From Jules Verne's Classic Novel to the Contemporary Picturebook: Adaptation, Aesthetics, and Pedagogical Potential in the Series by Antonis Papatheodoulou and Iris Samartzi

Abstract

Jules Verne’s work remains a timeless reference point in world literature and science fiction, significantly shaping children’s and young adults’ reading experiences. This article examines the contemporary reinterpretation of selected works by Verne through a series of illustrated books adapted by Antonis Papatheodoulou and illustrated by Iris Samartzi (Papadopoulos Publishing). The study aims to explore adaptation as a creative and interpretative process, as well as to highlight the role of multimodality in meaning-making within the picturebook format. It also investigates the pedagogical potential of these adaptations in mediating the relationship between the child-reader and the classical text, while fostering reading attitudes and engagement. Grounded primarily in reception theory and multimodal approaches to picturebooks, the analysis demonstrates how the narrative, aesthetic, and visual strategies employed in this series recontextualize Verne’s fictional universe. Furthermore, it argues that these adaptations function as a bridge between classical literature and contemporary child readers, enhancing both literary appreciation and visual literacy, while contributing to the development of reading motivation and aesthetic sensitivity.