Utilizing children's literature in character education: A case study of Şermin Yaşar

Yasin Mahmut Yakar and Ahmet Turan Eş

African Educational Research Journal
Published: November 14 2024
Volume 12, Issue 4
Pages 276-281
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30918/AERJ.124.24.058

Abstract

The child who is introduced to literature at an early age is considered to have a significant advantage both academically and developmentally. From this perspective, the positive impact of literature on children is an undeniable reality. In books written for children, the manner in which characters are presented is of considerable importance. For this reason, and because there has been no research focusing on the character education aspects of Şermin Yaşar's books for children, this study examines the characters found in her children's literature. The research seeks to answer the question, “How are the characters in Şermin Yaşar's books for children constructed?” Utilizing a qualitative research tradition, the study employed a document analysis design. During the data collection process, a literature review was conducted to identify the essential characteristics that should be present in children's books and the concept of character. Subsequently, the books in question were acquired in print format and read twice by the researcher, who then coded them. The data obtained in the study were initially subjected to descriptive analysis, followed by content analysis. The findings indicate that the characters in Şermin Yaşar’s children’s books are constructed in a manner that aligns with real life. Furthermore, it was determined that the characters are generally not idealized, thereby possessing qualities with which child readers can identify. This choice enables young readers to find pieces of themselves in the books and encounter characters designed in a way that is consistent with children's realities. It has been observed that this situation positively influences the character education of child readers.

Keywords: Children's literature, children's books, Şermin Yaşar, idealized character.

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