6. Disability Representation in Nature-Themed Board Books

• In Event: Nature-connectedness and the More-than-human in Environmental Education - Environmental Education SIG Structured Poster Session

Abstract

Purpose:
The purpose of this examination of the “Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists” board book series by McQuerry and Rosenthal (2022) is to both investigate what disability representation in nature-themed board books might offer disabled children, as well as to highlight a series of books that embraces inclusion and accessibility in natural environments.

Theoretical Perspectives:
Literature for the examination of the “Little Environmentalists” board book series largely came from Ecocriticism and studies featuring disability and outdoor play. Ecocritical perspectives believe that early exposure to the outdoors helps children foster respect for nature and promotes essential child development (Shimek, 2021). However, in an examination of outdoor play in award-winning picturebooks, Shimek (2021) found that none of the characters were presented as disabled. Studies examining disability and outdoor play found that disabled children are less likely to have access to play in outdoor community spaces than their non-disabled peers, as well as less access to the mental and physical health benefits of being outdoors (Taylor et al., 2022) (Brussoni et al., 2015). Together, I believe these perspectives suggest that one path to building access to outdoor play for disabled children may be through literature that shows them, as well as non-disabled children, that the outdoors are for everyone.

Author

• Caitlin Tobin, University of Wisconsin - Madison