WHY DID WE CHOOSE A STORYBOOK?
FUNDACIÓN RANA
Storybooks are a powerful educational and pedagogical tool. They are widely used with children because of their unique qualities and have become great allies in raising awareness and preventing child and adolescent sexual abuse.
The stories they contain create opportunities to focus on complex topics, difficult situations, and issues that can be hard for adults to address directly. For this reason, children’s books can introduce the reality of sexual abuse through a symbolic and age-appropriate perspective. Text, images, and illustrations have a strong impact, helping children absorb important messages in a natural way.
The power of a story goes beyond the book itself: reading becomes meaningful through everything you, as an adult, bring to the experience. A story is a starting point for asking questions, having conversations, reflecting together, and sharing examples. It is a tool that helps adults address a complex—and often very abstract—issue in a way children can understand.
There are many different kinds of stories, each with unique goals and purposes, offering very different starting points for discussion. That’s why, before reading Tropicalia Island, it’s helpful to take a little time to reflect: read the story yourself, think about any fears you may have, consider the questions a child might ask, and find the confidence to begin. This shared reading experience can help create a meaningful environment, promote values such as respect, patience, and active listening, and enrich the moments you spend together.