Picturebooks and Development
Education: the story of a
research project
Anne Dolan
You, Me and Diversity: the
potential of picture books for
teaching development and
intercultural education
(forthcoming) Trentham Books
and DICE
A picturebook
• Typically, a picturebook is
32 pages long with a
balance between text and
illustrations (Lewis, 2001).
• A work of art!
• As an art form, it hinges on
the interdependence of
pictures and words, on the
simultaneous display of two
facing pages and on the
drama of the turning page.
• 1 wordless book
• 2 picture story books
• 3 illustrated books
It's a Book
Of thee I Sing
What does it mean to be global?
2013 50th anniversary of I have a
dream
Timeline
• Picturebooks and geography
• Funding from DICE
• Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators
Summer 2011
• 2011-2012 Research
• May 2012 Contacted Publisher
• Funding, professional leave of absence
• 2012-2013 Write up
Funding from DICE
• Picturebooks and geography
• Funding from DICE
• Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators
Summer 2011
• 2011-2012 Research (Analysis of over 500
picturebooks)
• May 2012 Contacted Publisher
• Funding, professional leave of absence
• 2012-2013 Write up
Current context
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Literacy and numeracy
Less focus on critical literacy
Opportunities and challenges provided by ICT
Status of picture story books (only for young children).
Teachers are unaware of the existence of these books
When they are used they are used in a surface capacity
with more focus on the text rather than the
illustrations
• Restriction of picture books to literacy time
Relevance?
• A resource for our students!!!!
• A resource for teachers
• A resource for children and their parents
Curriculum Framework
Respect
• Self-respect and self
esteem
• Respect for others and
for the environment
Understanding
• Issues of social injustice
• Social Movements
Action
• Raising Awareness
• Action
You, me and diversity
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Contents
Introduction
Chapter one: Picturebooks
Chapter two: Culture, intercultural education and development
education
Chapter three: A culturally diverse classroom
Chapter four: Critical literacy and critically reading the world
Chapter five: Learning about respect and how to develop respect
through picturebooks
Chapter six: Understanding
Chapter seven: Raising awareness and taking action
Chapter eight: Exploring the journey of refugees through picturebooks
Appendix one: Building a curriculum based on respect, understanding
and action
Appendix two: Resources
InTouch, Magazine of Irish National Teachers’
Organisation
(INTO)
INTO
publications
Earthquake!
Tsunami!) (May,
2011).
Teaching about the
North Pole and Polar
Bears (November,
2011)
Celebrating
International Women’s
Day (March, 2012)
Reading the World!
(September, 2011)
The Colour of Home
(December, 2011)
Mama Panya’s
Pancakes: A Story
from Kenya (April,
2012)
Celebrating Trees
Through Picture
Books (October,
2011)
Africa is not a country
(January/December,
2012)
Dolan, A. M. (2013) Creative Geography Teaching Through the Use of Picture Story Books
in Scoffham, S. (ed.) Teaching Geography Creatively, Oxford: Routledge pp.31-46.
Dolan, A. M. (2013) ‘Critically reading the world through picture story books in O’Riordan, J.
Horgan, D. and Martin, S. (Eds) Early Childhood in a Global Context. Oxford: Peter Lang
Conference Presentations
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Dolan, A. M. (2013) Making development issues accessible for children through
picture books. IASSEE Annual Conference Meeting the Challenges of a Globalised
world. June 20th and 21st.
Dolan, A. (2013) Picturebooks and development education, Geographical
Association (Primary Geography) Presented at Charney Manor Geography
Conference, Oxford.
Dolan, A M. (2012) ‘The Potential of Picture Books for Teaching Migration as a
Geographical Theme. 33rd IBBY International Congress : Crossing Boundaries:
Translations and Migrations 23rd -26th August 2012, Imperial College, London.
Dolan, A. M. (2011) ‘You , Me and Diversity’: The potential of picture books for
teaching development and intercultural education. DICE Annual Conference: You,
Me and Diversity, 25th and 26th November, 2011.
Dolan, A. M. (2011)’ Picture Story Books and the Futures Dimension in Primary
Geography. Primary Geography Conference (Geographical Association). Charney
Manor, Oxfordshire. England. Geography in the revised primary curriculum: looking
forward. February 25th -27.th
Dolan, A. M . (2011) ‘Windows on the World: Use of picture books for teaching
geography’. IASSEE Conference: Learning for the 21st Century, From Research to
Practice. 4-5th of February, 2011, St.Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
Dolan, A. M. (2010) ‘Teaching primary geography through the medium of picture
story books’. Primary Geography Conference (Geographical Association). Charney
Manor, Oxfordshire. England. Geography in the revised primary curriculum: looking
forward. February 19th – 21st
Journal Articles
• Dolan, A.M. (forthcoming) Intercultural education, picturebooks and
refugees: a multidimensional perspective. Children’s literature in
English language education
• Dolan, A.M. (2012) Making a connection. Primary Geography.
Sheffield: Geographical Association Vol. 79, (3) pp.16-17.
• Dolan, A.M. (2012) Futures talk over story time. Primary
Geography. Sheffield: Geographical Association Vol. 78, (2) pp.2617.
• Dolan, A.M. (2012) Picture Books, Geography and Climate Change.
Journal of Children’s Literature Studies. Vol. 8 (2).
• Dolan, A.M. (2011) ‘Introducing Children to extremities such as
Climate Change through Picture Story Books’, Primary Geography
Journal. Sheffield: Geographical Association Vol. 76, (3) pp.10-11.
Lessons learnt
• Time for research….it takes a lot of time
• Support……from within the college
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…..outside the college
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…..mentors
• Keep writing ….start small
…..find avenues for publication
• Establish leverage…
Refugees
The Refugee Diaries