The Significance of Animals in Children's Literature: A Zoopoetic Approach

In his seminal work 'The Animal that Therefore I Am,' Jacques Derrida explores the concept of 'the point of view of the absolute other' as embodied by the gaze of an animal. This idea is not new, as Iris Murdoch had earlier experimented with borderline narrative techniques to shift focalization from human to animal in her novels. These experiments, which can be termed 'zoofocalization,' allow readers to experience the world through the perceptions of animals, effectively appropriating their alterity.

However, the foreignness of dogs and other animals to human language poses a significant aesthetic problem: how can we capture their unspeakable alterity in writing? This paper proposes a zoopoetic approach to analyzing the ways in which children's literature inscribes animal otherness. By examining 21 storybooks featuring animal characters, this study reveals that certain species, such as dogs and foxes, are often used to teach moral lessons and promote empathy.

Iris Murdoch, for instance, chose dogs as her 'totem ethical animal' due to their exemplary selfless capabilities, serving as a counterexample to the relentless ego. In children's literature, animals like dogs, cats, pigs, chickens, ducks, rabbits, mice, wolves, bears, and foxes are featured most often. These anthropomorphic characters effectively educate children about life lessons while entertaining them.

The study of animal characters in children's literature is crucial because, despite their widespread presence for hundreds of years, little research has been conducted on this topic. Children's literature is a beloved medium of entertainment worldwide, and the paper focuses on the significance of animals and their functions since 1900.

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