CHILDREN’S LITERARY MUSEUMS AS EMERGING SPACES FOR READING PROMOTION: INSIGHTS FROM TWO CASE STUDIES

Resumen

Reading promotion programmes aim to foster long-term reading habits by integrating literature into the everyday lives of children. In the past two decades, children’s literary museums (i.e., venues dedicated to children’s literature authors, stories and characters) have emerged as innovative spaces for literacy promotion beyond traditional contexts such as schools and libraries. The present study explores the role of children’s literary museums in promoting reading among young audiences. Using a qualitative design, data were collected through observations and fieldwork at two museums —the H. C. Andersen House Museum, Denmark, and the House Museum of Ratón Pérez, Spain— along with semi-structured interviews with museum staff. The analysis revealed that these museums promote
reading through immersive, interactive exhibitions and participatory educational methods. According to museum staff, their commitment to preserving and disseminating a specific literary heritage in an authentic setting, combined with innovative pedagogical approaches such as hands-on experiences and social learning, fosters meaningful engagement with literature and encourages children’s critical and creative responses. These findings highlight the potential of children’s literary museums to become valuable agents in reading promotion and encourage scholars to consider their integration into literacy research and practice.