A literatura infantojuvenil na formação de leitores : a contribuição da obra de Monteiro Lobato

Abstract

Considering the need to foster a love for reading from the early school years and the role of children’s literature in forming critical readers, this study aims to investigate the importance of literature in childhood, focusing on the contribution of Monteiro Lobato’s works. To this end, a qualitative, bibliographic research is conducted, based on authors who discuss children’s literature and its relationship with children’s intellectual, emotional, and social development. In this way, it is observed that Monteiro Lobato’s works, especially the “Sítio do Picapau Amarelo” series, play a significant role in stimulating reading by blending fantasy and reality, thereby promoting reflection and critical thinking from an early age. The charismatic characters and engaging narratives contribute to constructing meaning, expanding imagination, and developing language, especially when reading is facilitated in an affectionate and intentional way by the teacher. This leads to the conclusion that children’s literature, when well-utilized, becomes a powerful educational experience, capable of forming sensitive, creative, and participatory readers. Monteiro Lobato’s work remains relevant as it provides not only entertainment but also learning and social awareness.