Vita da Albero. Albi illustrati in inglese

This article explores how contemporary children’s literature reimagines plants as active agents, challenging traditional anthropocentric perspectives. Focusing on seven English-language picturebooks published in the last decade, the study examines narrative and visual strategies that portray trees and plants as sentient, intelligent, and relational beings. Through thematic analysis, the article highlights three key approaches: the depiction of plant life cycles as analogous to human experiences; the visualization of plant communication and interspecies relationships; and the use of "hetero-autobiographies," where plants narrate their own stories in first person. Drawing on Critical Plant Studies and ecocritical theory, the analysis reveals how these texts employ strategic anthropomorphism and multimodal storytelling to foster ecological empathy and awareness in young readers. By translating complex botanical concepts into accessible narratives, these picturebooks not only educate but also inspire a reconceptualization of human-plant relationships, advocating for a more inclusive, post-anthropocentric worldview. The study underscores the potential of children’s literature to cultivate environmental consciousness and promote sustainable coexistence with the natural world.