The Winged Bear: An Exploration of Anthropomorphic and Autoethnographic-Inspired Visual Storytelling and Its Impact on the Design of a Children’s Picture Book

Abstract

This research considers the ways in which autoethnographic and anthropomorphic storytelling informs the design of a children’s picture book for young readers. This practice-led research asks, “How might visual storytelling explore anthropomorphism as a means to inform the design of an illustrated picture book that seeks to enrich the imagination, empowering young readers to envision a hopeful future?” Drawing on discourses by authors who explore anthropomorphism in narrative texts, as well as fairy tales and fantasy, and contextual practitioners and picture-book designers, the study focuses on designing a picture book that offers the audience a narrative world that elevates hope and imagination. Methodologically, the research design underpinning the study is shaped by a practice-led inquiry emanating from an artistic research paradigm. The study contributes to knowledge about the potential of stories sourced from the self, paired with anthropomorphism and other literary devices, such as allegory and metaphor, to generate visual narratives articulated through illustration and text to resonate with the reader and express transformative emotions.