Children as Implied Readers in Poetry Picturebooks: The Adaptation of Adult Poetry for Young Readers

Abstract

This article analyses Spanish poetry picturebooks for children and young adult readers based on adult poetry. It argues that the main changes that occur in the adaptation process involve the paratexts and literary communication, while the pictures play a prominent role in the creation of the new implied reader. The illustrations transform the original poems in many ways: they can describe, represent the poetic voice, add a story, introduce visual imagery or guide interpretation among other things. Finally, the article examines the pedagogical implications of these picturebooks and argues that they are a good resource for literary education, as they make great literature more attractive and accessible for children and young adults.