An overview of contemporary children's and youth literature based on the philisophy of Nasreddin Hodja

Nasreddin Hodja, the globally renowned humorist, has transcended time and space through his sharp wit, subtle intelligence, and life philosophy in his anecdotes, influencing many authors and cartoonists. Going beyond mere anecdotes, he has become a hero in contemporary stories written for children. With his philosophical perspective on everyday human situations, Hodja and his stories have become a significant subject in literary works. This study examines the reflections of Nasreddin Hodja's philosophy and anecdotes in contemporary children's and young adult literature. The main focus of the study is the impact of Nasreddin Hodja's philosophy and anecdotes on literature, analyzed through a comparative study of works such as Necdet Neydim's "Nasreddin Hoca ile Düşünmek" series, Gülsüm Cengiz's Nasrettin Hoca – Güldürürken Düşündüren Adam, Laurence Fugier's Nasreddin Hoca ile Bir Gün, Weulersse's Nasreddine et Nasreddine & Son Âne. This study aims to reveal how and why Nasreddin Hodja's philosophy and anecdotes are reinterpreted in contemporary children's and young adult literature. It will examine the thoughts, emotions, reactions to events, and relationships of the Nasreddin Hodja character in these works, as well as compare the structural and thematic features using a pluralistic approach, to demonstrate the role and influence of Nasreddin Hodja's philosophy in the literary world. As a result of this study conducted according to the criteria of Comparative Literature, it has been shown that Nasreddin Hoca is not only a cultural figure but also a symbol representing universal human values. His use of humor to address issues such as social inequality, justice, the individual-society relationship, and critical thinking proves that this philosophy possesses a timeless and universal quality. In the works inspired by Nasreddin Hoca's tales, his attitude of questioning social values, encouraging individuals to think, and offering a meaningful message for readers of all ages has been found to have a profound and lasting impact on the literary world. Keywords: Humor, philosophy, children's literature, Nasreddin Hodja, philosophy of Nasreddin Hodja, Comparative Literature