On May 20, 2026, the children’s picture book NA ZOOWAS! by Melanie Laibl and Linda Schwalbe was selected for the collection of the Austrian Children’s and Young Adult Book Award. We are delighted about this recognition!
At the same time, the educational handbook “Culturally Informed Science Education for Primary Schools with the children’s picture book NA ZOOWAS!” was published. The material was developed during 2025/26 by primary teacher education students at the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria.
Science education through picture books enables children to explore the world of science from multiple perspectives and across disciplines. With their diversity of themes, forms, visual languages, and narrative approaches, picture books provide textual and visual impulses for introducing, deepening, and reflecting on topics in the classroom. The handbook focuses on science education from a cultural studies perspective and invites children to engage in observing, interpreting, and reflecting together while understanding science as a cultural practice.
The development of both the picture book and the educational handbook was supported by the “Interdisciplinary Network for Science Education Lower Austria (INSE)” funded by GFF NÖ.
Open-access download of the educational materials: Pädagogische Begleitmaterial für NA ZOOWAS!
Further information:
– INSE News at PH NÖ: https://www.ph-noe.ac.at/de/forschung/forschung-und-entwicklung/inse-netzwerk-fuer-wissenschaftsbildung/news
– “Education in Dialogue” – PH NÖ News Portal: https://www.ph-noe.ac.at/de/news/news-detail/kulturelle-wissenschaftsbildung
