Can Children's Books Help Build a Better World?

12/27/2023

Can Children's Books Help Build a Better World?

Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.
Malorie Blackman, British writer

In an article in The Guardian, the poignant words of Jella Lepman resonate: "Let us set this upside-down world right again by starting with the children. They will show the grown-ups the way to go." Amid our often chaotic world, these words are a call to act for and with children, especially through the world of literature.

Fleeing Germany in the 1930s and returning post-World War II, Lepman recognized the transformative power of books, particularly for children. She was convinced that books for young people could build bridges of understanding across differences and conflict.

Thus, the International Board of Books for Young People (IBBY) was born, now spanning 75 countries and committed to promoting international understanding through children's literature.

As author David Almond says: "IBBY reaches out across all supposed barriers of border, language and race. It helps us understand each other and helps our children to feel that they are members of a single, fragile, extraordinary world."

Author S.F. Said shares insights into the unique ability of fiction to transcend societal divides. He emphasizes, "I think books can help transcend 'us and them.' Fiction lets us experience another existence as if it was our own because readers bring stories to life in their own minds, each in their own way."

In the spirit of nurturing empathy through literature, let's celebrate the profound impact of children's books. They are not just stories; they are instruments of understanding, tools that can help children embrace diversity, appreciate shared humanity, and, in doing so, contribute to a world where compassion knows no boundaries.

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