“Animals and us”
What does children’s literature teach us about our relationship with animals and animality? From wild beast to main hero, the figure of the animal has evolved over the centuries and is approached, in each book and in each era, from different angles. This is what Michel Pastoureau shows, for example, about the wolf, whose image evolves considerably over time, from the bloodthirsty monster to the endearing hero of our children’s albums.
In literature, there are first of all the domestic animals for which our passions are unleashed. True traveling companions and friends, pets follow humans on their adventures and share their emotions. Many stories also put “humanized” animals at the forefront, which allow the young reader to identify, develop their imagination and build a sensitivity to otherness. As a character, the wild or captive animal establishes distance from reality, which allows the authors to address strong themes, particularly that of ecology, environmental preservation and conservation. animal. Sometimes frightening, often fascinating, animals are a source of inspiration and remind us of our fears, our desires and our dreams. The transformed animal, magical or monstrous, finds a special place in fantastic and science fiction works, popular with adolescents.
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