Publication

Abstract : This research applies John Bowlby’s (1958–63) attachment theory to analyse child–parent relationships associated with loss and security in the children’s picture book, The Journey (2016) by Francesca Sanna, to examine children’s war trauma through attachment styles. Furthermore, Hong et al.’s (2013) cultural attachment theory is employed to explore the story representation of the children’s relationship with their culture. Amnesty International UK endorses the picture book to teach children about the hardships of refugees and asylum seekers. However, children’s literature often superficially represents war experiences, causing disparities between reality and the portrayal, that limits young readers from creating simulations for their socio-emotional development. The researchers argue that The Journey under-represents children’s war trauma, potentially leading young readers to misinterpret the psychological experiences of child refugees and asylum seekers.