On Monday 7 April 2025, the official launch of the book 'Children Making Meaning: Exploring Drawings, Narratives and Identities', co-authored by Dr Josephine Deguara and Prof. Dame Cathy Nutbrown, was held at the University of Malta’s Valletta Campus.
The event welcomed a wide audience of educators, researchers, psychologists, policymakers, and parents, all united in their commitment to understanding and supporting children’s meaning-making processes. To widen participation, the event was also streamed live, allowing academics and researchers from across Europe to join.
The book makes a significant scholarly and pedagogical contribution to the field of early childhood education. It explores how young children use drawings and narratives to express themselves, communicate their experiences, and construct their identities. Emphasising the centrality of children’s voices, the publication encourages deeper engagement with the symbolic and personal meanings embedded in their creative expressions. It advocates for a pedagogy that respects children’s perspectives and acknowledges the richness of their communicative practices.
The launch event also served to celebrate the long-standing academic collaboration between the University of Malta and the University of Sheffield. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing research on children’s meaning-making and identity development.
The proceedings began with welcome addresses by Prof. Josephine Milton, Head of the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education at the University of Malta, and Prof. Rebecca Lawthom, Head of the School of Education at the University of Sheffield. Their remarks were followed by thoughtful reflections by Prof. Valerie Sollars, Pro-Rector for Strategic Planning and Sustainability; Prof. Carmel Borg and Prof. Mary Darmanin from the University of Malta; and Dr Liz Chesworth from the University of Sheffield.
The authors, Dr Josephine Deguara and Prof Dame Cathy Nutbrown, shared further insights into the conceptual foundations of the book, particularly the role of children’s drawings as tools of identity expression and as central to a “funds of knowledge” approach to pedagogy. They underscored the value of drawing as a way for children to narrate their experiences and reveal complex layers of meaning about themselves and their worlds. Concluding remarks were delivered by Ms Sandra Ebejer, Director for Early Years, Languages and Humanities at the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, and Prof. Colin Calleja, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Malta.
A key feature of the event was the exhibition of selected children’s drawings and accompanying narratives featured in the book. These drawings offered a powerful insight into children’s inner worlds, affirming the use of drawing as a rich, meaningful mode of communication and identity construction.
The authors expressed their sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to the event’s success, including Prof. Colin Calleja, Dean of the Faculty of Education, colleagues and administrative staff.
For enquiries or to purchase the book, contact Prof. Deguara via email.
