The Role Of Storybooks In Strengthening Early Childhood Character: An Analysis Of The Merah  Book By Andrea Sharon

Tri Nursiamti

Authors

Tri Nursiamti UIN K.H. Saifudin Zuhri Purwokerto

Keywords:

storybook, character education, early childhood, moral values, Merah

Abstract

The use of storybooks in early childhood education has an important role in shaping moral understanding and strengthening character values. This study analyzes Andrea Sharon's Merah children's storybook, published by the Language Development and Development Agency in 2022, to explore how literary narratives can foster positive character in early childhood. The method used is qualitative descriptive with a literature review approach to examine the intrinsic elements, moral messages, and educational values contained in the story. The results of the study show that the Merah book contains four aspects of character formation, namely courage to face challenges, confidence in expressing abilities, creativity in facing limitations, and empathy for differences. The character of Cantika, a child who mistakenly carries crayons during the coloring competition, but still tries and doesn't give up, shows that character growth can emerge through self-acceptance and perseverance. The conclusion of this study is that storybooks such as Merah not only serve as a literacy development suggestion, but also an effective medium in integrating character education into early childhood learning. The results of this study confirm the importance of the role of teachers and parents in using children's storybooks as suggestions to strengthen moral and social values from an early age.

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