Colori della pelle e differenze di genere negli albi illustrati. Ricerche e prospettive pedagogiche, FrancoAngeli, Milano (2018)

The book is a product of a transnational synergic and fruitful collaboration among authoresses native to three national realities – Italy, France, and Brazil. Besides the affinities spanning their empirical research and “pedagogic creed”, the authoresses share a complex and urgent challenge inspiring them to subject the representations of diversities in illustrated children’s books to an in-depth analysis: books that are considered important mediators in cultural transmission during early childhood, as well as in the formation of children’s imagination, often unfavourably contaminated by the presence of images and contents impregnated with stereotypes and prejudices. The study builds on some questions: is it possible to read with no stereotypes? What kind of representations of gender, somatic, melanin, and cultural diversity are conveyed by illustrated children’s books? And what practices can be implemented in educational settings so as to stimulate a critical reading of stereotyped and discriminating images?

Focus of the publication:

- illustrated children’s books and their educational usage;

- representations of gender, somatic, melanin and cultural diversity in illustrated children’s books;

- children’s imaginary, stereotypes and prejudices;

- promotion of critical thinking