An overview of South African studies on and with wordless picturebooks

Abstract

Wordless books, transcending generations and captivating illustrators and scholars, communicate narratives through imagery, stimulating creativity and overcoming language barriers. They possess cultural potential for advancing multilingualism and cultural awareness in South Africa; however, local production and research on wordless picture books are constrained. This study consolidates scholarly interest in wordless picturebooks in South Africa, published in English from 1990 to 2023, summarising prevailing research themes and proposing new avenues for exploration. A semi-systematic literature review (SSLR) was performed utilising Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Following the removal of duplicates and the application of exclusion criteria, 23 publications were chosen for thorough analysis. The review offers a thematic analysis, examining publishing trends, aesthetic and analytical methodologies, visual stimuli, cultural relevance, reading strategies, audiences, and engagement. This review emphasises their research potential and proposes future theoretical and practical developments.