Visual Voices: Wordless Narratives in Ecological Discourse
摘要
In an age where environmental consciousness is paramount, wordless books emerge as powerful tools in ecocriticism. This visual form of storytelling offers a universal language that speaks to diverse audiences. This chapter explores the depiction of ecological themes in wordless children’s books using the methodological tool “The Nature in Culture Matrix (The NatCul Matrix).” Through the analysis of three wordless narratives—“Animal Rescue” (George 2015), “Popville” (Boisrobert and Rigaud 2009), and “Window” (Baker 1991)—it examines how these wordless stories articulate environmental concerns, convey attitudes toward nature, and reflect the interplay between human activities and the natural world. By transcending the verbal aspect, these narratives uniquely challenge readers to critically interpret and engage with environmental themes. The chapter argues that wordless books hold significant potential to influence the understanding of young readers and encourage an engagement with pressing environmental issues, thus contributing powerfully to ecological education and awareness.