Engaging Youths in Conversations on Humanity through Daisaku Ikeda Children’s Literature

ABSTRACT The development of humanity ensures the lasting development of society. When all human endeavors are geared toward the best interests of cultivating children’s humanity, all situations can ultimately be transformed into something positive. To engage youths in conversations on humanity through children’s literature, we used the three criteria: 1) story and character, 2) language, and 3) illustration and text, suggested by the University of British Columbia Library, to analyze Ikeda’s books for children. We then discuss potential initiatives that academic librarians, children and youth services librarians, and media specialists can do to plant the seeds of humanity.