Browsing by Author "Juva, Iisa"

The aim of this study was to find out what kind of nature picture illustrated books convey to their readers. In children’s books nature, animals and nature conservation have always been central themes. How nature has been treated and how books describe human relationships with nature has varied over time. The purpose of this study was to look at the nature picture of children’s illustrated books from a contemporary perspective. The works Kadonneiden eläinten saari (2017) and Mato ja meri (2019) were selected for analysis. In both works, environmental education and eco-criticism are clearly present and central themes. The study was conducted content-analytically. Because of the theme of the study, eco-criticism was used as a theory alongside content analysis. The aim of the study was to find out the nature picture of the works, the relationship between nature and man and the possibilities of the children’s book as an environmental educator. The works were analysed by moving from individual observations to a broader view of how environmental education is reflected in the selected illustrated books and what themes the authors of the books seek to convey to readers in relation to environmental education. As a result of the study, it can be stated that the two children’s books selected as the research topic showed a strong idea of human responsibility for their environment. With the message of both works, attention was drawn to a future where things could be better if we wanted to. The books brought up the idea that it is the responsibility of each of us and that each person’s personal contribution matters. Through these stories, both the child and the adult reader can wake up to reflect on their own choices and opportunities to influence the state of the environment.