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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Active Filters: 7th grade (Ages 12-13), New Books & Materials
Abandoned on the Wild Frontier
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Aeneid for Boys and Girls
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Roman Mythology for 5th-8th grade
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Ambushed in Jaguar Swamp
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Assassins in the Cathedral
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Attack in the Rye Grass
Trailblazer Series
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Awakening of Europe
Story of the World Series #3
by M. B. Synge
from Yesterday's Classics
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Bandit of Ashley Downs
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Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare
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$13.95
Beggars' Bible
by Louise Vernon
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$10.99
Betrayer's Fortune
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$8.99
Bible Smuggler
by Louise Vernon
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$10.99
Blinded by the Shining Path
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$8.99
Bobby’s Friends
by Phia van den Berg
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$9.95
Book of Discovery
by M. B. Synge
from Yesterday's Classics
for 7th-12th grade
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$20.95
Burning of Rome
by Alfred J. Church
from Yesterday's Classics
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$14.95
Caught in the Rebel Camp
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Children of the New Forest
by Frederick Marryat
from Yesterday's Classics
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$14.95
Children's Plutarch: Tales of the Greeks
by F. J. Gould
from Yesterday's Classics
Greek History Reference for 4th-8th grade
in Classics Retold (Location: FIC-RET)
$11.95
Children's Plutarch: Tales of the Romans
by F. J. Gould, Reteller
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-8th grade
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$11.95
Chimney Sweep's Ransom
by Dave & Neta Jackson
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$8.99
Countryside Rambles
by W.S. Furneaux
from Yesterday's Classics
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$14.95
Czar, The
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
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$19.95
Danger on the Flying Trapeze
Trailblazer Books
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$8.99
Dark Year of Dundee
Reformation Trail Series #06
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
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$10.95
Defeat of the Ghost Riders
Trailblazer Books
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Discovery of New Worlds
Story of the World Series #2
by M. B. Synge
from Yesterday's Classics
History Reference for 4th-8th grade
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$13.95
Done and Dared in Old France
Huguenot Inheritance Series #7
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade
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$14.95
Drawn by a China Moon
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Driven into Exile
Huguenot Inheritance Series #5
by Charlotte Maria Tucker
from Inheritance Publications
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$9.95
Drummer Boy's Battle
TrailBlazer Books
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Escape
Huguenot Inheritance Series #1
by A. Van der Jagt
from Inheritance Publications
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$10.95
Escape from the Slave Traders
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
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Exiled to the Red River
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
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$8.99
Faerie Gold
Classics for Young Readers
by Kathryn Lindskoog & Ranelda Mack Hunsicker
from P&R Publishing
Fairy Tales, Fables, and Folklore for 4th-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$17.99
Famous Men of the Middle Ages
by John H. Haaren & A.B. Poland
from Yesterday's Classics
Historical Reference for 5th - 10th grade
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$13.95
Fate of the Yellow Woodbee
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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First Book in American History
by Edward Eggleston
2nd edition from Yesterday's Classics
for 7th-9th grade
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$14.95
First Studies of Plant Life
by George F. Atkinson
from Yesterday's Classics
for 6th-9th grade
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$14.95
Flight of the Fugitives
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Florence Nightingale
by Laura E. Richards
from Yesterday's Classics
Biography for 6th-9th grade
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$10.95
Forty-Acre Swindle
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
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$8.99
Four American Inventors
by Frances M. Perry
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-8th grade
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$13.95
Gabriel and the Hour Book
by Evaleen Stein
from Yesterday's Classics
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
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Gold Miners' Rescue
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
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$8.99
Growth of the British Empire
Story of the World Series #5
by M. B. Synge
from Yesterday's Classics
British History Reference for 4th-8th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$13.95 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Hannibal
Makers of History Series
by Jacob Abbott
from Yesterday's Classics
for 7th-12th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$12.95
Heart Strangely Warmed
by Louise A. Vernon
from Herald Press
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Heroes
by Charles Kingsley
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-7th grade
$12.95 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Heroes Every Child Should Know
by H. W. Mabie
from Yesterday's Classics
Biography for 5th-8th grade
$15.95
Heroes of the Middle Ages
by Eva March Tappan
from Yesterday's Classics
Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
$12.95
Hidden Jewel
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
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$8.99
Hostage on the Nighthawk
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
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$8.99
How They Kept the Faith
Huguenot Inheritance Series #3
by Grace Raymond
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$19.90
Iliad for Boys and Girls
by Alfred J. Church
from Yesterday's Classics
for 5th-8th grade
$11.95
Imprisoned in the Golden City
TrailBlazer Books
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
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$8.99
In the City
Huguenot Inheritance Series #13
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
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$13.95
In the Days of Alfred the Great
by Eva March Tappan
from Yesterday's Classics
for 6th-10th grade
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$12.95
In the Days of Queen Elizabeth
by Eva March Tappan
from Yesterday's Classics
for 6th-10th grade
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$12.95
In the Days of Queen Victoria
by Eva March Tappan
from Yesterday's Classics
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In the Days of William the Conqueror
by Eva March Tappan
from Yesterday's Classics
for 6th-10th grade
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$12.95
In the Desert
Huguenot Inheritance Series #12
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$13.95
Ink on His Fingers
by Louise Vernon
from Herald Press
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$10.99
John Calvin, Genius of Geneva
Reformation Trail Series #07
by Lawrence Penning
from Inheritance Publications
Biography for 6th-9th grade
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$19.95
Journey to the End of the Earth
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
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$8.99
Key to the Prison
by Louise A. Vernon
from Herald Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$11.99
Kidnapped by River Rats
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
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$8.99
King Arthur and His Knights
by Maude Redford Warren
2nd edition from Yesterday's Classics
Arthurian Legends and Myths for
$11.95
King of Ireland's Son
by Padraic Colum
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-7th grade
$14.95
Leofwine the Monk: Or, the Curse of the Ericsons
Emma Leslie Church History Series
by Emma Leslie
from Salem Ridge Press
for 5th-9th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$14.95
Listen for the Whippoorwill
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Little White Farm House in Iowa
Precious Memories Book 1: The First 10 Years
by Carol Brands
from Inheritance Publications
for 4th-9th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$9.00
Little Yellow Farm House in Iowa
Precious Memories Book 2: Years 11-17
by Carol Brands
from Inheritance Publications
for 4th-9th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$9.00
Luther the Leader
by Virgil Robinson
from A. B. Publishing, Inc.
Biography for 5th-8th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$9.95 $4.00 (4 in stock)
Madam How and Lady Why
by Charles Kingsley
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-8th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$14.95
Man Who Laid the Egg
by Louise Vernon
from Herald Press
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$10.99
Manual of Clay Modeling
by Hermione Unwin
from Yesterday's Classics
for 1st-12th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$11.95
Martyr's Victory
Emma Leslie Church History Series
by Emma Leslie
from Salem Ridge Press
for 5th-9th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$14.95
Mask of the Wolf Boy
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Matter, Molecules, & Atoms
by Bertha Morris Parker
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-8th grade
in Chemistry (Location: SCI-CHEM)
$15.95
Mayflower Secret
Trailblazer Books
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
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
Night Preacher
by Louise A. Vernon
from Herald Press
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$10.99
Nobody's Boy
by Hector Malot, translated by Florence Crewe Jones, illustrated by Thelma Gooch and Johnny Gruelle
from Inheritance Publications
for 6th-9th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$14.95
Not for Crown or Sceptre
Reformation Trail Series #15
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 7th-10th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$25.95
Odyssey for Boys and Girls
by Alfred J. Church
from Yesterday's Classics
for 5th-8th grade
$11.95
On the Shores of the Great Sea
Story of the World Series #1
by M. B. Synge
from Yesterday's Classics
History Reference for 4th-8th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$13.95 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Our Empire Story
by H. E. Marshall
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-10th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$22.95
Our Island Story
by H. E. Marshall
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-7th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$22.95
Pilgrim's Progress
by John Bunyan
Facsimile Ed from Yesterday's Classics
for 2nd-7th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$13.95
Prior's Tithe
Reformation Trail Series #05
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 7th-10th grade
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$9.95
Queen's Smuggler
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Quest for the Lost Prince
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Refugees
Huguenot Inheritance Series #6
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$15.96
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)
$7.00
Risking the Forbidden Game
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Roundup of the Street Rovers
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Runaway's Revenge
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Saints and Heroes Since the Middle Ages
by George Hodges
from Yesterday's Classics
Biographies for 5th-8th grade
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$11.95
Saints and Heroes to the End of the Middle Ages
by George Hodges
from Yesterday's Classics
Biography Anthology for 5th-8th grade
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$11.95
Sampo
by James Baldwin
from Yesterday's Classics
for 5th-8th grade
$14.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)
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