Ecoliteracy: nonfiction children’s literature and the ecological pact


Δημοσιευμένα: Mar 1, 2026
Λέξεις-κλειδιά:
ecoliteracy children’s nonfiction eco-pedagogy ecology; environmental education
Tiziana Mascia
Máirín Wilson
Περίληψη

What kinds of nonfiction stories can engage young readers to develop ecological awareness and foster environmental action? Through the lens of literature, readers explore complex environmental themes, fostering deeper understanding and ecological empathy. This study examines how new nonfiction children's literature fosters ecoliteracy through specific narrative and communicative strategies. Building on insights from the literature review, we defined three key dimensions that guided the thematic analysis of 14 selected texts (published 2004–2024) available to primary school children in Italy and Ireland. These dimensions include narrative strategies, representations of ecosystem complexity and participatory approaches positioning children as environmental agents. These texts employ strategies such as personal narratives, multimodal designs and action-oriented frameworks enabling readers to develop both cognitive understanding and emotional connection to environmental issues. This study reveals how nonfiction's unique affordances can promote critical thinking, ecological awareness, and positive environmental action, contributing to our understanding of how literature nurtures environmentally conscious young citizens.

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Αναφορές
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