Using Illustrated Children’s Book to Strength Fracted / Cracks Identity of (the Israeli) Children

Abstract

Illustrations in children's books serve as powerful aesthetic devices to address complex emotions and ideologies, particularly in war-torn regions. These visual narratives act as catalysts for moral, value-based, and political discussions, offering a wordless medium that invites diverse interpretations based on the observer's perspective. This approach creates an open dialogue where there are no absolute right or wrong answers. Children's literature, through its illustrations, becomes a significant agent of socialization. These books impart cultural values, ideological concepts, and political behavior patterns, functioning as tools for establishing culturally responsive pedagogy. The images discussed, while originating from Israeli children's books predating the 2023 conflict, possess a timeless and universal quality that transcends their immediate context. Illustrations in children's books can either complement or diverge from the accompanying text, offering varying degrees of precision or poetic license. They carry cultural connotations that encompass symbols, traditions, beliefs, behaviors, and values unique to a particular society, conveying information beyond the apparent narrative. The inherent power of illustration lies in its ability to communicate directly with young children, often without the need for adult mediation. In preschool literature, illustrations serve multiple functions: they parallel written words, demonstrate abstract concepts, provide concrete representations of characters and settings, emphasize or contradict textual elements, and expand the narrative through visual elements not present in the text. Moreover, illustrations possess a psychological-therapeutic function, contributing to indirect treatment techniques. Like all visual representations, they embody simplified messages and shape recognition, conveyed formally and tangibly, with each element having both conscious and unconscious effects on the Therapeutic visual qualities in illustrated books aim to capture emotional nuances, intensify expressions of feeling, and convey concepts that may be challenging to express verbally. This is achieved through original solutions such as symbolism and creative visual metaphors. In conclusion, illustrations in children's books, particularly those addressing complex themes like war and fear, offer a unique and powerful medium for fostering understanding, encouraging dialogue, and providing emotional support. Their ability to transcend linguistic and cultural barriers makes them invaluable tools in shaping young minds and addressing challenging societal issues.