Picturebooks and Critical Inquiry: Tools to (Re)Imagine a More Inclusive World

Literature can be used to create communities of conscience around topics of social justice, hope, and activism. Furthermore, when the lens of critical literacy is applied to interactive discussions about books, the messages shared in the texts are not neutral and can be viewed from multiple viewpoints, thereby providing rich openings for readers to think more critically about the world. This qualitative case study investigates how second graders discuss a variety of social issue topics using diverse children's picturebooks. International children's literature can initiate important conversations to help break down perpetuating cycles of social inequality, restore hope, and bring kindness to the world.