Values of Love, Faith, and Discipline in Indonesian Children’s Poetry

Abstract

This study seeks to explore the values of love, faith, and discipline embedded in Malaikat Kecil (Little Angel), a collection of poems by Eko Sutiyono intended for young readers, especially since the author is a primary school teacher. The poems in this book seek to offer a reflection of the approach to poetic texts in the context of children's education through cultural and religious morality rooted in Indonesian tradition. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this study seeks to identify how poetic elements are used to convey character-building values in a way that is easily understood by young readers. The findings of this study indicate that these poems package fundamental aspects of moral education through imagery, word choice, and narrative voice that are appropriate for children's understanding. The values embedded in these poems are not only conveyed through themes but also through repetition, simplicity, and rhythm, making poetry a powerful medium for the internalization of values. This study aims to contribute to children's literary criticism and demonstrate how literary texts can support character education.