This study examines the role of children’s book illustrations in shaping early childhood development and national identity in Laos following the 1975 regime change, spanning the years 1975 to 2022. The research focuses on how visual narratives in Lao school textbooks and extracurricular reading materials contribute to the social, emotional, and cultural education of young children during critical developmental years.

The objective is to examine both individual and collective identities as depicted in illustrations from Lao school textbooks and extracurricular reading materials, created by six Lao illustrators: Kongphat Louanglat, Sisavath Bounmany, Vongsavanh Damlongsouk, Chongkham Phonkeo, Nivong Sangsakun, and Ounla Santi. This qualitative research employs various data collection tools, including structured and unstructured interviews, surveys, and visual analysis of illustrations from children's textbooks and extracurricular books. The data is analyzed in accordance with the research objectives, drawing on concepts of identity, structural functionalism, cultural theory, developmental psychology, and personality theory. The findings are presented through descriptive analysis. Data collection was conducted from June 2022 to June 2023.

The research found that the individual identities of Lao illustrators are expressed through their distinct visual styles and technical approaches. Kongphat Louanglat’s illustrations align with five curricular domains, using a reductive style with realism levels 3 and 4. His techniques include black-and-white line drawing, a combination of ink and watercolor, and pure watercolor, with realistic forms, actual contour lines, expressive proportions, cool tones, and contrasted light and shadow; spatial depth is created through composition and perspective. Sisavath Bounmany employs a similar reductive style and realism level 4 using line-based techniques without color, emphasizing expressive proportions, line weight, and spatial construction through perspective. Vongsavanh Damlongsouk integrates computer graphics and ink lines, with realistic shapes, actual lines, cool tones, and expressive proportions, achieving tonal contrast and spatial depth through composition and perspective. Chongkham Phonkeo uses digital techniques within a realism level 4 framework, applying cool color palettes, expressive proportions, and compositional balance to create visual weight and spatial perception. Nivong Sangsakun employs a mixed technique of computer graphics and ink lines, with cool tones and similar compositional principles to convey depth and identity. Ounla Santi, also using computer graphics and ink lines, incorporates both warm and cool tones in contrast, applying expressive proportions and strong compositional structures to convey depth and visual impact. Collectively, the illustrators share a focus on representing curricular themes through a realist-reductive style, the use of actual contour lines, expressive proportional systems, predominantly cool color palettes, and the construction of tonal weight and spatial depth through careful compositional arrangement and linear perspective techniques