Social Science and Human Research Bulletin

Children’s literature that centers on life education can help children recognize the value and meaning of life, learn to cherish themselves, respect others, and care for the natural environment. Therefore, this article focuses on life-oriented children's literature as a means of examining how life education can be fostered in early childhood. First, it explores the meaning and significance of life-oriented children's literature. Second, it discusses its core characteristics and content. Through this discussion, it is hoped that early childhood educators will gain a deeper understanding of life-oriented children's literature and its potential contribution to young children's holistic development and life education.

children’s literature, life, young children.

1. Butzow, C. M., & Butzow, J. W. (1990). Science through Children’s Literature: An Integrated Approach. Science Activities, 27(3), 29–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/00368121.1990.9956738
2. Hughes, F. A. (1978). Children’s Literature: Theory and Practice. ELH, 45(3), 542–561. https://doi.org/10.2307/2872651
3. Ministry of Education (2017). The early childhood education and care curriculum framework. Taipei: Ministry of Education.
4. Noddings, N. (2013). Caring: A relational approach to ethics and moral education (2nd ed.). University of California Press.
5. Piaget, J. (1962). Play, dreams and imitation in childhood. Norton.
6. Shih, Y. H. (2020a). Life education for young children in Taiwanese preschools: Meaning, aspects and teaching methods. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(4), 1246-1251.
7. Shih, Y. H. (2020b). Investigating the aesthetic domain of the “Early Childhood Education and Care Curriculum Framework” for young students in Taiwan. International Journal of Education and Practice, 8(1), 37-44. 
8. Shih, Y. H. (2024). Learning for children in an educational enrichment: A perspective derived from Taiwan’s Early Childhood Education & Care Curriculum Framework. Frontiers in Education. 9:1412972. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2024.1412972 
9. Shih, Y. H. (2025). Multicultural literature for children: Applications of stories. RA Journal of Applied Research, 11(09), 807–810. https://doi.org/10.47191/rajar/v11i9.06
10. Shih, Y. H., & Wu, P. F. (2018). Letting life tell stories: Exploring the implementation of life education for young children. Ching Kuo Academic Journal, 34, 1–11.
11. Shih, Y. H., & Kao, S. C. (2025). Child-centred teaching for children’s literature: The case of “Miss Rumphius”. RA Journal of Applied Research, 11(06), 461–465. https://doi.org/10.47191/rajar/ v11i6.04
12. Sipe, L. R. (2008). Storytime: Young children's literary understanding in the classroom. Teachers College Press.
13. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.