The Field of Children’s Literature and Culture in Times of the Anthropocene

Abstract: This conversation among fellow scholars explores the impact of the Anthropocene on children’s literature and culture scholarship. It focuses on, among other things, a gap between critical discourse on the Anthropocene and the creative output of children’s books that often rely on simplified eco-hero narratives. Such books burden the young generation with the responsibility for the future instead of encouraging cross-generational engagement. The discussion also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and collaborations in researching and teaching children’s literature and culture that may, perhaps paradoxically, develop from being overwhelmed by the scope and intensity of the Anthropocene. Ultimately, this conversation encourages further considerations on the role of research into children’s literature and culture in the current ecological crisis.