REPRESENTING RELIGION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS IN INDONESIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: Si Anak Pemberani and Si Anak Spesial

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines religious messages concerning environmental degradation and natural disasters in Tere Liye’s novels Si Anak Pemberani and Si Anak Spesial through an Islamic ecotheological approach. Environmental crises encompass not only physical consequences but also spiritual and ethical dimensions. Children’s literature provides a strategic medium for cultivating ecological consciousness among younger generations, yet its potential remains underexplored in ecotheological scholarship. Employing a qualitative design, this study uses content analysis, the Miles and Huberman interactive model, and theoretical triangulation integrating Islamic ecotheology, literary studies, and environmental humanities. Correspondence with Tere Liye further indicates his sustained engagement with environmental issues in his literary works. The analysis generates three interrelated findings. First, environmental degradation and natural disasters are represented as consequences of human actions that violate the principle of khalîfah fî al-ardh, emphasizing human responsibility for environmental stewardship. Second, religious messages are expressed through moral courage, social piety, and ecological responsibility, framing environmental care as a form of worship. Third, Islamic ecotheology is communicated through characters’ lived experiences, fostering transformative and spiritually grounded environmental awareness. These findings demonstrate that children’s literature can function as a productive arena for articulating Islamic ecotheological perspectives and advancing value-based environmental education for younger readers and communities.