Education paper by Biro, Ruth
Duquesne University

Hungary's Compelling Legacy of Visual Literacy: Memorable Spatial/Historical/Cultural Images of the Homeland in Materials for Youth

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Abstract (max. 250 words):
Study regarding Hungary's legacy of visual literacy emanates from an examination of school atlases published in Hungary, a series which presents memorable spatial/historical/cultural images that enhance visual learning, support Gardners's theory of multiple intelligence, and produce lasting memories. Comparative methods and geography scores attained by Hungarian students in international assessments also receive attention.
Hungary's exceptional contributions to numerous fields of endeavor are widely acknowledged and include WWII era emigre scientists in the USA such as Szilard, Teller, Von Neumann, Wigner and others frequently designated "Hungarian Martians" for their remarkable talents. Five Hungarian emigre author/illustrators have been identified as "Hungarian Martians with Color Pencils" in recognition of their superior skill in portraying memorable Hungarian characters, descriptions, and themes pertaining to the homeland for youth following their immigration to English-speaking countries. British Kate Greenaway Medal awardees Victor Ambrus (many Hungarian tales) and Val Biro (Hungarian Folk Tales and other) now live in England. Willy Pogany illustrated Tisza Tales and Hungarian Fairy Tales, among others. Caldecott awardees MIska Perersham and his American wife wrote Miki and other books. Kate Seredy was a Newbery honoree twice and the Newbery medal winner for three of her books about the homeland, The Good Master, The Singing Tree, and The White Stag. An additional author/illustrator to be discussed is Tibor Gergely, Caldecott honor illustrator of Wheel on the Chimney about the migration of storks in Hungary which includes images of the Kortvelyes ancestral estate of his wife poet/artist Anna Lesznai, also seen in other works.
Visual images appearing in The Hunter and the Animals , a wordless picture book by American author/illustrator Tomi DePaola feature folk depictions fro Hofer and Fel's Hungarian Folk Art in the background. Memorable visual images inspired the Hungarian Picture Dictionary for Americans by Biro, Kontra, and Radnai ( Budapest Tankonyvkiado, 1989), illustrated by Ferenc Sajdik, with photographs by Ede Tomori. Specific visual components complete the picture of compelling spatial/historical/cultural images of the Hungarian homeland for youth.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Dr. Biro earned an M.L.S. and Ph. D. from the University of Pittsburgh. A founding member of AHEA, she served as curriculum coordinator of the AHEA Ethnic Heritage Study of Pittsburgh FY 80-81, authoring "Children's Hungarisn Heritage" and "Hungarian Folk Traditions Revised" for the project. Her review of Kate Seredy's The Good Master appeared in Magill's Masterplots: Juvenile and Young Adult Literature II (1991). She directed two Fulbright-Hays Group Projects to Hungary, each onsite for six weeks for university professors in 1990 and for educators in 1991, which included visits to schools and education agencies and examination of Hungarian educational materials. With Judith Lechner, she compiled and presented the annotated guide "Children's Books by and about Hungsrians and about Hungary" for the International Reading Association World Congress at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest in 2006. Dr. Biro was the AHEA Peter Basa Award recipient in 2012.