Analysis of 21st Century Skills and Sustainable Development Goals in children's and juvenile literature

Main Article Content

Kwanchadil Phisalphong
Sutraphorn Tantiniranat

Abstract

This mixed-methods study aimed to analyze the promotion of 21st-century soft skills and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in children’s and juvenile literature listed in 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up, which compiles books that are recognized by educators at the international level and clearly categorizes the literature according to appropriate age groups. The research utilized qualitative Content Analysis and investigated the correlation between the contents of the books for two groups: 0-6 years (children) and above 6 years (juveniles) – using statistical methods. The findings identified that “Collaboration” occurred most frequently (26.7%), followed by “Lifelong learning and adaptability” (20.8%) and “Creativity and innovation” (17.8%). Juvenile literature emphasizes questioning and analyzing, and critiquing characters’ behaviors and situations that are more complex than those of the children’s group. As for the SDGs, SDG 4 (Quality Education) was the most prevalent (17.82%), followed by SDG 10 (Reducing inequalities) at 14.85%. Children’s literature tends to focus more on SDG 2: Zero Hunger. The findings of this study can help guide the creation of children’s and juvenile literature that promotes 21st-century soft skills and SDGs among young readers, especially on particular or inclusive themes.

Article Details

How to Cite
Phisalphong, K., & Tantiniranat, S. (2025). Analysis of 21st Century Skills and Sustainable Development Goals in children’s and juvenile literature. University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Journal Humanities and Social Sciences, 45(4), 108–128. retrieved from https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/utccjournalhs/article/view/287340
Section
Research Articles
Author Biographies

Kwanchadil Phisalphong, Department of Information Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Burapha University

Assistant Professor, Department of Information Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Burapha University

Sutraphorn Tantiniranat, Department of Western Languages, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Burapha University

Sutraphorn Tantiniranat is a Lecturer in the English for Communication Graduate Program at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Burapha University, Thailand. She obtained a PhD in Education from The University of Manchester, UK. Her research focuses on intercultural aspects of the English Language, English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) and appropriate paradigms for teaching English in Thailand given the current, important lead that ASEAN is providing on interculturality and the use of English as the regional and global lingua franca.

References

Abuo, A. H. (2024). Nurturing empathy and values through stories while using the didactic potential of children’s literature. Acta et Commentationes (Ştiinţe ale Educaţiei), 38(4),145–155.

https://ibn.idsi.md/sites/default/files/imag_file/145-155_3.pdf

Alonge, M. (2024). The Role of Multicultural Children's Books in Fostering Empathy and Understanding

Across Diverse Cultures. Journal of Professional Services Marketing. hal-04854901

Alwi, N. A., Thahar, H. E., Atmazaki, A., & Asri, Y. (2019, January). Developing students’ soft skill through children literature. In 1st International Conference on Innovation in Education (ICoIE 2018) (pp. 477-482). Atlantis Press.

Ananiadou K., Claro M. (2009). 21st century skills and competences for new millennium learners in

OECD countries (OECD Education Working Papers No. 41). Paris, France: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/218525261154

Bhagwanji, Y., & Born, P. (2018). Use of children’s literature to support an emerging curriculum model

of education for sustainable development for young learners. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 12(2), 85-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0973408218785320

Bradbery, D. (2013). Bridges to global citizenship: Ecologically sustainable futures utilising children's

literature in teacher education. Australian Journal of Environmental Education,29 (2),221–237.

https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2014.7

Brown, K. (2021, December 21). 5 global issues to watch in 2022. United Nations Foundation.

https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/5-global-issues-to-watch-in-2022/?utm_source =Twitter&utm_medium= Organic&utm_campaign=EOY_Blog

Bruner, J. (1996). The Culture of Education. Harvard University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv136c601

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.

Graham, K. M., Matthews, S. D., & Eslami, Z. R. (2020). Using children’s literature to teach the 4Cs of CLIL: A systematic review of EFL studies. Latin American Journal of Content & Language Integrated Learning, 13(2), 163–189. https://doi.org/10.5294/laclil.2020.13.2.2

Heyrani, S., Firoozi Moghaddam, M., & Alavi Moghaddam, M. (2021). Critical Thinking Skills in Children’s Literature. Journal of Philosophical Investigations, 15(37), 397-417.

Hirst, N. J., & Wilkinson, C. (2022). Student authors, children’s literature and early childhood education for sustainability: findings from a pedagogic research project. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 9(1), 40-57.

Kupers, E., Lehmann-Wermser, A., McPherson, G., & van Geert, P. (2019). Children’s creativity: A theoretical framework and systematic review. Review of Educational Research, 89(1), 93–124.

Kyllonen, P. C. (2012, May). Measurement of 21st century skills within the common core state standards. In Invitational research symposium on technology enhanced assessments. Princeton, NJ., 7–8.

Partnership for 21st Century Learning. (2019). Framework for 21st Century Learning. https://www.battelleforkids.org/networks/p21

Pulimeno, M., Piscitelli, P., & Colazzo, S. (2020). Children’s literature to promote students’ global development and wellbeing. Health promotion perspectives, 10(1), 13.

Salmon, A.K., Pérez-Prado, A., Morrison, K., Iuspa, F. (2024). Becoming Globally Competent Citizens Through Children’s Literature. In Children’s literature aligned with SDGs to promote global competencies. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57128-2_3

Schulze, B. (2016). 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up: The must-read book list for kids. Walter Foster Jr.

Tunde-Awe, B. M. (2025). Children’s Literature: A veritable tool for sustainability education. Journal of Theoretical and Empirical Studies in Education, 10(1), 438-449.

UNESCO. (2017). Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning objectives.

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000247444

UNESCO. (2018) Education for sustainable development sourcebook. Education for sustainable development in action: Learning and training tools. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002163/216383e.pdf.

United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

Van Kleeck, A. (2014). Distinguishing between casual talk and academic talk beginning in the preschool years: An important consideration for speech-language pathologists. American journal of speech-language pathology, 23(4), 724-741.

Vivekanandan, R., & Pierre-Louis, M. (2020). 21st Century Skills: What Potential Role for the Global Partnership for Education? A Landscape Review. Global Partnership for Education.

Wagner, T. (2008). Even our “best” schools are failing to prepare students for 21st-century careers

and citizenship. Educational leadership, 66(2), 20-25.

Wangmanee, P. (2024). Enhancing English and soft skills through CLIL and children’s literature: A qualitative case study of Thai undergraduates. Journal of Studies in the English Language, 19(2), 1–25. https://so04.tci -thaijo.org/index.php/jsel/article/view/268808

World Health Organization. (2012). Adolescent mental health: mapping actions of nongovernmental

organizations and other international development organizations.