The Achievements of Monteiro Lobato, Ana Maria Machado and Marina Colassanti in Brazilian Children's Literature of the 20th Century

Abstract

Children’s Literature was established as a worldwide genre during the 17th century, a period when changes in social structure triggered repercussions within the artistic sphere. The emergence of Children's Literature with its own distinct characteristics stems from the rise of the family, the new status granted to childhood in society, and the reorganization of the school system. Its emergence was due, above all, to its association with education, as stories were crafted to become instruments of it. In Brazil, until the 19th century, most books for children came from Portugal or were European translations. The beginning of the 20th century was marked by a nationalist trend, aiming to value local culture, fauna, flora, and Brazilian folklore as part of the formation of a national identity.

In 1921, Monteiro Lobato released his first book for children and came to be considered the precursor of Brazilian Children’s Literature. From then on, production aimed at child audiences experienced exponential growth, but it was from 1970 onwards that the great “boom” of Children’s Literature occurred, when works without educational purposes began to be released, prioritizing artistic language with an open discourse, allowing for a greater production of meaning. Numerous authors began producing for children, and some stood out, as will be evidenced in the contemporary production of leading figures such as Ana Maria Machado and Marina Colasanti. Both authors feature striking female protagonists and address themes such as diversity, social justice, and cultural disparities with a singular lightness. Their literary productions are marked by a rich intertextuality and the reclamation of mythological elements and fairy tales, frequently revisited through the lens of magical realism.