This exploratory research examines how picture books depict travel and cultural exploration, highlighting the simplified and sometimes stereotypical portrayals of people and places. These narratives often romanticise tourism as carefree and consumer-driven, omitting the complexities of cultural exchange and local perspectives. While such portrayals might appeal to young readers, they risk fostering reductive worldviews and perpetuating cultural essentialism and exoticism. This study frames picture books as a site for challenging the social, cultural, and ideological messages embedded in visuals and texts, critically scrutinizing representations of travel and culture. It introduces the notion of "proxy gaze," a framework for examining how adult authors construct travel narratives from an imagined child’s perspective. Shaped by adult assumptions and socio-cultural forces, these narratives influence how childhood curiosity and cultural exploration are portrayed. By unpacking these dynamics, educators can use picture books to foster critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and ethical global awareness
Citation
Victoria, M. (2025, February). Constructing Childhood Tourism: Critical Literacy and Cultural Awareness through Picture Books. Presented at Centre for Higher Education Research, Online
