Depicting death for children – analysing how death is portrayed in stylistic different ways in children’s picture books

Using children’s literature in different formats is a well-established pedagogical approach for discussing existential questions with young children. This study analyses two books: Goodbye, Mr. Muffin and The Visit from Little Death. The linguistic and visual analyses shed light on the narrative structures, participant roles, and various semiotic elements in these books. A strong contrast in contextual meaning emerges when comparing the two. In Goodbye, Mr. Muffin, death is depicted as a natural part of the life cycle, harmoniously intertwined with nature’s beauty, using warm colours and evoking emotions of tenderness. In contrast, The Visit from Little Death portrays death as a more direct and personal presence, employing indexical and iconic signs to evoke a sense of mystery and the unknown. This study contributes to understanding the complex dynamics of using children’s literature to navigate sensitive topics in early childhood education.