Challenging and Controversial Picturebooks
Creative and critical responses to visual texts
- 294 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Challenging and Controversial Picturebooks
Creative and critical responses to visual texts
About This Book
It is often assumed that picturebooks are for very young readers because of their emphasis on the illustrations and their scarcity of text; however, there are increasing numbers of picturebooks where the age of the implied reader is questionable. These are picturebooks whose controversial subject matter and unconventional, often unsettling style of illustration challenge the reader, pushing them to question and probe deeper to understand what the book is about. In addition to the book challenging the reader, the reader often challenges the book in an attempt to understand what is being said.
These increasingly popular picturebooks work on many different levels; they are truly polysemic and worthy of in-depth analysis. They push the reader to ask questions and in many instances are intrinsically philosophical, often dealing with fundamental life issues.
Challenging and Controversial Picturebooks examines these unconventional, non-conformist picturebooks, considering what they are, their audience and their purpose. It also considers:
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- Children's and adults' thoughts on these kinds of picturebooks.
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- How challenging and unsettling wordless picturebooks can play with the mind and promote philosophical thought.
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- What creates non-conformity and strangeness … is it the illustrations and their style, the subject matter or a combination of both?
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- Why certain countries create, promote and accept these picturebooks more than others.
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- Why certain picturebooks are censored and what factors are in play when these decisions are made.
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- The role of publishers in translating and publishing these picturebooks.
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- Children's creative and critical responses to strange, unsettling and often disturbing visual texts.
This inspiring and thought-provoking volume explores the work of a number of highly respected, international picturebook experts and includes an exclusive interview with the legendary Klaus Flugge, Managing Director of Andersen Press, one of the few remaining independent children's book publishers in England.
It is an indispensable reference for all interested in or working with picturebooks, including researchers, students in higher and teacher education, English advisors/inspectors, literacy consultants and classroom teachers.
Frequently asked questions
Information
Part I Challenging and controversial picturebooks
1 Picturebooks as Strange, Challenging and Controversial Texts
Every so often, books appear that are hard to categorise, because they are not aimed at a particular age group but at readers in general; they do not have monochord themes and plot sequences but are complex; they allow the dizzyingly incomprehensible to become the object of a reader’s wonder – books that do not invite rapid and comfortable reading but require effort and contemplation.With great love, subtlety and humour, they depict offbeat characters, lonely children and adults, death and hope and love, they (the creators of these books) talk about incest, lies, violence, God, sexuality, alcoholism and drug abuse, abortion and euthanasia... everything that belongs to a more accurate description of the world shared by children and adults. A world many adults feel we should spare our children – at least, in books. A pleasant thought. And somewhat mendacious, when one considers the things that children encounter every day – on television, films and on the Internet.Journalists wallow incoherently through terror, war and destruction, sex scandals, raw violence and bestial murder. There is not much gentle grace there – at most, quickly pronounced judgements and titillating warnings about clips with bloody scenes.But a book can be something else. A nuanced, artistic presentation of characters and worlds – without condemnation – can provide a completely different and complex experience from that of the disjointed assaults of the news. It is not about what you say but how and why you say it. It is not about provoking or offending someone but telling a story that means something. Books should not necessarily be understood but elicit a desire to understand.Oscar K (2008: 46–48)
Challenging and controversial picturebooks
Considering the terms
Children's personal challenges
A big challenge for me was when my sister was in hospital because she had leukaemia.Another challenge for me is about my mum and dad’s divorce. My dad has sent us to court asking for more contact when I don’t want it. It has only just happened so it’s a bit out of my comfort zone but I’m getting used to it.Olly
A challenge for me a few years ago was when my mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer. It was especially hard for me and my dad because she was in hospital for three months. All the family was affected because she did a lot for us and it became a very hard time. Visiting mum was the hardest because seeing her like this made us feel sad because we had to do lots for her as if she was a baby whereas she used to do lots for us before. My challenge is mental and physical.Emy
My first personal challenge was when I went to Manchester velodrome because I was the only girl there and I’d never done it before, plus everyone else could ride and I couldn’t. What I found hard was that you can’t take your feet out of the pedals and you can easily fall over and really hurt yourself.My second challenge was when my granddad had cancer and was always in hospital. I was challenged because I had to be brave and that was really hard because my great nan had cancer and died so I was scared I was going to lose granddad. Unfortunately I did. It was also really hard and a challenge for my nan, uncle and mum because they were there when granddad died.My last challenge was going to my granddad’s funeral because I started to cry as soon as I saw his coffin. I had a challenge trying to keep the tears back.Meg
Personal challenges and picturebook themes
Table of contents
- Cover Page
- Half-title Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication Page
- Table Of Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Permissions
- Foreword
- Notes on contributors
- Children’s thoughts on challenging and controversial picturebooks
- Adults’ thoughts on challenging and controversial picturebooks
- Part I Challenging and controversial picturebooks: What are they and who are they for?
- Part II Controversy and ambiguity in the art of the visual
- Part III Creative, critical and philosophical responses to challenging picturebooks
- Part IV Thoughts from a children's book publisher
- Index
- Plates