Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This research therefore attempts to analyze some of the short stories in the Ladybird series in an attempt to explore their contribution in the construction of ecological identity in young readers. The study uses transitivity analysis and the UAM Corpus Tool to investigate how four short stories written for Grade 4 and 5 students lead children in shaping their understanding of nature, nature related issues and ecological consciousness. In order to develop this analysis, the theoretical bases are found in the Frederick Paul Ricoeur narrative identity theory, highlighting the role of the stories in the personal and collective identity building over time. The use of this theory aims to expose why the stories in the Ladybird series promotes young readers’ link with environmental themes and capacity for ecological responsibility. But what makes this study so important is its potential to show that children literature provides an opportunity for children to develop a sense of ecological identity and to understand environmental issues at an early age. Another contribution of this analysis is to the broader field of ecolinguistics, demonstrating the importance of narrative in the development of environmental awareness and identity, and also in support of the possibility that literature can be effective in the encouragement of sustainable thinking and behavior amongst young audiences.
Authors: Zeenath Khan, Anbarin Fatima, Muhammad Zubair
Language: English
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7215088724