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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77 Items found Print
Active Filters: 3rd grade (Ages 8-9), Used Books & Materials
Abandoned on the Wild Frontier
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Abandoned on the Wild Frontier
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$9.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Almost Home
Daughters of the Faith
by Wendy G. Lawton
from Moody Press
Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade
in Daughters of the Faith (Location: SER-DAU)
$7.64 $4.00 (3 in stock)
Amazon Adventures
by Banner Horace
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Adventures Series (Location: SER-ADV)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
American History Stories Volume 2
by Mara L. Pratt
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$11.95 $7.00 (1 in stock)
Bandit of Ashley Downs
TrailBlazer Book
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$4.00 (3 in stock)
Book of Virtues for Young People
by William J. Bennett, ed.
1st edition from Simon and Schuster
for 3rd-8th grade
in Short Story Anthologies for Kids (Location: FIC-ANTH)
$8.50 (1 in stock)
Boys and Girls Playing
by J. C. Ryle
from Soli Deo Gloria
for 3rd-5th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$14.41 $6.40 (2 in stock)
Brushwork
by Marion Hudson
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
$22.95 $11.50 (1 in stock)
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)
$6.79 $3.60 (1 in stock)
Child's Book of Character Building - Book 1
by Ron & Rebekah Coriell
from Revell Publishing
for 1st-5th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$4.80 (2 in stock)
Child's First Steps to Virtues
by Emily Hunter
from Harvest House
for Nursery-3rd grade
in Poetry for Children (Location: POET-CHIL)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Chimney Sweep's Ransom
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
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)
$2.80 (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)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
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)
$7.64 $4.00 (2 in stock)
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)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Escape from the Slave Traders
TrailBlazer Books
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Escape from the Slave Traders
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Faith Roots
Book 1 of 7: Tales of the Exodus
by Nicole Parker
Revised from Unknown Publisher
for 2nd-5th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$5.60 (1 in stock)
Gold Thread and Other Stories of Young Faith
by Norman Maclead
from Whole Heart Ministries
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Great Barrier Reef Adventures
by Jim Cromarty
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Adventures Series (Location: SER-ADV)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Great Truths for Little Children
Children's Heritage Series
by Anonymous
from Old Paths Gospel Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Happy Life Stories
by Edna K. Wenger
Revised from Christian Light Education
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Hero Tales Volume I
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
Biography for 3rd-6th grade
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$14.44 $7.20 (2 in stock)
Hero Tales Volume I
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
Biography Anthologies for 3rd-6th grade
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Hive of Busy Bees
Stories That Help Build Character Volume I
by Effie Williams
from Sure Foundation
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
How's Inky?
by Sam Campbell
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
How's Inky?
by Sam Campbell, illustrated by Bob Kuhn
Reprint from Pacific Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Insect Life
Eyes and No Eyes #6
by Arabella B. Buckley
from Yesterday's Classics
for 2nd-5th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$15.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Ivan and the American Journey
by Myrna Grant
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$2.80 (2 in stock)
Ivan and the Informer
by Myrna Grant
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$2.80 (2 in stock)
Ivan and the Moscow Circus
by Myrna Grant
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$2.80 (2 in stock)
Ivan and the Secret in the Suitcase
by Myrna Grant
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Janie's Freedom
by Callie Smith Grant
First Edition from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Jungle Doctor Spots a Leopard
Jungle Doctor #3
by Paul White
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Jungle Doctor (Location: SER-JD)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Jungle Doctor's Crooked Dealings
Jungle Doctor #4
by Paul White
from Christian Focus Publications
in Jungle Doctor (Location: SER-JD)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Jungle Doctor's Enemies
Jungle Doctor #5
by Paul White
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Jungle Doctor (Location: SER-JD)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Kidnapped by River Rats
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Lessons for the Young
by Rufus Babcock
from Triangle Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Lights in a Dark Place
Hidden Heroes #5
by Rebecca Davis
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$4.80 (2 in stock)
Little Jewel Bird
Little Jewel Books
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Little Medicine Carrier
Children's Heritage Series
by Anonymous
from Triangle Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$1.60 (1 in stock)
Little Miriam of Galilee
by Edith Martin
from Christian Light Education
for 3rd-6th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Living Water in the Desert
Hidden Heroes #6
by Rebecca Davis
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Loony Coony
by Sam Campbell, illustrated by Bob Kuhn
Reprint from Pacific Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Matter, Molecules, & Atoms
by Bertha Morris Parker
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-8th grade
in Chemistry (Location: SCI-CHEM)
$18.95 $8.00 (2 in stock)
Outback Adventures
by Jim Cromarty
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Adventures Series (Location: SER-ADV)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Paper Modelling
by Mildred Swannell
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Paper Crafts & Origami (Location: ELE-ORI)
$16.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Patty's Curiosity and Wants and Wishes
Children's Heritage Series
by Charlotte Elizabeth
from Old Paths Gospel Press
for 1st-3rd grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$1.60 (1 in stock)
Paul: Journeys of Adventure
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: BIBR-BTW)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Penny's Worth of Character
by Jesse Stuart
2001 Printing from Jesse Stuart Foundation
for 3rd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$4.25 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Plutarch's Lives for Boys and Girls
by W.H. Weston (reteller), Plutarch
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Classics Retold (Location: FIC-RET)
$15.26 $7.20 (1 in stock)
Poland's Noble Son
by Daughters of St. Paul & Maxine Mayer, illustrated by Maxine Mayer
for 3rd-6th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$9.60 (1 in stock)
Rainforest Adventures
by Banner Horace
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Adventures Series (Location: SER-ADV)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Rescue at the Eleventh Hour
by W. H. G. Kingston
Revised from Grace & Truth Books
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$5.95 $3.20 (1 in stock)
Rescue at the Eleventh Hour
Children's Heritage Series
by William H. G. Kingston
from Old Paths Gospel Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Saul
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: BIBR-BTW)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Spy for the Night Riders
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Stories of Robin Hood Told to the Children
by H. E. Marshall
from Yesterday's Classics
for 2nd-5th grade
$8.46 $4.40 (1 in stock)
Stories of Siegfried Told to the Children
by Mary MacGregor
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-7th grade
$8.46 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Storytime with the Millers
Miller Family Series
by Mildred A. Martin
from Green Pastures Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Miller Family Series (Location: SER-MILLER)
$3.60 (2 in stock)
Ten Boys Who Didn't Give In
by Irene Howat
from Christian Focus Publications
Biography Collection for 3rd-7th grade
in Light Keepers (Location: BIO-LIGHT)
$4.40 (1 in stock)
Ten Boys Who Made a Difference
by Irene Howat
from Christian Focus Publications
Biography Collection for 3rd-7th grade
in Light Keepers (Location: BIO-LIGHT)
$4.40 (1 in stock)
Ten Girls Who Didn't Give In
by Irene Howat
from Christian Focus Publications
Biography Collection for 3rd-7th grade
in Light Keepers (Location: BIO-LIGHT)
$4.40 (1 in stock)
Tippy Canoe and Canada Too
by Sam Campbell
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$7.20 (1 in stock)
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories - 5 Volumes
by Arthur S. Maxwell
from Pacific Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$24.00 (1 in stock)
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories - Volume 3
by Arthur Stanley Maxwell
from Pacific Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories - Volume 5
by Arthur Stanley Maxwell
from Pacific Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories - Volume 5
by Arthur Stanley Maxwell
from Review and Herald Publishing Association
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Uncle Arthur's Stories (Location: FIC-WH07)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories First Series Volumes 1-4
by Arthur S. Maxwell
from Review and Herald Publishing Association
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Uncle Arthur's Stories (Location: FIC-WH07)
$9.60 (1 in stock)
Voice In the Dark
CF4Kids Trail Blazers
by Catherine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in TorchBearers & TrailBlazers (Location: BIO-TRAIL)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
We Raised a Heifer
by Mary Garber, illustrated by Harry Durkee
from Brethren Publishing House
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$7.20 (1 in stock)
Weed with an Ill Name
by Ralph Bouma
2nd edition from Triangle Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$1.60 (1 in stock)
Wild Life in Woods and Fields
Eyes and No Eyes #1
by Arabella B. Buckley
from Yesterday's Classics
for 1st-4th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$13.95 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Wisdom and the Millers
Miller Family Series
by Mildred Martin
Revised from Green Pastures Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Miller Family Series (Location: SER-MILLER)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Wonder Book of Chemistry
by Jean Henri Fabre
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-8th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$16.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)