multiple functions: they parallel written words, demonstrate abstract concepts, provide concrete representations of characters and settings, emphasize or contradict textual elements, and expand the narrative through visual elements not present in the text. Moreover, illustrations possess a psychological-therapeutic function, contributing to indirect treatment techniques. Like all visual representations, they embody simplified messages and shape recognition, conveyed formally and tangibly, with each element having both conscious and unconscious effects on the Therapeutic visual qualities in illustrated books aim to capture emotional nuances, intensify expressions of feeling, and convey concepts that may be challenging to express verbally. This is achieved through original solutions such as symbolism and creative visual metaphors. In conclusion, illustrations in children's books, particularly those addressing complex themes like war and fear, offer a unique and powerful medium for fostering understanding, encouraging dialogue, and providing emotional support. Their ability to transcend linguistic and cultural barriers makes them invaluable tools in shaping young minds and addressing challenging societal issues.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Using Illustrated Children’s Book to Strength Fracted / Cracks Identity of (the Israeli) Children
    
    AU  - Baratz Lea
    Y1  - 2024/10/18
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20240905.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijecs.20240905.13
    T2  - International Journal of Education, Culture and Society
    JF  - International Journal of Education, Culture and Society
    JO  - International Journal of Education, Culture and Society
    SP  - 238
    EP  - 245
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-3363
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20240905.13
    AB  - Illustrations in children's books serve as powerful aesthetic devices to address complex emotions and ideologies, particularly in war-torn regions. These visual narratives act as catalysts for moral, value-based, and political discussions, offering a wordless medium that invites diverse interpretations based on the observer's perspective. This approach creates an open dialogue where there are no absolute right or wrong answers. Children's literature, through its illustrations, becomes a significant agent of socialization. These books impart cultural values, ideological concepts, and political behavior patterns, functioning as tools for establishing culturally responsive pedagogy. The images discussed, while originating from Israeli children's books predating the 2023 conflict, possess a timeless and universal quality that transcends their immediate context. Illustrations in children's books can either complement or diverge from the accompanying text, offering varying degrees of precision or poetic license. They carry cultural connotations that encompass symbols, traditions, beliefs, behaviors, and values unique to a particular society, conveying information beyond the apparent narrative. The inherent power of illustration lies in its ability to communicate directly with young children, often without the need for adult mediation. In preschool literature, illustrations serve multiple functions: they parallel written words, demonstrate abstract concepts, provide concrete representations of characters and settings, emphasize or contradict textual elements, and expand the narrative through visual elements not present in the text. Moreover, illustrations possess a psychological-therapeutic function, contributing to indirect treatment techniques. Like all visual representations, they embody simplified messages and shape recognition, conveyed formally and tangibly, with each element having both conscious and unconscious effects on the Therapeutic visual qualities in illustrated books aim to capture emotional nuances, intensify expressions of feeling, and convey concepts that may be challenging to express verbally. This is achieved through original solutions such as symbolism and creative visual metaphors. In conclusion, illustrations in children's books, particularly those addressing complex themes like war and fear, offer a unique and powerful medium for fostering understanding, encouraging dialogue, and providing emotional support. Their ability to transcend linguistic and cultural barriers makes them invaluable tools in shaping young minds and addressing challenging societal issues.
    
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Sections