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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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)
America Grows Up
A History for Peter #2
by Gerald W. Johnson
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-7th grade
in New Nation (1783-1800) (Location: HISA-18NN)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Awakening of Europe
Story of the World Series #3
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)
Basket of Flowers
by Christoph Von Schmid
from Delmarva Publications
for 3rd-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)
Book of Friendliness
from Seton Press
for 8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$10.00 (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)
$16.95 $8.00 (2 in stock)
Bristol
by Fonda Mast, illustrated by Josephine Beachy
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$3.50 (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)
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)
Daisy Chain
by Charlotte Yonge
from Beautiful Feet Books
Realistic Fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$16.95 $12.00 (1 in stock)
David the Shepherd Boy
by Mary Miller, illustrated by Jeremiah Christensen
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Defender of the Faith
William and Mary Trilogy Volume 2
by Marjorie Bowen
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$13.95 $9.00 (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)
$8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Everyman: A Morality Play
by Anonymous
from Samuel French
for 9th-Adult
in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED)
$1.00 (10 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)
$7.00 (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)
For God and the King
William and Mary Trilogy Volume 3
by Marjorie Bowen
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$15.95 $10.00 (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)
Gabriel and the Hour Book
by Evaleen Stein
from Yesterday's Classics
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$9.95 $5.00 (2 in stock)
God's Jewels
Little Jewel Books
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Preschool-1st grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$1.50 (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)
Governor of England
by Marjorie Bowen
from Inheritance Publications
Biography for 9th-12th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$17.95 $10.00 (3 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)
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)
Gytha's Message
Emma Leslie Church History Series
by Emma Leslie
from Salem Ridge Press
for 5th-9th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$8.00 (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)
Heroes
by Charles Kingsley
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-7th grade
$12.95 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Hexapod Stories
from Yesterday's Classics
for 2nd-4th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$7.00 (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)
$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 God Sent a Dog to Save a Family
by Joel R. Beeke & Diana Kleyn
from Christian Focus Publications
for 4th-6th grade
in Building on the Rock Series (Location: SER-BOR)
$5.00 (3 in stock)
How God Stopped the Pirates
by Joel R. Beeke & Diana Kleyn
from Christian Focus Publications
for 4th-6th grade
in Building on the Rock Series (Location: SER-BOR)
$5.00 (3 in stock)
How God Used a Drought and an Umbrella
by Joel R. Beeke & Diana Kleyn
from Christian Focus Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Building on the Rock Series (Location: SER-BOR)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
How God Used a Snowdrift
by Joel R. Beeke & Diana Kleyn
from Christian Focus Publications
for 4th-6th grade
in Building on the Rock Series (Location: SER-BOR)
$5.00 (4 in stock)
How God Used A Thunderstorm
Building on the Rock
by Joel R. Beeke & Diana Kleyn
from Christian Focus Publications
for 4th-6th grade
in Building on the Rock Series (Location: SER-BOR)
$8.99 $5.00 (3 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)
I Will Maintain
William and Mary Trilogy Volume 1
by Marjorie Bowen
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$15.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
In His Steps
by Charles M. Sheldon
from Revell Publishing
for 9th grade-Adult
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$6.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
In the Days of Queen Victoria
by Eva March Tappan
from Yesterday's Classics
for 6th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$12.95 $7.50 (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 Informer
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)
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)
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)
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)
Joshua and the Judges
The Bible for School and Home #3
by J. Patterson Smyth
from Yesterday's Classics
for 8th-12th grade
in Bible for School and Home (Location: BIB-YC)
$7.00 (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)
Learning from the Book of Nature
for 3rd-5th grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$5.00 (1 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)
Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
by Amelia C. Houghton, Illustrated by Hokie
from Yesterday's Classics
for k-5
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Lights In Lisuland
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)
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 Jewel Bird
Little Jewel Books
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
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 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 (2 in stock)
Lost Milk Jar
Little Jewel Books
by Lucy Ann Conley
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for K-2nd grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
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)
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)
Magic Runes
Emma Leslie Church History Series
by Emma Leslie
from Salem Ridge Press
for 5th-9th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$7.50 (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)
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)
Moses the Meekest Man
by Mary Miller, illustrated by Tabitha Higgins and Linda Shirk
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.50 (1 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)
Of Skies and Seas
My Father's World
by Joanne E. De Jonge
from Eerdmans
for 7th-9th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
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)
Outside My Window
Little Jewel Books
by Samuel D. Coon, illustrated by Esther Giffen
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Nursery-1st grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Pattern Book for "Treasure Beyond Measure"
for Preschool-1st grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$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)
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)
$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)
$3.00 (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)
$12.00 (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)
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)
Romulus
Makers of History series
by Jacob Abbott
from Yesterday's Classics
History for 8th-12th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.95 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Ruth a Faithful Daughter-in-Law
by Mary Miller, illustrated by Tabitha Higgins
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Sabbath Readings for the Home Circle
by M. A. Vroman
from A. B. Publishing, Inc.
for 5th-Adult
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$5.50 (1 in stock)
Sampo
by James Baldwin
from Yesterday's Classics
for 5th-8th grade
$14.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Secret Mission
Huguenot Inheritance Series #2
by A. Van der Jagt
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$13.95 $9.00 (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)
12