Creating Harmony through Diversity: Italian and Japanese children's books

After a brief introduction concerning the types of diversity present in daily life and the idea that diversity must not be regarded as a limiting factor, but a value, the focus of the paper moves to children’s literature and its features. Considered an outsider in literary criticism and study, children’s literature has always sided with those who are weak or do not fit the norm. Often a reflection of real life, children’s literature also provides a model that helps children better understand themselves, others and the world around them. Children’s books show children how to face all manner of difficulties and, therefore, have the potential to contribute to the building of harmony through diversity.