View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Peace and justice themes as presented within select works of children's literature.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Peace and justice themes as presented within select works of children's literature.
Authors: Haskell Marker, Jessica1 (AUTHOR) Jessica.h.marker@gmail.com
Source: Journal of Peace Education. Apr2026, Vol. 23 Issue 1, p24-47. 24p.
Subject Terms: *Children's literature, *Critical pedagogy, *Conflict management, *Values education, Social justice, Nonviolence, Social values, Peacebuilding
Abstract: Children's literature serves as a powerful tool for imparting moral lessons, generating dialogue, and fostering critical consciousness. Given its role in promoting social values, this research study investigates how peace and justice themes are reflected in the narrative elements and symbolic representations of the American Library Association's (ALA) Notable Children's Books for younger readers for the years 1994, 2009, and 2024. Rooted in constructivist theory, this study draws from critical theories, critical pedagogy, and peacebuilding theory, exploring how these themes and concepts are woven into children's literature. Through a comprehensive content analysis of 46 texts, this study finds a predominance of individualistic narratives focused on personal transformation and psychological peace, with minimal depictions of collective action or systemic change. Common conflict resolution tools, such as dialogue, negotiation, and mediation, are notably absent. These findings emphasize the need for more diverse and holistic representations of peace and justice themes in children's literature, as well as a deeper cross-disciplinary appreciation for how children's literature can serve as a meaningful vehicle for developing young readers' values and behaviors towards conflict resolution and social justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Peace Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 192434880
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Peace and justice themes as presented within select works of children's literature.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Haskell+Marker%2C+Jessica%22">Haskell Marker, Jessica</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> Jessica.h.marker@gmail.com</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Peace+Education%22">Journal of Peace Education</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 23 Issue 1, p24-47. 24p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children's+literature%22">Children's literature</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Critical+pedagogy%22">Critical pedagogy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Conflict+management%22">Conflict management</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Values+education%22">Values education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+justice%22">Social justice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nonviolence%22">Nonviolence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+values%22">Social values</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peacebuilding%22">Peacebuilding</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Children's literature serves as a powerful tool for imparting moral lessons, generating dialogue, and fostering critical consciousness. Given its role in promoting social values, this research study investigates how peace and justice themes are reflected in the narrative elements and symbolic representations of the American Library Association's (ALA) Notable Children's Books for younger readers for the years 1994, 2009, and 2024. Rooted in constructivist theory, this study draws from critical theories, critical pedagogy, and peacebuilding theory, exploring how these themes and concepts are woven into children's literature. Through a comprehensive content analysis of 46 texts, this study finds a predominance of individualistic narratives focused on personal transformation and psychological peace, with minimal depictions of collective action or systemic change. Common conflict resolution tools, such as dialogue, negotiation, and mediation, are notably absent. These findings emphasize the need for more diverse and holistic representations of peace and justice themes in children's literature, as well as a deeper cross-disciplinary appreciation for how children's literature can serve as a meaningful vehicle for developing young readers' values and behaviors towards conflict resolution and social justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Peace Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=192434880
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/17400201.2025.2506407
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 24
        StartPage: 24
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Children's literature
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Critical pedagogy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Conflict management
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Values education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social justice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nonviolence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social values
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Peacebuilding
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Peace and justice themes as presented within select works of children's literature.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Haskell Marker, Jessica
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 17400201
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 23
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Peace Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1