An analysis of Muzaffer İzgü's children's books in terms of values and vocabulary

Language is the carrier of culture, and in this context, it imposes significant responsibilities on authors. Through their works, authors not only convey values that shape individuals' behaviors but also incorporate elements of vocabulary that contribute to linguistic richness. The more diverse and numerous the values and vocabulary elements children encounter in the books they read, the more likely these elements are to be retained in memory, thereby fostering improvement in their speaking and writing skills. The aim of this study is to examine the works of Muzaffer İzgü, a prominent author in the field of children's literature, in terms of core values and vocabulary elements. The study seeks to determine the extent to which such literary works, which serve as educational tools for children, can be utilized effectively in educational contexts. The research material consists of ten children's books by İzgü, comprising a total of thirty short stories. The study adopts a descriptive research design and analyzes the content of the selected works using the document analysis method. Data were collected based on the Schwartz Value Scale and dictionaries published by the Turkish Language Association (TDK). According to the findings, the most frequently expressed values in the analyzed works are hedonism, achievement, stimulation, self-direction, benevolence, tradition, universalism, conformity, security, and power, respectively. The most commonly used vocabulary elements include reduplications, onomatopoeic words, idioms and proverbs. These results indicate that core values and vocabulary components play a significant role in enhancing the expressive power and richness of literary works.