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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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Anak, the Eskimo Boy
by Piet Prins
from Inheritance Publications
Realistic Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$8.95
Basket of Flowers
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Christoph von Schmid
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Boys and Girls Playing
by J. C. Ryle
from Soli Deo Gloria
for 3rd-5th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$16.95 $8.00 (2 in stock)
Boys of Grit Who Became Men of Honour
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Archer Wallace
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Boys of Grit Who Changed the World
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Archer Wallace
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
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)
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)
$13.00 (1 in stock)
Cowboys with Penny the Mustang Pony
by Barbara Knight, Illustrated by Dale "Wink" Burgess
from Mustang Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Cross Triumphant
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Florence Morse Kingsley
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
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 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 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)
Elsie's Widowhood
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #7
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Winter Trip
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #26
by Martha Finley
from Sovereign Grace
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Womanhood
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #4
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Elsie's Young Folks
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #25
by Martha Finley
from Sovereign Grace
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Exiles in Babylon
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by A.L.O.E.
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Falsely Accused in the High Sierras
by Frederick Vining Fisher
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Frozen Fire
by Karl Gustav Nieritz
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 5th-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Giant Killer
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by A.L.O.E
1st Printing from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
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)
Grandmother Elsie
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #8
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Hedge of Thorns
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by John Hatchard & Mark Hamby
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Hidden Hand
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by E.D.E.N. Southworth
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Iliad for Boys and Girls
by Alfred J. Church
from Macmillan
for 5th-8th grade
Ishmael
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by E.D.E.N. Southworth
1st edition from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
It's All Real True
by Eglanton Thorne
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Jack the Conqueror
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by C.E. Bowen
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 2nd-5th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Jessica's First Prayer
by Hesba Stretton
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 4th-7th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Joel...a boy of Galilee
by Annie Fellows Johnston
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Joseph's Shield
by Pansy
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 1st-5th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
King's Gold
by Mrs. Elizabeth Cheney
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Little Lamb
by Christoph Von Schmid
2002 Printing from Lamplighter Publishing
for 4th-7th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Little Lamb
by Christoph Von Schmid
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Lost Clue
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by O. F.Walton
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Lost Ruby & The Lost Child
by Christoph von Schmid
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Moral Compass
by William J. Bennett
1st edition from Simon and Schuster
for 4th-6th grade
in Short Story Anthologies for Kids (Location: FIC-ANTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Must I Give Him Up?
Huguenot Inheritance Series #14
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$8.95
My Mates and I
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by O. F. Walton
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Paper Sloyd for Primary Grades
by Ednah Anne Rich
Facsimile Edition from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Charlotte Mason Education (Location: HSR-METCM)
Paul
by Florence Morse Kingsley
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 4th-7th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Peep Behind the Scenes
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by O.F. Walton
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Pictures in the Fire
by Williston Fish, compiled by Harold Darling
from Blue Lantern Books
for Adult
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
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)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Prince's Poison Cup
by R. C. Sproul
from Reformation Trust Publishing
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
Prisoners of the Sea
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Rescue with Penny the Mustang Pony
by Barbara Knight, Illustrated by Dale "Wink" Burgess
2nd printing, 2006 from Mustang Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Rita Comes Home
by Andrew Siegrist
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 6th-Adult
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Rob and Roland
by Piet Prins
from Inheritance Publications
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$7.95
Rob and Roland on the Farm
by Piet Prins
from Inheritance Publications
Realistic Fiction for Preschool-2nd grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$7.95
Robinson Crusoe Written Anew for Children
by James Baldwin
from Yesterday's Classics
for 2nd-4th grade
in Classics Retold (Location: FIC-RET)
$11.95
Rules for a Knight
by Ethan Hawke, illustrated by Ryan Hawke
from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
for 4th-12th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Secret Church
by Louise A. Vernon; illustrated by Thomas Dunbebin
from Review and Herald Publishing Association
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Shepherd of Bethlehem
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by A.L.O.E.
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Shipwrecked, But Not Lost
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by The Hon. Mrs. Dundas
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by W. E. Cule
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Sir Malcolm and the Missing Prince
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Sidney Baldwin
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 1st-5th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Spanish Brothers
by Deborah Alcock
from Lamplighter Publishing
Historical Fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Stick to the Raft
by Mrs. George Gladstone
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 4th-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Storm with Penny the Mustang Pony
by Barbara Knight, Illustrated by Dale "Wink" Burgess
from Mustang Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Story of Siegfried
by James Baldwin, illustrated by Peter Hurd
from Yesterday's Classics
for 5th-8th grade
Sweetest Fig
by Chris Van Allsburg
from Houghton Mifflin
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Teach Your Children Well
by Christine Allison
from Delacorte Press
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Teddy's Button
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Amy Le Feuvre
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
The Inheritance/Clara/Forget-Me-Not
by Christoph von Schmid
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
The Lamplighter
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Maria S. Cummins
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Titus: A Comrade of the Cross
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Florence Morse Kingsley
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Tom Watkins' Mistake
by Emma Leslie
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
$11.50 (1 in stock)
True Stories of Great Americans for Young Americans
by Elbridge Streeter Brooks, Thomas Sheppard Meek
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 2nd-6th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
True to the Last
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Evelyn Everett-Green
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Two Elsies
Elsie Dinsmore Collection #11
by Martha Finley
from Mantle Ministries
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories - Volume 2
by Arthur Stanley Maxwell
from Pacific Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Uncle Arthur's Stories (Location: FIC-WH07)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories - Volume 3
by Arthur Stanley Maxwell
from Pacific Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Uncle Arthur's Stories (Location: FIC-WH07)
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)
$6.00 (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)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Uncle Arthur's Bible Book
by Arthur S. Maxwell
from Review and Herald Publishing Association
for 2nd-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Uncle Happy's Cat
by C. Quercia, designed by C. Mongo
from Daughters of St. Paul
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Walty and the Great Geyer
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Franz Hoffman
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Wanderer In Africa
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by A.L.O.E
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
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)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
White Gypsy
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Anette Lyster
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
White Knights
Rare Collector's Series
by W. E. Cule
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Wild Animals of Africa
by Neil Wayne Northey
from Pacific Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
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