Considering “self-recognition” between the picture book Pezzettino and the reader with a focus on students in higher education

Abstract

 The picture book presents various impressions and meanings to each reader. Utlizing Leo Lionni's Pezzettino, the purpose of this study is to clarify the particular aspects of picture books and to understand how readers form concepts related to self-consciousness. Specifically, the study focuses on students in higher education who are deeply interested in identity and self issues. As a preliminary study, four university students freely described their impressions of the book, which were subsequently analyzed. Based on the result of the preliminary study, the main study was conducted in order to analyze questionnair responses and written descriptions concerning impressions of the book. The participants of the main study were 95 university and vocational-technical college students. The result indicate the following two points: Firstly, readers understood the inner face of the main character and his process of his self-recognition. Secondly, through the readers had opportunities to reflect of their own self-recognitions and ways of living. The findings of this study suggest that the true meaning of this picture book for readers based on personal emotional experience of readers combined with what picture book itself conveys.