A importância da ilustração na literatura infantil: análise das obras Cinderela, Zoo e a Colecionadora de Cabeças

Abstract

Illustrations play a fundamental role in children’s literature insofar as they expand the possibilities for meaning-making and promote a more active and reflective reading process. In this context, the present study aims to analyze the importance of illustrations in children’s literary works for the development of more critical readers, based on the analysis of three works: Cinderella, Zoo, and The Head Collector, which feature distinct illustration styles and techniques. The study seeks to understand how images participate in the construction of meaning within these works and how they contribute to meaning-making in the reading process.This research is characterized as a qualitative study, guided by the inductive scientific method, as it begins with the analysis of specific cases to develop broader reflections on the investigated object. The analyses consider the relationship between text and image, as well as the effects of meaning produced through this articulation. The findings reveal that illustrations do not merely function as complementary elements to the verbal text, but rather constitute an autonomous language capable of narrating, suggesting, and provoking diverse interpretations. Thus, the analyzed works demonstrate that the interaction between text and illustration enhances reader engagement, requiring a more active interpretative stance and contributing to the development of reading competencies such as visual literacy, inference, and the construction of multiple meanings. Therefore, it is concluded that valuing illustrations in children’s literature is essential for the formation of critical, sensitive readers who are capable of engaging with different forms of language.