Table Of ContentHuman Rights in Children’s
Literature
Human Rights
in Children’s
Literature
Imagination and the
Narrative of Law
z
JONATHAN TODRES
SARAH HIGINBOTHAM
Foreword by
CAROL BELLAMY
Former Executive Director of UNICEF
1
1
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Todres, Jonathan.
Human rights in children’s literature : imagination and the narrative of law / Jonathan Todres,
Sarah Higinbotham ; foreword by Carol Bellamy, former Executive Director of UNICEF.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-021334-3 (hardback : acid-free paper) 1. Children’s literature—History and criticism. 2. Children’s
rights in literature. I. Higinbotham, Sarah. II. Title.
PN1009.5.C444T63 2015
809'.933581—dc23
2015016382
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
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We dedicate this book
to
Young readers, whose imagination and excitement make it impossible
not to be similarly excited by children’s literature,
&
to
The children around the world who confront human rights violations.
Their courage, resilience, and dignity too often go unrecognized. It is for
them we hope that the ideal of a human rights culture is soon realized.
Contents
Foreword by Carol Bellamy, Former Executive Director of UNICEF xi
Preface by Jonathan Todres xv
Acknowledgments xix
1. Making Children’s Rights Widely Known 1
Human Rights and Children 3
Human Rights in Literature 6
Children’s Books and Children’s Transformation 9
Reading in the Lives of Children 12
Human Rights Education 14
About This Book 16
Chapter Overviews 21
Crossing Boundaries in Childhood and Literature 24
Notes 27
2. Participation Rights and the Voice of the Child 33
Children’s Participation Rights under International
Human Rights Law 34
Participation in Law and Narrative: “Down at the Bottom, We, Too,
Should Have Rights” 37
Listening to Children: “Every Voice Counts!” 41
Beyond the Literary World: Participation in Children’s Lives 46
Peter Rabbit Finds His Voice 51
Notes 53
viii Contents
3. Confronting Discrimination, Pursuing Equality 59
Nondiscrimination under International Human Rights Law 61
Equality and Nondiscrimination in Law and Narrative:
“A Person’s a Person” 65
Discrimination Based on Race and Ethnicity:
“Us” and “Them” 65
Sex Discrimination: “You Can’t Be Peter—That’s a
Boy’s Name” 70
Disability and Discrimination: “They Fear You Because
You’re Different” 74
Children’s Experience of Discrimination: “You’re Too Small.
Grow Up Quicker” 77
Discrimination beyond the Literary World: Education and
Opportunity 81
You Can Teach a Sneetch 84
Notes 85
4. Identity Rights and Family Rights 91
Children’s Right to an Identity under International Human
Rights Law 93
Identity Rights in Children’s Literature: “But Not Ferdinand” 94
Children’s Right to a Family under International Human
Rights Law 99
Family Rights in Children’s Literature: “Are You My Mother?” 102
Orphaned and Abandoned Children in Literature 103
Resilient Children in Literature: “We Wanted a Family
So Bad, All of Us” 106
What We Learn from Listening to Children 108
The Interdependence of Rights 112
Notes 112
5. Civil and Political Rights of Children: Accountability
with Dignity 117
Children’s Civil and Political Rights under International Human
Rights Law 121
Contents ix
Juvenile Justice in Children’s Literature: “Lock That Naughty
Monkey Up Right Away” 123
Branding the Offender: Harry Potter and the Badge of Shame 127
Restorative Justice: The Wind in the Willows 131
Children’s Accountability beyond Formal Systems: Little House
on the Prairie 137
Discipline and the Rights of the Child 138
Notes 139
6. Securing Child Well-Being: The Economic, Social, and Cultural
Rights of the Child 143
The Development of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights 144
Health Rights in Law and Literature 145
Education Rights in Law and Literature: “Nothing but the Facts” 148
Protection from Economic Exploitation in Law and Literature 152
Early Efforts to Secure Children’s Safety: Chimney Sweeps 154
Children as Collective Actors 157
The Right to Play in Law and Literature: “Poetry and Hums” 160
The Right to an Adequate Standard of Living in Law and
Literature 163
Our Basic Rights 164
Notes 165
7. Adults in the World of Children’s Literature 169
Perpetrators of Human Rights Violations: “Off with Her Head!” 171
Protectors of Human Rights: “I Have to Protect Them” 175
Children’s Defenders as Parens Patriae 179
When Adults Don’t Listen: “I’m Sorry, What Were You Saying?” 181
Emerging Partnerships between Adults and Children 184
Adults in the Audience of Children’s Literary Adventures 191
Mutual Respect 192
Notes 193
