Books play an important role in children’s socialization and can play a vital role in reinforcing or breaking stereotypes. Surely there are some stereotypes both at the level of text and at the level of illustrations such as in Nilima Sinha’s The Great Show, reptiles are not only designated as ‘creepy crawlies’ but are also not accurate in most of the illustrations. On the other hand, the tortoise wears spectacles signifying wisdom and sagacity.
November 2016, volume 40, No 11