KEIMENA/TEXTS for the research, theory, critique and didactics of Children's Literature

Who’s Running Through the National Gallery?

Katerina Koukourinou — 2025-06-30

BOOK REVIEW
Koukourinou, Katerina¹

"Who’s Running Through the National Gallery?"
Author: Niki Kantzou
Illustrator: Natalia Kapatsoulia
Publisher: Diaplasi, 2025

¹ Katerina Koukourinou is a philologist and author of children’s and young adult literature.

EDITORIAL

Meni Kanatsouli — 2025-06-30

Special Issue: “Boys and Men in Children's and Young Adult Literature”
Editorial – Edited by
Meni Kanatsouli
Professor Emerita, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

The study of masculinity within the framework of Gender Studies—and especially in relation to children’s literature—is relatively recent, essentially dating back to the end of the previous century. Even so, after the seminal collective volume Ways of Being Male: Representing Masculinities in Children’s Literature and Film, edited by John Stephens (2002), we have not encountered a comprehensive overview of more recent perspectives on boys and men in children's literature. From this standpoint, the present special issue, comprising 11 articles by 13 authors/contributors, is of particular interest, as it highlights both contemporary children's books and new scholarly perspectives on masculinities.

Boy, Girl: Conceptualizations of Masculinity and the Deconstruction of Gender Order in the Picturebook

Angelaki, Rozie-Triantafyllia — 2025-06-30

The formation of our individual identity is a complex and evolving process that involves our social environment and depends on prevailing social constructs. According to scholars of masculinity studies, as well as feminist, sociological, queer, and postmodernist theories,

gender is also a social construct that categorizes members of a society as male or female, prescribing gendered behaviors. These behaviors often become oppressive for individuals, as they are compelled to adopt or reject “feminine” or “masculine” traits, while also reinforcing rigid gender identities. However, contemporary children's literature, keeping pace with social developments, increasingly seeks to deconstruct the gendered definitions that underpin gender identities. Its aim is to encourage young readers, as well as the adults who read alongside them, to critically reflect on what truly defines a "girl" as a girl and a "boy" as a boy. The ultimate goal of such an approach—embraced by authors, illustrators, and publishers who support these initiatives—is to inspire children to understand and accept themselves and others, embracing their multifaceted personalities while shedding unrealistic gender definitions and stereotypes. In this context, the analysis will focus on how the book Boy, Girl by Hélène Druvert (2024, published in Greek by Kapon, originally Fille garçon) encourages children to perceive masculinity not as an opposing concept to femininity, but as a fluid notion in relation to it. Furthermore, it invites them to question dominant gendered cultural constructs.

Representations of Fatherhood and Masculinity: Content Analysis of Models and Patterns in Three Contemporary Picturebooks

Angelaki, Rozi-Triantafyllia — 2025-06-30

Taking into account, on the one hand, that children’s literature serves as a powerful medium for communicating socio-cultural expectations that influence children’s belief system, attitudes, and behaviors, as well as for either deconstructing or perpetuating stereotypical

perceptions, and on the other hand, the multiplicity of meanings and constructions of gender identities, this article aims to examine how contemporary children’s picturebooks portray the father figure and what perceptions and, potentially, expectations -either intentionally or unintentionally- they create regarding masculinity and fatherhood. The framework is based on the content analysis of representations of parenthood and specifically of representations of the paternal model in English picturebooks. The hegemonic, the cooperative, the subordinate, the marginal and the soft masculinity are pre-defined as masculinity patterns. The absent father, the involved father-caregiver and the empathetic father are posited as fatherhood patterns and father-son relationship motifs. The verbal and visual modes used in the narratives are critically approached to identify the patterns and motifs of masculinity and fatherhood that either reinforce or deconstruct dominant ideologies and social representations. The discussion that emerges from the analysis of literary works highlights the changing social construction of masculinity, which evolves the model of fatherhood by multiplying its manifestations. The most important finding of the present study is the perspective that this small sample of picturebooks reflects, the perspective of expansion and diversity that the binary model of masculinity-fatherhood can take in the modern era where children -still- see the world through the meanings-windows that children's literature opens.

Resilience and Sensitivity: Ideological Shifts in Male Identity through Contemporary Young Adult Novels

Dimitris Goulis — 2025-06-30

This article examines the construction of male identity in young adult literature through three contemporary novels: Maggot Moon (2012) by Sally Gardner, Boy 87 (2018) by Ele Fountain, and A Monster Calls (2011) by Patrick Ness. Focusing on their protagonists —Standish, Shif, and Connor— the analysis explores how a form of “anti-masculinity” is shaped: heroes who do not impose themselves but endure, who do not shout but persist, who do not display but expose themselves. Using theoretical tools from gender studies and literary studies, the article argues that these works propose new forms of masculinity, grounded in moral integrity, acceptance of vulnerability, and a commitment to truth, even under oppressive conditions. In this light, sensitivity and care re-emerge as powerful cultural and literary values for rethinking masculinity within the realm of young adult (YA) literature.

Contemporary Masculine Identities in Children’s Literature: The Case of the Book The Boys

Theopoula (Lina) Karanikolaou — 2025-06-30

In recent decades, international studies have highlighted the unequal and stereotypical representation of the two genders in children's literature. Gender stereotypes shape and reproduce biases that penetrate all aspects of everyday life. The repeated depiction of traditional gender roles in media, which also serve a socializing function, reinforces the patriarchal structure of society. Children's literature is a fundamental medium for transmitting ideologies and values to young children, as it provides socially acceptable behavioral models through its portrayals. In doing so, it contributes to the formation of their perceptions about the world and themselves. In this way, children's literature plays a role in shaping a child's gender identity, a process closely linked to self-image and self-esteem. While research has often focused more on the negative effects of gender stereotypes on girls' lives and future choices, the development of men's studies in recent decades has shown that traditional gender roles can be equally dysfunctional and limiting for boys. Through such realizations, children's literature, acknowledging its socializing role, attempts to present more egalitarian representations of gender, free from limiting clichés. A notable example is the illustrated children's book The Boys, which, both in its text and illustrations, presents a wide range of contemporary male identities.

The Museum Experience in Picturebooks as a Challenge for Boys and Fathers

Καρδούλια Καλλιόπη-Ναυσικά — 2025-06-30

Representations of museums in children's literature put together stories of encounters between visitors, on the one hand, and museum spaces and exhibitions, on the other; they are, therefore, educational in nature. This study focuses selectively on multimodal picture books with such narratives, aimed primarily - but not exclusively - at young children, and links the exploration of their educational content with an investigation of the ways in which they reproduce or challenge social models of masculinity in the museum context. The museum setting turns out to be fertile ground for the narrative quests of heroes who challenge the rules and interact with art as lone travelers or alongside others. In fact, these are intertextually linked not only to traditional boys’ literary genres such as adventure fiction, but also to ideological premises of the Western tradition in general. It is these premises that impart a gendered dimension to the concepts of culture, art, knowledge acquisition, creativity, and subjectivity. In the most recent of these books, action also centers on family relations and in particular the relationship of father and son.

Regarding the theoretical approach, the study draws on a combination of elements from literary theories developed in the broader context of semiotics, cultural criticism, and gender studies.

Boys at the Barricades: Gavroche from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables as a Brave Hero for Children and Young Adults

Nikoletta Korka — 2025-06-30

Classic literature has been the birthplace of boy heroes who have been loved by children and young readers across the decades. Boys who reach the Earth's center through a volcano crater and boys who never want to grow up and fight an evil pirate with a hook have captivated young readers while simultaneously reflecting the hero archetypes we deem appropriate to present and represent to them. This article explores the representation of a boy fighting on the barricades, Gavroche from Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables, in two contemporary adaptations of the work for children and adolescents, focusing on how children’s literature reshapes classic characters. Using Perry Nodelman’s theoretical framework on male role models and hero archetypes in children’s literature, the study examines Gavroche as a model of the solitary, brave hero who challenges authority. It also investigates possible modifications in his portrayal in the two modern editions compared to the French original, considering these changes as ideological orientations that shape the adapters’ narrative choices. The transition of classic literary works from adult literature to children's and young adult literature highlights not only the timelessness of classic heroes but also the necessity of preserving the values they embody within the framework of contemporary youth literature.

Conflicted Boys in Contemporary Greek Young Adult Literature between Old Age and New Age Imperatives: The Role of the Family in the Emergence of Delinquent Behavior and Music as a Paratextual Marker and a Tool for Adolescent Empowerment

Evangelia Moula — 2025-06-30

The article focuses on the concept of masculinity and its evolution through literary narratives aimed at children and adolescents. Masculinity is examined as a socially constructed concept, which changes according to the hegemonic norms of each era. Traditional versions of masculinity, as described in classical works, often depict stereotypical and aggressive behaviors that were once considered “natural” or unchangeable. However, the text highlights the transformation of these norms towards more democratic and egalitarian gender relations. The presence of the new model of the “New Age Boy” in children’s literature brings a more sensitive, non-aggressive form of masculinity. This new version of boyhood is characterized by an interest in the arts, emotional sensitivity and values. At the same time, literature for young people demonstrates that family dysfunction or social marginalization, although they are triggering factors, do not necessarily lead to delinquency, while stories of self-improvement and atonement are presented. In addition, music appears as an important factor in the expression and empowerment of young characters. Literary narratives use music as a symbolic means for the expression of adolescent identity and emotions. Sometimes they also use it as a peritextual indicator with narrative weight. In summary, we argue that literature can function as a vehicle for promoting new perceptions, freed from gender stereotypes, enhancing self-awareness in young boys and empathy in young readers.

Multiple Masculinities in Greek Young Adult Literature

Eugenia Nikitidou — 2025-06-30

This article focuses exclusively on the male gender, aiming to highlight trends from the past five years (2018-2023). Within this framework, the small sample was examined based on the plot, specifically the conflicts experienced by adolescent protagonists in relation to love, their relationships with adults and peers, representations of masculinity and its complexities, their sociopolitical positions, marginalization, hegemonic masculinity, and the search for identity in Greek young adult novels. Unlike early young adult literature, which primarily consisted of translations, there has been a significant increase in literary production by Greek male and female authors in recent years. As a result, we encounter heroes who break away from stereotypically expected gender roles and propose new models of gendered behavior.

The Paternal Figure in Contemporary Children's Books

Kalliopi Nikitidou — 2025-06-30

This paper seeks to highlight the ways in which fatherhood and its various forms are constructed and presented through contemporary English and Greek picturebooks of the last four years (2020-2024). In this context, the father was examined both textually and illustratively through his characteristics, actions, and, ultimately, the behavior and relationships he 'builds' with his children. Comparing the paternal figures that dominated older picturebooks, it is observed that today's authors and illustrators are collectively creating developed and modernized paternal characters who aspire to be present and actively involved in the upbringing and care of their child, enjoying the time they spent together through shared activities.

Anti-boy-tic: The Deconstruction of Masculinity in Children’s Literature — A Research Approach

Sofia Polychroniadou — 2025-06-30

Masculinity is not a fixed or biologically determined trait, but rather a social and cultural construct, formed and reproduced through everyday practices, discourses, and institutions. Raewyn Connell’s theory of hegemonic masculinity highlighted the dynamic nature of masculinities, demonstrating that there are multiple and hierarchically organized forms of manhood that shift across historical and social contexts. This paper focuses on the construction of masculinity during childhood, with an emphasis on the role of children's literature as a mechanism of socialization and transmission of dominant norms. Through the analysis of illustrated children's books, it explores how the boy is represented and how gender roles are either reproduced or challenged within the framework of children's reading experiences.

Two Little Knights, Worm Loves Worm… and Other Representations of Masculinity in the Contemporary Illustrated Children’s Book

Sofia Tsatsou-Nikolouli — 2025-06-30

In the last few years, there have been significant changes in the way the male gender is represented in children's picture books, mainly on an international level. With traditional masculinity following a slow but steady downward trend, the male character, whether human, animal or inanimate object, appears, having more freedom in his behavior, likes and choices. Through references to research and theories regarding the liberation of men from their biological sex in the context of a more free reading of male characteristics as they are depicted in the children's picture book, an attempt is made to investigate, but also to broaden the reading field of the reader, child and adult. At the end of the paper some illustrated books, Greek or translated, are presented, as well as some thoughts on the use of similar books in order to overturn stereotypes regarding the male gender in literature, but also to promote inclusion, tolerance of diversity and free self-orientation.