The different types of relationships between humans and animals are often portrayed in children's literature, such as friendships between owners and their pets, enmity between predator and prey and the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. These connections are exemplified in stories: Aaron’s Gift, relationship between a boy and a snake transcends fear. Gombei and the Wild Ducks, illustrates the consequences of human greed. The Fish Story, explored the responsibility and "Lob's Girl," a hearfelt bond between a girl and her dog full of loyalty and compassion. Animals in children's literature frequently represent pivotal elements, often serving as catalysts for profound themes and character development.
Animal stories in children’s literature are important tools that educate young readers about the diverse species, habits and the complexities of the natural world. Educating children about nature is essential for them to have appreciation, understanding and respect for the environment. By educating knowledge about the natural world in short stories, children develop a sense of responsibility towards ecosystems, biodiversity and the planet’s resources. In Aaron’s Gift, Aaron's story teaches children about the reptile's habitat and behavior. Aaron, a young boy, discovers a snake in his garden. Through his interactions with the snake, children learn about its natural habitat and preferences. For example, the story describes the snake's preference for dark and cool places: "The snake wasn't moving. Aaron knew that snakes liked cool, dark places. Maybe this was the reason the snake was in the cool, damp garden." This quotation shows Aaron’s observation of the snake and it teaches children knowledges about reptiles through reading. Another example in Aaron’s Gift is the snake’s appearance description: "The snake's skin looked different. It was brighter and shinier than before. Aaron realized that the snake was shedding its skin."Through these examples, the story gives valuable informations about the snake's habitat, behavior and appearance to young readers. Similarly, in the short story Gombei and the Wild Ducks, it tells the readers about the natural habitat of wild ducks. The story teaches dukes’ attraction to marshes and the reason behind for their survival. Both stories educate children about different species, habitats and the nature world through the story.
Young readers adore reading fables and folktales because while entertaining, they can also learn important lessons and insights. These four stories often resemble fables or folktales by using animals as figures to impart moral themes and life lessons. In Aaron’s Gift, the serpent serves a symbolic figure to educate readers about the theme of friendship and mutual respect between humans and nature. The snake in the story symbolizes fears and draws parallels to real-life situations where facing fears. Aaron's initial fear of the snake is a metaphor for human reaction toward the unknown. However, as the story progresses, Aaron develops a bond with the snake and educates children on understanding between humans and the natural world. The short story Gombei and the Wild Ducks is also a fable used for educational purposes to exemplify the theme of greed. Gombei's relentless desire to capture a lot of ducks at once illustrates greed. It shows his greed for immediate gains and disregards the future consequences of his actions. The Fish Story, a fable-like tale, used a goldfish as a symbolic figure for the theme of responsibility and integrity. Ernie, the protagonist, exhibits a moment of negligence by arriving late to feed the fish, leading to the assumed death of the fish named Jaws. Ernie feels guilty and fearing and he decides to cover up the incident by replacing the deceased fish with a similar-looking one from a pet store. Ernie's desire to avoid facing the consequences of his neglectful behavior serves as a powerful reminder of the repercussions of dishonesty, guilt and integrity.
The relationship between humans and animals should be deeply rooted in respect, interdependence, love because of cultural, spiritual and practical interactions. The short story Lob's Girl beautifully reflects the great relationship between humans and animals through the connection between a girl named Sandy and a dog named Lob. This tale exemplifies the emotional depth and companionship that exist between humans and their pets. Sandy's relationship with Lob extends beyond mere ownership, it's a profound friendship with loyalty and support. "I didn’t just lose a dog. I lost my best friend." This quotation illustrates the emotional impact animals can have on humans and the great pet-owner relationship. In contrast, Gombei and the Wild Ducks portrays a completely opposite relationship between humans and animals from Lob's Girl. In this tale, Gombei, driven by greed, attempts to trap a hundred wild ducks. For Gombei, the ducks are his “marchandises”, his family sells them to gain money and survive. Gombei disregards the duck’s freedom which leads to a completely different human-animal relationship compared to Sandy and Lob. Lob's Girl represents a pet-owner relationship full of empathy and companionship, reflecting a positive relationship between humans and animals, while Gombei and the Wild Ducks represents another type of human-animal relationship.
In conclusion, animals in children's literature educate important knowledge about nature, moral lessons, and the different relationships between humans and animals. Through these stories, children not only entertain while reading but also gain a deeper understanding of different species, their habitats, empathy, morality and the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Animals hold an important place in children's literature, offering young readers opportunities for learning, reflection and appreciation of the natural world.
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