The study aims to find out the effectiveness of poetry appreciation textbook for the implementation of character education values at the Higher Education institution. It was set in four universities, two of which are located in Central Java, including University of Sebelas Maret Surakarta and University of Muhammadiyah Purworejo meanwhile, the other two are in Special Region of Yogyakarta, including University of Ahmad Dahlan, and University of Sarjanawiyata Taman Siswa. It utilized an experimental method with Independent Sample T-Test based on the mean difference of pre-test and post-test results from the control and experimental group. The finding confirms that the experimental group obtained the average score that equals 15.68, meanwhile the control group obtained 10.86. The T-Test shows tcalc = 5.087 (p = 0.000<0.05), that rejects the Null Hypothesis. It concludes that there is a significant difference between the experimental and control group in the use poetry appreciation textbook for character education implementation at the Higher Education institution. The study expects further exploration concerning character education implementation through literature works in a wider range for the sake of research and development. The uniqueness of the textbook in combining the values of personal development and literature is recommended as the dominant feature to introduce a complex gradual learning system for the innovation of teaching and learning method.