Author(s): Yasemin ALPER
Literature is a branch of art which represents communities’ written and oral needs by flowering and changing in a framework of amusement and aesthetics from past to present. Literature pieces written for children who are an important part of the society are examined in the context of children’s literature. In the recent years, it has been discussed that books that are written for children must be prepared in line with some specific goals. Children’s literature authors are also expected to get in these lines and contribute to children’s emotional and thinking nature, reflect their imaginary world, improve their language skills and help them gain good and true behaviors. It is known that qualified children’s books enable its readers to recognize itself, its environment and the world around them. Therefore, children’s books should be free from prejudices, shall introduce everything as if it was in real life or very close to it in accordance with child’s age, understanding, psychology by combining positive-negative aspects, and they must not ignore universal values while teaching national ones and should not give out messages which might lead to negative behaviors.
In Turkish literature, in some of the children’s books written after the beginning of 20th century, national consciousness, unity, togetherness and ethical values have been promoted upon the impacts of misery felt by wars. War did not only affect the one who truly experience it but also the artists who articulate the feelings of society. Afet Ilgaz is also one these authors who make the mention of effects of war and its outcomes on people. Ilgaz’s “Çocuklar da Sava?t?” novel, written in children’s literature category, has been examined through a number of feature which must be available in children’s book and the way how children explained certain values and concepts especially under tough conditions of national independence war has been researched.
The Journal of International Social Research received 8982 citations as per Google Scholar report
