Playing in and through Children's Books

Abstract

Playing in and through Children's Books Chrysogonus Siddha Malilang (bio) I would like to start this editorial by complaining about my dog. It has been difficult to walk her in the last couple of days as she gets distracted easily by the budding snowdrops around the park. The spring is coming—at least here in the north—and it has awakened the somewhat-playful beast within my dog. She forgets about me as soon as she sees the fresh buds of spring flowers, acting all wild with her runs and pounces. But how can I blame her if I had acted the same way several days ago at the Bologna Children's Book Fair? The numerous—and various—children's books showcased in the Bologna Fiere exhibition center made me lose control over myself. My playful inner child was unleashed and, just like my dog, I dropped my grip of time and space. The books transformed me back into the happy days of my childhood, where I was content to stay in my bedroom for the whole day as long as I was surrounded by books. The only thing missing was the presence of my parents and their concern for my well-being, a boy who refused to go out in the sun and play. They were afraid that I had become too studious and wasted my opportunities to play. Little did they know that I was playing through and within those books—that my act of reading is a play in itself. How can children's books be akin to play? That is one of the questions this issue tries to answer. Björn Sundmark and Annette Mars, in their article "The Play of Words, Music, and Images in Hans Alfredson's Flowery Frankfurters," argue that playful storytelling for children can be achieved through a transmedia conversation between a children's illustrated book and recorded songs. On the other hand, Sylvia Pantaleo presents the possibility of playful dialogue through silence or wordlessness in her article, "Reviewing the Multifaceted Complexity and Potential of Wordless Picturebooks." The more tactile, tangible play with and through children's books is further discussed as Frank Serafini and Lindsey Moses discuss children's books requiring unorthodox physical interaction in their article, "An Analysis of the Semiotic Resources of Contemporary Movable Picturebooks." Despite the common association of play with complete freedom, rules are still necessary. A play completely devoid of rules is nothing but pure chaos; the participants need to subject themselves to rules to ensure enjoyment for everyone involved (Nilsson). In terms of children's literature in the globalized world, one of the important rules of play is about representation and inclusivity. "'Paper White' Characters and the Desire for Homogeneity in Spanish-Language Picturebooks" by Macarena García-Gonzáles and Xavier Mínguez-López examines how ethnicity is absent, [End Page 1] erased, or folklorized across recommended picturebooks from various hispanophone countries. Meanwhile, "A Cause for Hope or an Unwitting Complicity?" by Helen Adam and Yvonne Urquhart scrutinizes the representation of cultural diversity in picturebooks nominated for various awards in Australia. This issue also features an article covering other points of interest. "Northern Lights Are Our Friends" by Mateusz Świetlicki and Sylwia Kamińska-Maciąg examines how the chronotopes in children's and young adult books about Soviet deportation both testify to the traumatic historical events and provide readers with a sense of hope. The "Children and Their Books" section features an article about Biblioteca Interactiva Latinoamericana Infantil y Juvenil, a new interactive children's library in Chile, and its attempt to promote reading among Chilean children. In the "Letters" section, readers can enjoy the presentation and discussion of a children's book from India, Faces in the Water. Readers can also find a short interview with Reda Gaudiamo, an Indonesian author, and learn how she drew upon her playful childhood and her daughter's experiences to weave the stories of a five-year-old Willa. There are, of course, many other things to say about the content of this issue. Anamaria Anderson has compiled wonderful Postcards from various corners of the globe. The issue's cover illustration is taken from...