Essay: Exploring Themes in Children's Literature and Society

This essay provides an analysis of several children's books, including "Hana's Suitcase" by Karen Levine, "The Bird" by Zetta Elliott, "The Paper Bag Princess" by Robert Munsch, and "The Island" by Armin Greder. The essay discusses the importance of exposing children to diverse viewpoints and how these books address complex themes such as prejudice, war, grief, addiction, societal norms, and displacement. It examines the conflicts, character development, and societal impacts presented in each story, highlighting how literature can help children understand and navigate a changing world. The analysis emphasizes the role of guardians in preparing children to face real-world issues and fostering empathy. The essay also explores the books' historical and cultural contexts, including their impact on children's understanding of diversity, acceptance, and self-esteem, and how the stories challenge traditional roles and societal expectations.

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Hana’s Suitcase, by Karen Levine
The essay discusses the importance of exposing children to various viewpoints and are
available to assist in discussing them being through the books instead of hiding and banning
them. It helps in understanding the issues individuals face in real life and supports them to learn
to function in an ever diverse, changing community. The books Hana’s Suitcase by Karen Levine
and And Tango Makes Three by Justin have been monitored and banned for violent and
offensive content. The two books resonate with various individuals and various families for
diverse reasons. The freedom of reading the books should be that of the family and the reader,
not an administering sect. Conflicts in the literature of children are essential part the of character
and story development. In the story of Hana’s Suitcase, the main character deals with the conflict
between the society and herself. In the story, we see Hana a young Jewish girl growing in the
time of prejudice and war. Hana fights against the new social expectations throughout the tale,
she and other families are forced to follow the rules of the Nazis and learn to adapt to the new
imposed way of living.
Guardians face conflicting impulses since they want to protect their children from horrible
things happening in the world. Their desire is for the children to play in peaceful ignorance
untroubled by thoughts of terrorist bombings, hate crimes, and school shootings. However, the
parents need to prepare them how to live in a world where these issues are realities. The
guardians need to ensure that the children have the knowledge and empathy to be managers of
positive alteration when encountered with prejudice and detestation.
It’s challenging to talk about the difficult subjects to the kids. For Ishioka, she taught the kids
about the darkest days of the history of the world, the curator of the Holocaust in Japan (Burke,
32). She humanized the topic for the children; she acquired a personal article a suitcase that
belonged to Hana. Her efforts she made to uncover the story of Hana the owner of the briefcase

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went far beyond any job description. The story is not all about memorizing the horrible things
that occurred, but also about using the knowledge of the past to assist the children in making
choices in the future.
A lesson in Hana’s Suitcase story is that kids can draw a difference. Fumiko’s percentage in
Japan was popular to assist storage and use as a condiment confection the word near however no
cigar Hana’s backpack and her precise in WW2. The scholars discovered approximately the
napery and knapsack that the story becomes so pertinent that they subsidize their arrest proves
too sweet the word. They napkins so stressed to Hana, one day although they didn’t apprehend
her. Our quarter would be impacted by this fact everything being identical rather than basics in
an expert; this is a fact of life that you can get approximately. The rebellion approximately
encumbers, and movie of Hana’s Suitcase is that the tale makes the characters display alive in
the future though we don’t have a clear connection to them. The film makes you empathize with
the aid of the complete of the characters and prefers to don't forget higher. This tale is inside one
location even snap one out of it students to usher in the initiative to understand about WW2 on
their personal and meet any other story of a subject inside the holocaust.
The Bird by Zetta Elliott
The book is an interesting and an attractive picture text. It talks about approval, addiction, and
loss through words that are elusive and drawings that are placid. In a promising debut, this is a
book of pictures narrates a tale of a young lad and who was gifted in drawing helping him
traverse challenging emotions. Mekhai, also identified as Bird, enjoys drawing, with the
illustrations; he could wipe out issues that don't fit in a voracious way (Evans, 25). However, in
actual life issues are not easily fixed. He scuffles to apprehend the loss of his granddad and the
drug addiction of the elder brother; he escapes in the art field. A problematical intertwining of
imposing painting, ink drawings, and charcoal intensifies the actions of the whimsical edition as
it syndicates colors. The book both has nimbly and art play with the nickname of Mehkai,
starting with the spitting image of a quivering bird just as the associate, as they seem to be
blustered away by the puff of gale, and explaining the death of the brother. An illustration is a
channel for Birds imagination and sentiments and delivers a route to make logic of his domain.
In the period, with his grandpa's ally assistance, Bird discoveries his extraordinary something
and the groups to hover. The straightforwardness of the tale contradicts the convolution of the

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subjects that would be an embarrassment in the book of pictures format disheartened the
spectators in the scrutinizing book. From the emergency elegance, Bird is a poignant appearance
of a young lad surviving with the real-life predicaments. The quiet resilience of Bird heartens
readers and enthused by the healing statute of placing pen to broadsheet. The bird is one of the
loveliest affecting books for children. It is a whimsical book that helps children deal with the loss
of the loved ones. The manner the book deals with powerful emotions in a way the children can
understand and process. The children have to deal with serious and controversial issues that are
used in the text. They include grief, addiction, and death. My view is the test was supposed to
deal with these issues, it's the response of the kid that matters and the aid he obtains from the
loved ones. The book is all about the command of art and tells stories to realm a long tradition of
surpassing loss and managing with transformation. According to the research done about the
bird, I have general knowledge of African America literature and history. I have experience with
ways how silence destroys the family relations (Burke, 15). It is exciting how individuals
inquire about my brother's addition that leads to death. Readers believe that the story emerged
directly from the writer's life experience, but more often, it is a blend of facts and fiction. The
environment most children grow up is where kids are not encouraged to speak about their
feelings or ask interrogations. It was an important step for the writing of the book since it
provides diverse classic of children involving the youths in their survival tactics.
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
It is a classic tale with a twist. In the fairytale, Munsch reverses the roles of the damsel in
distress and the prince charming. Instead, the female lead turns in to sassy and witty role model
to take charge of one’s life. The book is for all the children since sex bias is not acceptable. The
book is known for positively redefining sex roles. Since 1980, the year of publication, the book
has been printed more than 52 times and translated into various languages. The book was
deemed one of the first feminist books in the market. The illustrations expand and extend the
storyline that was created through rich expression, working together to inaugurate the setting,
themes, characters, and mood of the story.
It is a natural and quick read. There is no much substance to the tale and what is being written
and illustrated about is the basis of the book. The tale does not address a particular plot that is
common in most fairy stories but reverses the typical roles that one expects. The author’s

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framework with storytelling is the main reason for the role reversals. He had been used to
narrating stories that portrayed typical princess and prince roles and opted it was for a change.
The alteration made the adults happier, and the children never minded to him. Despite the fact
that, the book is simple, the problems and themes addressed throughout the tale are significant
for most children. It emphasizes on the events that materials and money purchase happiness. It
also describes that the lady must be the damsel in distress to find the prince charming, and live
happily ever after with the prince fascinating. Understudies tend to like the five section shape.
It's protected, and they can utilize it nearly without speculation once they comprehend it. By bit
by bit bringing different classifications into a frame, they feel great with; understudies may
progress toward becoming daring individuals in their composition. In the long run, they may
push the limits of our desires past what we suspect in inventive and singular ways. They will
figure out how to settle on author's decisions and see past the desires of the five section shape at
that point, as we read.
Their written work, expecting a certain something, they will have the instruments to
astound us with something unique out and out, similar to the ruler and the princess in the story
who don't get hitched and live cheerfully perpetually all things considered. The themes addressed
in the tale are depicted in a light-hearted and short-lived elucidation. At the end of the book, the
reader sees Elizabeth run off into the sunset by herself; this implies that her life had to go on. The
author’s work is not fabulous, but the straightforward and simple story was encouraging children
to break societal norms. It also addresses more profound thoughts into the stereotypes that
folklores portray. The book boosts the self-esteem of the girls and has led to discussions about
the facts that they do not need to have a lover to be happy. The need for the children to accept
themselves the way they are despite the background and identify their strengths. The book is for
uplifting and empowering. The children need not look down on themselves or others for where
they are and their background.
The Island By Armin Greder
The Island is crafted by the Swiss artist Armin Greder and was first distributed five years
back in Germany. It narrates a tale of a more intriguing individual who is defenseless, cleaned up
and exposed, on the shores of the Island. Who is he? Where has he originated from? What does
he need? Preferably, the villagers would ask him to leave for good; they'd throw him out to the

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ocean to discover his way back to wherever he originated from. The neighborhood angler who
discovered him cautions that it would prompt his unavoidable passing and this is affirmed by a
tremendous twofold page spread of the surging ocean in the charcoal dark. Reluctantly, they
choose to give him a chance to stay secured up by a surrendered goat pen. Steadily the islanders
understand that the man needs sustenance and help. However, its very idea draws out their most
deep seated partialities. Everybody, including the instructor and the cleric, finds a reason not to
help him. Thus they don't.
Following from the achievement, Armin Greder offers kids readers and grown-ups
essential stage year summer the island through the investigation the acclaimed represented book
the kids will be presented. What composes connections are being passed on through the
representations the content Armin Greder unfortunately by and by not have a specifics this
craftsman Armin Greder. David Almond is exceptionally a unique essayist. Title the island
creator Armin Greder distributer Allen Unwin ISBN. It was extraordinarily influenced by
England in the year 2015 during summer time. The choice utilizes this structure was based they
want to create.
The figurative island record the way which preference and dread make manufactured
obstructions between individuals. Based unique material made schools connecting system upheld
the pears establishment. A book considered as bolstered the utilization procedure show strategies
extend. More introductions find the universes biggest islands. Armin Greder subject’s society
race untouchable’s movement age 10 portrayals the island shocking and capable picture book
about displaced people xenophobia multiculturalism social, governmental issues and human
rights. Ordinary low costs and free conveyance qualified requests. What are the essential
qualities these connections how are these spoken to through the symbolism? More exact writer
key stage year summer the island through the investigation the acclaimed delineated book the
island Armin Greder the youngsters will present the. Themes chocolate English content
concentration the island Armin Greder perusing apply their developing information the island
tale. The hedgehog audit superstar culture article was connecting words for pugnacious
exposition to affirmations paper pictures. It is a visual education and picture storybooks.
The frame the dramatization was played for the classroom which has a few certain restrictions
both emotional the island this show lesson which utilizes the storyline the photo book the island

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(Evans, 10). The writer describes the story, and the writer, the island group; bring children,
readers, another capable social equity-related work a moving. At the point when gotten with its
dazzling delineations and sad story realized that would make the indispensable and singular
commitment the more magnificent venture. The story our opportunity stunning and intense
picture book victor a few universal honors and. The island story subject’s the society race
pariah’s migration. The book has been portrayed as a surprising and compelling picture book.
Testing and questionable picture books offered neither safe entry nor ensured comes about for
instructor or understudy.
They raise doubt about our convictions; they animate our thoughts in headings we may
never at any point have longed for and make a case for our feelings. They summon an
enthusiastic reaction, which can some of the time be overwhelming to the point that they leave
the pursuer depleted from the exertion consumed in attempting to comprehend the astound in the
visual devour before them. Such books can't be completely refreshing in breathtaking
confinement however rather require the exchange with others, thought and guess cautious
perception. They are requesting, perilous and troublesome. Startling turns and regards rise as
each page is turned. They are intriguing, terrifying, and disappointing. In any case, the flexibility
of articulation, inventiveness and coordinated effort they encourage gives wealth to the spirit and
lessons throughout everyday life, which reach a long ways past the limits of the classroom.
What's more, in that lies their immense reward.

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Works Cited
Burke, Anne, Ingrid Johnston, and Angela Ward, eds. Challenging stories: Canadian literature
for social justice in the classroom. Canadian Scholars’ Press, 2017.
Evans, Janet, ed. Challenging and controversial picturebooks: Creative and critical responses to
visual texts. Routledge, 2015.