Creating a Unified World: Exploring the Power of Picture Books for Global Citizenship and Human Rights

In this age of increasing individual uncertainty within the global sphere, it appears crucial that effective strategies and resources are identified to help balance tensions between a range of national and international identities. This paper will present findings from a small-scale research project undertaken in mainly white mono-cultural primary schools, designed to investigate the value of picture books in raising awareness of global citizenship. The study spanned three rural schools and included children from 5 to 11 years. Working in partnership with Amnesty International, three key texts were chosen for their visual impact, aimed to cultivate empathy, self-awareness and social justice. Each text was investigated through the Philosophy 4 Children community of enquiry approach and reader response activities. An examination of the understanding of curriculum leaders and class teachers of global citizenship education found a conflict between a desire to educate and empower the whole child and their own personal values, against the socio-political context in which teachers have to deliver an ever growing, challenging educational curriculum. The study suggests that the teaching using of effective global citizenship education through quality children’s picture books can help even the youngest of children to develop a sense of self and awareness of their human rights as members of a global community.