Memory and citizenship: the dictatorship in brazilian and portuguese children's literature

Abstract

Portugal celebrated the 50th anniversary of the April 25th Revolution of 1974 in 2024. A year later, in 2025, Brazil completed its 40th anniversary of democracy, both milestones celebrated at a time when governments around the world are seen to be challenging democracy and human rights. In this sense, it becomes increasingly urgent to undertake work that not only gives substance to the aesthetic and literary education of young people but also appeals to memory and citizenship. Therefore, this article focuses on two works of children's literature, one Portuguese and one Brazilian – Rua 25 de Abril and Era uma vez um quintal. The objectives of this study are to present works of children's literature that address issues such as Memory and Citizenship; to understand the axiological framework present in these works; and to understand what resources were used by writers/illustrators to present their message to children. The methodology focused on hermeneutic analysis, developing a critical and reflective reading of the texts. The results of this analysis demonstrate that text and illustrations, in symbiosis, share these values ​​with children, not only in aesthetically and culturally beautiful objects, but also in clear and effective objects.