Compositions for children and reader development

a comparative analysis of Sagatrissuinorana and the The Three Little Pigsversion by the Conta pra mim Program

Abstract

This article provides a comparative analysis of two objects: the novel Sagatrissuinorana (2021), writen by João Luiz Guimarães and illustrated by Nelson Cruz, and the Conta pra mim Program, specifically focusing on its rendition of the story The Three Little Pigs. The latter constitutes a component of the government's literacy initiative, which was promoted by the federal administration from 2019 to 2022 and is sustained by the current government, which commenced its term in 2023. Both objects will be examined in terms of their role in fostering reading development, serving as evaluative resources for educators. With regard to Sagatrissuinorana (2021), our focus lies on the materiality that distinguishes it as a retelling in which verbal and non-verbal language are intertwined, blurring the distinction between the roles of writer and illustrator. Several key elements contribute to this phenomenon: i. the dialogue between the plot and its illustrations, which reconfigure real events, notably the tragic and criminal actions of mining companies in the cities of Mariana and Brumadinho, situated in the state of Minas Gerais; ii. intertextuality, particularly evident in the dialogue with the illustrations, drawing from traditional compositions like The Three Little Pigs and the workof João Guimarães Rosa, such as the short stories Fita Verde no Cabelo (2008), Sagarana (2001), A Terceira margem do rio(2017), and the novel Grande Sertão: Veredas (2021). With regards to Conta pramim, we will specifically address the illustrations found in the development of the traditional tale The Three Little Pigs, questioning the strategies of its composition, which are biased towards limiting rather than promoting reading development.