Mapping the Root Values in The Little Prince in the Context of the Turkey Century Education Model Preschool Education Program: Multilayered Document Analysis

This study aims to examine how the values defined in the 2024 Turkey Century Education Model Preschool Curriculum (TYMM-OOÖP) are represented in the classic children's book The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Employing a multi-phase qualitative design, the research included document analysis, systematic literature review, and triangulation through expert teacher opinions. The primary data sources comprised the illustrated full text of The Little Prince, the TYMM-OÖÖP document, and 37 peer-reviewed academic publications focused on values education in picture books for ages 3–6. Data were collected using a value evaluation form and a coding guide and analyzed through two-level content analysis via NVivo 14. The findings revealed that the book strongly reflects values such as responsibility, empathy, patience, and love, although abstract concepts like justice and self-control were less prominent. Teachers emphasized the need for structured classroom activities to enhance value internalization. The study recommends integrating classical literature into early childhood education through guided instructional practices to ensure developmental appropriateness and pedagogical coherence.