Volume 17 (2025) Download Cover Page

The Role of Vietnamese Children’s Literature in Addressing Ecological and Cultural Challenges

Article Number: e2025375  |  Available Online: August 2025  |  DOI: 10.22521/edupij.2025.17.375

Tam Thanh Nguyen , Nhat Huu Ho

Abstract

Background/purpose. This study examines the function of ecocriticism in Vietnamese children’s literature, emphasizing the incorporation of ecological themes to promote environmental consciousness and cultural preservation. The analysis emphasizes the distinctive contributions of Vietnamese authors like Vu Hung and Nguyen Nhat Anh, who transform nature from a passive backdrop into an active participant in their narratives. Themes including deforestation, pollution, biodiversity loss, and the anthropomorphization of nature are analyzed to elucidate their influence in fostering empathy, stewardship, and responsibility in young readers.

Materials/methods. Research examines how Vietnamese children's literature embodies the nation's ecological and cultural legacy, tackling global environmental issues within a regional context. The methodological techniques from prior research, including thematic, narrative, and cultural analyses, are examined to comprehend how these works inform readers about sustainability and ecological interdependence.

Results. Finding indicates that, although substantial advancements have been achieved in connecting ecological consciousness with narrative techniques, deficiencies persist in examining obscure writers, marginalized ecological issues, and the convergence of ecological motifs with social justice. The assessment highlights the necessity for additional research regarding the changing function of children’s literature in tackling current environmental challenges.

Conclusion. This review critically synthesizes current studies to highlight the transformative influence of Vietnamese children’s literature on fostering environmental awareness in future generations, thereby maintaining a balance between cultural legacy and ecological responsibility. It establishes a basis for subsequent research on how literature can motivate sustainable behaviors and principles in young readers.

Keywords: Children’s Literature, Ecocriticism, Cultural Change, Environmental Education, Vietnamese Literature, Sustainability

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