Kids’ picture books illustrate need to prepare for disasters

Increasing children's knowledge of disasters through picture books and expanding their imagination is expected to enable them to react appropriately in times of emergency.

The use of picture books to educate children about disaster preparedness has been spreading. This education is designed to explain earthquake mechanisms and evacuation procedures at the time of an earthquake, and convey the importance of psychological care for disaster-affected children.

Increasing children's knowledge of disasters through picture books and expanding their imagination is expected to enable them to react appropriately in times of emergency.

Question-and-answer format

"What would you do if a strong earthquake occurs when you are asleep?"

The question was put to children at a nursery school in the Akatsuka area of Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, during a special activity in which a picture book on disasters was read aloud. The activity, held in mid-January, was attended by about 100 children belonging to classes for those aged 1 to 5.

The book was produced for preschool children by Zenrosai, a national federation of worker and consumer insurance cooperatives. It illustrates responses to be taken at the time of an earthquake and uses a question-and-answer format.

In response to a Zenrosai employee's questions on how to respond if an earthquake were to occur while one is sleeping or eating, for example, the children shouted answers such as, "Protect my head with a pillow" and "Hide under the table and hold its legs" while looking at illustrations in the book.

Zenrosai has been holding events to read aloud disaster education picture books at various day care centers and kindergartens nationwide since May 2015. Readings were held at 37 locations as of the end of last year, with 5,197 children attending.

According to editor-in-chief Sonoko Isozaki of EhonNavi Corp., an information website on picture books, many of those on disaster education describe the mechanisms that cause such natural disasters as earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic eruptions and typhoons, and also convey the terrible consequences.

Attention was focused on earthquake-related picture books in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. "Books written based on the experiences and lessons of people affected by the disaster, and also featuring evacuation procedures and the everyday life of evacuees, became conspicuous," Isozaki said.

One of the picture books recommended by Isozaki is "Hanachan no Haya-aruki Haya-aruki" (Hanachan's speed walking, speed walking) published by Iwasaki Publishing Co. The book tells the story of the children at the Nodamura Nursery School in the village of Noda, Iwate Prefecture, which was hit by the 2011 disaster. Author Kyoko Ube is a native of the village and a poet.

The nursery school was washed away after being engulfed by the quake-triggered tsunami, but all of the about 90 children made it to safety. Their escape to higher ground was thanks to the training they received in speed walking during monthly evacuation exercises.

"Natural disasters could happen at any time and in any place," Ube said. "I wanted to use the picture book to tell as many children as possible about the importance of preparing for disasters during ordinary times."

Healing anguish

A picture book was also written to help heal the psychological anguish of disaster-affected children.

Kumamoto city's Kodomo Hattatsu Shien Center, a facility to assist children with developmental disabilities, produced a picture book titled "Yappari Ouchi ga Iina" (After all, home's the best) in May 2016. The effort was in response to requests it received in the aftermath of the April 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake for advice on such issues as, "My child is terrified and won't enter the home" and, "My kid gets scared at night and cries."

The picture book focuses on a 5-year-old boy returning home after two weeks of taking refuge in a car, and describes the struggles of his family.

An official in charge at the center said, "The picture book can promote people's understanding of disasters through visualizing their worries and anxieties, thereby making it possible for them to come to terms with them."

The book can be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Kumamoto municipal government.

Kei Suyama, an associate professor of juvenile literature at Tokyo Polytechnic University and the chief of the secretariat at the Association for Studies of Picture Books, said children will be able to display the ability to face reality in times of emergency with the knowledge and imagination acquired through picture books.

"It's encouraging to see the conversation between parents and children expand through picture books and serve as an opportunity to discuss disaster measures," she said.

Copyright: The Japan News/ Asia News Netwrok