Children's literature with elements of magic realism can be used in education to give young people a better understanding of human rights and sustainability issues. This is the conclusion of a recent dissertation from a Malmö University researcher.

How can we create awareness among young learners about the great challenges of our time? The UN agency, UNESCO, advocates Global Citizenship Education (GCE). Within the education, young learners are taught how they can contribute to a more equal, inclusive, and sustainable world.

In the dissertation ‘Narrating Humanity: Children’s Literature and Global Citizenship Education’, Aliona Yarova has taken a closer look at how magic realism in children’s literature can contribute to GCE.

“The aim of this thesis is to explore how children’s magic realist fiction contributes to critical Global Citizenship Education (GCE). This study argues that children’s magic realist literature can facilitate young readers’ knowledge and understanding of human rights issues and promote environmental awareness in a non-didactic manner by representing global issues from non-human perspectives.” says Yarova, who works at the Faculty of Education and Society.

The dissertation consists of four sub-studies. In the studies, four English-language, contemporary children's and young adult books in the genre of magic realism are analysed. The books are Eva by Peter Dickinson, The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett, The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, and A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.

“The contribution of my case-studies to non-didactic pedagogy in teaching global issues and the implications for critical GCE shows the educational value of magic realism, non-human storytelling and non-human perspectives in education and open-ended narratives.”

“The study has shown the pedagogical capacity of the magic realist inverted narratives to provide a reflective space for the reader to critically interpret the plot, and emotionally engage with and gain a deep understanding of the global issues portrayed.”

In GCE, young people are encouraged to become active citizens who critically approach global issues. In the same way, this approach to children's literature can shape active, thoughtful young readers who are capable of critically interpreting various literary texts. There is an important connection here, according to Yarova.

“Young readers educated towards global citizenship non-didactically through active reading of magic realist children’s literature may never define themselves as global citizens and may never even encounter the term, but the values they are encouraged to acquire will determine their actions as independent critical thinkers and responsible members of the global society.” Yarova adds.

Text: Anna Dahlbeck and Max Pahmp