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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45 Items found Print
Active Filters: 4th grade (Ages 9-10), Trade Paperback, Used Books & Materials
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)
$7.99 $5.00 (4 in stock)
Alone in London
by Hesba Stretton
from A. B. Publishing, Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Behind Mr. Bunyan
by Agnes Beaumont
Unabridged from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.00 (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)
$6.00 (2 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)
$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)
First Impressions of God
by Ann R. Wells
Unabridged from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$6.00 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Flight of the Fugitives
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Forty-Acre Swindle
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$4.00 (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)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Heart Strangely Warmed
by Louise A. Vernon
from Herald Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$9.99 $5.00 (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)
$14.99 $9.00 (4 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)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Hope and Have
by Oliver Optic
from Lost Classics Book Co.
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$7.50 (2 in stock)
How's Inky?
by Sam Campbell
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
I Have a Soul
by Triangle Press
from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.50 (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)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Ivan and the Moscow Circus
by Myrna Grant
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Jessica's First Prayer and Jessica's Mother
Golden Inheritance Series #1
by Hesba Stretton
from Inheritance Publications
for 4th-6th grade
in Golden Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH01)
$8.95 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Jungle Doctor and the Whirlwind
Jungle Doctor #1
by Paul White
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Jungle Doctor (Location: SER-JD)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Jungle Doctor in Slippery Places
Jungle Doctor #6
by Paul White
Reprint from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Jungle Doctor (Location: SER-JD)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Jungle Doctor on the Hop
Jungle Doctor #2
by Paul White
Reprint from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Jungle Doctor (Location: SER-JD)
$4.50 (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)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Jungle Doctor's Crooked Dealings
Jungle Doctor #4
by Paul White
from Christian Focus Publications
in Jungle Doctor (Location: SER-JD)
$4.50 (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)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Kanousky and David Brainerd
from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$6.00 $1.00 (1 in stock)
Kate and the Spies
by JoAnn A. Grote
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
King's Daughter
by Isabella Macdonald Alden
from Creation House
for 4th-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
King's Daughter and Other Stories for Girls
Character Classics
by J. E. White
from A. B. Publishing, Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$4.50 (2 in stock)
Lessons for the Young
by Rufus Babcock
from Triangle Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Little Daisy & the Swearing Class
Revised from Grace & Truth Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$4.00 (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)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Little Rebel Becomes a Saint
Revised from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.00 (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)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Man that Rum Made
Character Classics
by J. E. White & L. D. Avery-Stuttle
1995 Reprint from A. B. Publishing, Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.50 (2 in stock)
Negro Servant & Black Prince
1st Printing from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$6.00 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Patty's Curiosity
by Charlotte Elizabeth
from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$6.00 $3.50 (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)
$5.00 $3.00 (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)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
South Sea Island Rescue
CF4Kids Trail Blazers
by Kay Walsh
from Christian Focus Publications
Biography for 3rd-6th grade
in TorchBearers & TrailBlazers (Location: BIO-TRAIL)
$4.50 (2 in stock)
Teddy's Button
by Amy Le Feuvre
from A. B. Publishing, Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Thunderstorm in Church
by Louise Vernon
from Herald Press
Biography for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$10.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Tinker's Daughter
Daughters of the Faith
by Wendy G. Lawton
from Moody Press
Biography for 3rd-6th grade
in Daughters of the Faith (Location: SER-DAU)
$7.99 $5.50 (1 in stock)
Tom's Revenge and Other Stories for Children
by Angelas Bookshelf Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$4.50 (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)
$2.00 (1 in stock)