Illustrated non-fiction books as a strategy to raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals: an experience with reading workshops

Abstract

In recent times, educational systems are making a notable effort to raise awareness among citizens about the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. This study addresses the usefulness of illustrated non-fiction books (INFBs) in the promotion and awareness of the SDGs, particularly those linked to environmental care. In this sense, research suggests that INFBs can be an effective tool in education for sustainable development. To this end, the revitalization of a INFB was carried out through a reading workshop to raise awareness among sixth-grade Primary Education (PE) students regarding the SDGs. Thus, the INFB Planet SOS: 22 Modern Monsters Threatening Our Environment was used with the objective of linking reading promotion with awareness and critical reflection on the SDGs through manipulative activities, debates and search for reliable information. For the correct dynamization of the INFB, the dynamics of reading support proposed in previous research have been followed and an observation grid has been used. The results indicate that the students showed a positive attitude towards reading and learning the topics related to the SDGs addressed in the workshops. In addition, they demonstrated that they had acquired knowledge and specific vocabulary that they did not possess prior to the development of the workshops. This leads us to conclude that considering the experience gained, it is clear that certain INFBs have the capacity to function as an effective resource for the promotion of critical thinking, which requires careful selection and sound, coherent planning.