Reading Children and Animal-Human Relations in Charlotte’s Web and The One and Only Ivan

Authors

  • Chen-Wei Yu Fo Guang University, Taiwan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21153/pecl2016vol24no1art1113

Keywords:

animal-human relations, Charlotte's Web, The One and Only Ivan

Abstract

It is often assumed that children enjoy an animistic connection with animals, as the predominance of the talking animal story genre in children’s literature attests. Ignorant, uncivilized, or vulnerable as these animal characters often are, they bespeak ‘the animal-like condition of children’ in adults’ eyes (Nodelman and Reimer 2003, p. 194). Some animal stories have been read as encouraging child readers to identify with their animal characters, who mature as the plot advances.

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Author Biography

  • Chen-Wei Yu, Fo Guang University, Taiwan

    Chen-Wei Yu is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures at Fo Guang University in Taiwan. His articles have appeared in academic journals of children literature, including International Research in Children’s Literature and Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures.

References

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Published

2016-01-01

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Section

Articles

How to Cite

“Reading Children and Animal-Human Relations in Charlotte’s Web and The One and Only Ivan” (2016) Papers: Explorations into Children’s Literature, 24(1), pp. 132–148. doi:10.21153/pecl2016vol24no1art1113.

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