Morality Tales

No one wants their kids reading complete trash. It's pretty widely understood that what goes in comes out, and if kids consume a steady diet of books with bad morals, chances are they're going to retain those attitudes, regardless of the instruction they get at home. Wouldn't it be better to have them read books with clear messages of Christian virtue and well-behaved main characters?

Yes and no—obviously, we want good examples set for our children, and character-building stories often provide them. At the same time, they have a tendency to portray their heroes and heroines as too good, so that kids see a completely unrealistic picture of childhood which they consequently reject, if not at home, then later in life when it matters even more.

In the Bible, of course, Jesus Himself is presented as our example for leading a godly life. The difference is that these books are supposed to be representations of ordinary people, not the Son of God. To suggest that human beings (especially children!) can attain a state of near-sinless perfection is dangerously close to heresy.

That said, even stories of this kind are better than a lot of the available reading material for youngsters. If the goal is to raise children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, giving them an unattainable standard is superior to giving them one far too easily achieved, or none at all. Stories about selfish kiddos, kiddos who get their way, kiddos who are more wise than adults—these aren't the kind of stories our impressionable tykes need to read.

With that in mind, we offer this collection of morality tales, or wholesome fiction. A lot of these books are Victorian-era novels highly influenced by the moralist tones of the period, but many are also more recent ventures (and also a little more realistic). We suggest you not make a steady diet of these sorts of books (they don't typically feature the best writing), but every now and then it's not a bad idea to refresh your children's pool of good examples.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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Abandoned on the Wild Frontier
Trailblazer Books
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Abandoned on the Wild Frontier
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Adventure Begins
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Africa's Brave Heart
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African Adventures
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After Darkness Light
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Almost Home
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Ambushed in Jaguar Swamp
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Ambushed in Jaguar Swamp
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America's Genius
CF4Kids Trail Blazers
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from Christian Focus Publications
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American History Stories Volume 1
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from Yesterday's Classics
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$11.95
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$11.95
American History Stories Volume 4
by Mara L. Pratt
from Yesterday's Classics
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Anak, the Eskimo Boy
by Piet Prins
from Inheritance Publications
Realistic Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
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$8.95
Annie and the Goat
Stories Children Love #06
by W.G. Van de Hulst
from Inheritance Publications
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Another Hive of Bees
Stories That Help Build Character Volume 2
by DeVern Fromke (editor)
from Sure Foundation
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Assassins in the Cathedral
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Assassins in the Cathedral
Trailblazer Books
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$8.99
Attack in the Rye Grass
Trailblazer Series
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Attack in the Rye Grass
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Bandit of Ashley Downs
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Bandit of Ashley Downs
TrailBlazer Book
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$8.99
Barnabas
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
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in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Basket of Flowers
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Christoph von Schmid
from Lamplighter Publishing
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Basket of Flowers
by Christoph Von Schmid
from Delmarva Publications
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Behind Enemy Lines
Trailblazers
by Nancy Drummond
from Christian Focus Publications
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in Biographies (Location: BIO)
Beloved Rascals
by Sam Campbell
from Bobbs-Merril Co
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Betrayer's Fortune
by Dave & Neta Jackson
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Betrayer's Fortune
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$8.99
BibleWise Series
by Carine MacKenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
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in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
Birds of the Air
Eyes and No Eyes #4
by Arabella B. Buckley
from Yesterday's Classics
for 2nd-5th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$15.95
Birds' Christmas Carol
by Kate Douglas Wiggin
from Yesterday's Classics
Christmas/Advent for 3rd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$15.95
Blinded by the Shining Path
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Blinded by the Shining Path
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$8.99
Book of Legends
by Horace E. Scudder
from Yesterday's Classics
for 1st-5th grade
$9.95
Boys and Girls Playing
by J. C. Ryle
from Soli Deo Gloria
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Boys of Grit Who Became Men of Honour
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Archer Wallace
from Lamplighter Publishing
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Boys of Grit Who Changed the World
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Archer Wallace
from Lamplighter Publishing
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Boys of Grit Who Never Gave Up
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Elsie E. Egermeier
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Builders of Our Country Book II
by Gertrude Van Duyn Southworth
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Burgess Animal Book for Children
by Thornton W. Burgess
from Yesterday's Classics
for 1st-4th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$15.95
Burgess Bird Book for Children
by Thornton W. Burgess
from Yesterday's Classics
for 1st-4th grade
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$15.95
By Pond and River
Eyes and No Eyes #2
by Arabella B. Buckley
from Yesterday's Classics
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$13.95
Cambodian Adventures
by Donna Vann
from Christian Focus Publications
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Captive Princess
Daughters of the Faith
by Wendy G. Lawton
New Edition from Moody Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Daughters of the Faith (Location: SER-DAU)
$7.99
Carrie's Courage
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Caught in the Rebel Camp
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
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Caught in the Rebel Camp
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
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$8.99
Changing China for Christ
Trailblazers
by Nancy Drummond
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in TorchBearers & TrailBlazers (Location: BIO-TRAIL)
Chaucer for Children
by Mrs. H.R. (Mary) Haweis
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$18.66
Child's Book of Character Building - Book 1
by Ron & Rebekah Coriell
from Revell Publishing
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in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Children's Book of Faith
by William J. Bennett
from Random House
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Short Story Anthologies for Kids (Location: FIC-ANTH)
Children's Book of Heroes
by William J. Bennett
from Random House
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Short Story Anthologies for Kids (Location: FIC-ANTH)
Children's Book of Home and Family
by William J. Bennett
from Scholastic Inc.
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in Short Story Anthologies for Kids (Location: FIC-ANTH)
Children's Book of Virtues
by William J. Bennett
from Simon and Schuster
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Short Story Anthologies for Kids (Location: FIC-ANTH)
Children's Champion
CF4Kids Trail Blazers
by Irene Howat
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in TorchBearers & TrailBlazers (Location: BIO-TRAIL)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Chimney Sweep's Ransom
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
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Chimney Sweep's Ransom
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Choice Stories for Children
Character Classics
by Ernest Lloyd (editor)
from A. B. Publishing, Inc.
for 1st-5th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Choice Stories for Children
by Ernest Lloyd (Editor), Illustrated by Frank McMillan
from AB Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Christie's Old Organ
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by O. F. Walton
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 1st-5th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Christmas With Grandma Elsie
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #14
by Martha Finley
from Sovereign Grace
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Complete Book of the Great Musicians
by Percy A. Scholes
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
$28.95
Courage to Run
Daughters of the Faith
by Wendy G. Lawton
from Moody Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Daughters of the Faith (Location: SER-DAU)
$8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Danger on the Flying Trapeze
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Danger on the Flying Trapeze
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Daniel
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Daria Solves a Mystery
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
David
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Defeat of the Ghost Riders
Trailblazer Books
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Defeat of the Ghost Riders
Trailblazer Books
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Drawn by a China Moon
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Drawn by a China Moon
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Drummer Boy's Battle
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Drummer Boy's Battle
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Elementary Geography
by Charlotte M. Mason
1st edition from Yesterday's Classics
for 2nd-4th grade
in Introductory Geography (Location: GEO-INTRO)
$12.95
Elijah
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Elsie and the Raymonds
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #15
by Martha Finley
from Sovereign Grace
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie at Home
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #22
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie at Ion
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #19
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie at Nantucket
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #10
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie at Viamede
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #18
by Martha Finley
from Sovereign Grace
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie at World's Fair
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #20
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie Dinsmore
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #1
by Martha Finley
from Sovereign Grace
for 3rd-8th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
Elsie in the South
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #24
by Martha Finley
from Sovereign Grace
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie on the Hudson
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #23
by Martha Finley
from Sovereign Grace
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie Yachting
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #16
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Children
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #6
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Friends
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #13
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Girlhood
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #3
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Holiday
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #2
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
Elsie's Journey on Inland Waters
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #21
by Martha Finley
from Sovereign Grace
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Kith and Kin
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #12
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Loved Ones
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #27
by Martha Finley
from Dodd, Mead & Co.
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Motherhood
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #5
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Namesakes
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #28
by Martha Finley
from Dodd, Mead & Co.
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Relations
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #9
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Vacation
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #17
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
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