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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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)
Alone in London
by Hesba Stretton
from A. B. Publishing, Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.20 (1 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)
America Grows Up
A History for Peter #2
by Gerald W. Johnson
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-7th grade
in New Nation (1783-1801) (Location: HISA-18NN)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
America Is Born
A History for Peter #1
by Gerald W. Johnson
from Yesterday's Classics
for 7th-12th grade
1960 Newbery Honor Book
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$7.50 (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)
Basket of Flowers
from SAT Publications
for 4th-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Basket of Flowers
by Christoph Von Schmid
from Christian Focus Publications
for 4th-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Blackboard Drawing
by Mildred Swannell
from Yesterday's Classics
for Adult
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$18.95 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Bobby’s Friends
by Phia van den Berg
from Inheritance Publications
for 4th-7th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$8.46 $5.20 (1 in stock)
Book of Discovery
by M. B. Synge
from Yesterday's Classics
for 7th-12th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$20.95 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Book of Virtues
by William J. Bennett
from Simon and Schuster
for 4th-9th grade
in Short Story Anthologies for Kids (Location: FIC-ANTH)
$5.00 (1 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)
Children's Book of America
by Edited by William J. Bennett and Illustrated by Michael Hague
1st edition from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
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)
$11.86 $5.60 (1 in stock)
Children's Plutarch: Tales of the Romans
by F. J. Gould, Reteller
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-8th grade
in Classics Retold (Location: FIC-RET)
$10.16 $5.60 (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)
Countryside Rambles
by W.S. Furneaux
from Yesterday's Classics
for 7th-12th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$14.95 $7.50 (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)
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)
$8.00 (1 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)
Do the Next Thing
Trailblazers
by Selah Helms
from Christian Focus Publications
for 4th-6th grade
in TorchBearers & TrailBlazers (Location: BIO-TRAIL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Escape
Huguenot Inheritance Series #1
by A. Van der Jagt
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$11.86 $5.60 (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)
Everyman: A Morality Play
by Anonymous
from Samuel French
for 9th-Adult
in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED)
$0.80 (6 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)
Faithful Boy's Influence
by Aunt Friendly, Herbert Dawson
Unabridged from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Farrier of Buda
by P. de Zeeuw
from Pro Ecclesia
Historical Fiction for
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$8.46 $4.80 (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)
$5.10 $2.40 (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)
$16.96 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Four American Inventors
by Frances M. Perry
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-8th grade
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$11.86 $6.40 (1 in stock)
From Bondage to Freedom
Emma Leslie Church History Series
by Emma Leslie
from Salem Ridge Press
for 5th-9th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
God's Happy Family
Little Jewel Books
by Edith Witmer, illustrated by Edith Burkholder
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.50 (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)
$15.26 $8.00 (3 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)
Helping Mother
Little Jewel Books
by Mary M. Landis, Illustrated by Michelle Beidler
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Preschool-1st grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.50 (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)
Heroes
by Charles Kingsley
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-7th grade
$11.01 $6.00 (1 in stock)
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)
$14.95 $7.50 (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)
Hope and Have
by Oliver Optic
from Lost Classics Book Co.
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$6.00 (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)
$4.00 (1 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)
$4.00 (1 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)
$4.00 (2 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)
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)
$13.56 $8.00 (1 in stock)
In His Steps
by Charles M. Sheldon
from Hendrickson Publishers
for 9th grade-Adult
in Hendrickson Christian Classics (Location: XCL-DEV)
$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)
Jessica's First Prayer
by Hesba Stretton
from Barse & Hopkins Publishers
for 4th-7th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$4.00 (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)
$7.61 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Jessica's First Prayer and Jessica's Mother
by Hesba Stretton
from A. B. Publishing, Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
John the Baptist
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: BIBR-BTW)
$2.00 (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)
Kanousky and David Brainerd
from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$5.10 $0.80 (2 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)
King's Daughter
by Isabella Macdonald Alden
from Creation House
for 4th-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$2.40 (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)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Learning My Numbers
Little Jewel Books
by Linda Null, illustrated by Donna Weaver
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Nursery-1st grade
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.50 (1 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 Brother to the Bear
by William J. Long
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-6th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$16.95 $8.00 (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)
$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)
Luther the Leader
by Virgil Robinson
from A. B. Publishing, Inc.
Biography for 5th-8th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$8.46 $3.20 (2 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 $9.00 (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)
$2.80 (2 in stock)
Martyr of the Catacombs
by Anonymous Christian
from Kregel Publications
Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$5.60 (1 in stock)
Mary Jones & Her Bible
by Mary Ropes
from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.
for 4th-7th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$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)
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)
Negro Servant & Black Prince
by Legh Richmond
1st Printing from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$5.10 $2.40 (2 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 His Own
by Horatio Alger, Jr.
from A Beka Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Clearance: Fiction (Location: ZCLE-FIC)
$4.00 (5 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 (2 in stock)
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