Children's literature as an opportunity to learn about love through life situations

Dobre Denkova, Jovanka 

Goce Delcev University, Macedonia

jovanka.denkova@ugd.edu.mk

Pedagogija, didaktika i inkluzija u odgoju i obrazovanju

Abstract

Children's literature offers many opportunities for the education of young readers if they are approached warmly, unobtrusively, and as equals. Literature is considered one of the most effective ways to educate young generations, so we can say that the collection of short stories "Winter Ice Cream" by Tocinovski is a work that nurtures positive values, such as tolerance, understanding, upbringing, attention to others, as well as the role of the elderly (parents, grandparents) in fostering these values. In this work, the author talks about many thematically different events and incidents with love being their common denominator. Love is described in many forms: youthful love between two young people, first love, love for animals, for birds, caring for them, sibling love, parental love, love between parents and children and vice versa, as well as love between grandparents and their grandchildren and vice versa. Writing about camaraderie, about friendship, about the weight of the word, about the behavior with others and about many other different and interesting things that affect every person, especially the young man, the child, or the teenager, who is always rushing somewhere forward, usually rushing with his words and actions, wanting to fly through time and grow up, the author clarifies many dilemmas for young readers. It teaches them that time certainly and inevitably passes, bringing inevitable changes in the lives of people, especially children and young people. At the same time, words and actions have their own weight. The point for young readers is that in the comings and goings there is a perfect order that leads a constant struggle with our desires and expectations and every moment is unique and unrepeatable, and the most sublime is the one shared with loved ones.

Key words

children’s literature, ethical values, respect, tolerance