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
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Acts of the Apostles
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Adventure and Faith
Risktakers #1
by Linda Finlayson
from Christian Focus Publications
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in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$6.79
Aeneid for Boys and Girls
by Alfred J. Church
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Roman Mythology for 5th-8th grade
$10.16
Almost Home
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Ambushed in Jaguar Swamp
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America Grows Up
A History for Peter #2
by Gerald W. Johnson
from Yesterday's Classics
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$10.00 (1 in stock)
America Is Born
A History for Peter #1
by Gerald W. Johnson
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1960 Newbery Honor Book
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$7.50 (1 in stock)
American History Stories Volume 1
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American History Stories Volume 3
by Mara L. Pratt
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Among the Farmyard People
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by Clara Dillingham Pierson
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$10.95
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by Clara Dillingham Pierson
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$12.95
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$10.95
Among the Pond People
by Clara Dillingham Pierson
from Yesterday's Classics
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$10.95
Anak, the Eskimo Boy
by Piet Prins
from Inheritance Publications
Realistic Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
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Andy Man
Golden Inheritance Series #10
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$7.61
Arthur Erskine's Story
Reformation Trail Series #14
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
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$22.06
Assassins in the Cathedral
Trailblazer Books
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Attack in the Rye Grass
Trailblazer Series
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$9.99
Awakening of Europe
Story of the World Series #3
by M. B. Synge
from Yesterday's Classics
History Reference for 4th-8th grade
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$13.95
Bandit of Ashley Downs
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$4.00 (3 in stock)
Bandit of Ashley Downs
TrailBlazer Book
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Baron of Salgas
Huguenot Inheritance Series #9
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
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$12.71
Basket of Flowers
from SAT Publications
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$8.00 (1 in stock)
Basket of Flowers
by Christoph Von Schmid
from Christian Focus Publications
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$3.50 (1 in stock)
Beacon First Reader
by James H. Fassett
from Yesterday's Classics
for 1st-2nd grade
in Short Story Anthologies for Kids (Location: FIC-ANTH)
$16.11
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare
by Edith Nesbit
from Yesterday's Classics
Shakespeare/Drama for Children for 4th-8th grade
$11.86
Beggars' Bible
by Louise Vernon
from Herald Press
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$11.89
Betrayer's Fortune
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$9.99
Bible Smuggler
by Louise Vernon
from Herald Press
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$11.89
BibleTime Series
by Carine MacKenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
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by Carine MacKenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
Birds of the Air
Eyes and No Eyes #4
by Arabella B. Buckley
from Yesterday's Classics
for 2nd-5th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$15.95
Birds' Christmas Carol
by Kate Douglas Wiggin
from Yesterday's Classics
Christmas/Advent for 3rd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$13.56
Blackboard Drawing
by Mildred Swannell
from Yesterday's Classics
for Adult
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Blinded by the Shining Path
Trailblazer Books
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Bobby’s Friends
by Phia van den Berg
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Book of Discovery
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Book of Genesis
The Bible for School and Home #1
by J. Patterson Smyth
from Yesterday's Classics
for 8th-12th grade
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$13.95
Book of Legends
by Horace E. Scudder
from Yesterday's Classics
for 1st-5th grade
$8.46
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)
Boy's Heritage Set
from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Boys and Girls Playing
by J. C. Ryle
from Soli Deo Gloria
for 3rd-5th grade
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$14.41 $6.40 (2 in stock)
Brush Drawing as Applied to Natural Forms and Common Objects
by May Mallam
from Yesterday's Classics
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
$16.95
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)
Burning of Rome
by Alfred J. Church
from Yesterday's Classics
for 6th-9th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.71
By Far Euphrates
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$12.71
By Pond and River
Eyes and No Eyes #2
by Arabella B. Buckley
from Yesterday's Classics
for 2nd-5th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$13.95
Captive Princess
Daughters of the Faith
by Wendy G. Lawton
New Edition from Moody Press
for 3rd-6th grade
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Carpenter of Zerbst
by P. de Zeeuw
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 4th-6th grade
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$8.46
Cassy
Golden Inheritance Series #9
by Hesba Stretton
from Inheritance Publications
Allegorical and Moral Stories for 4th-7th grade
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$7.61
Caught in the Rebel Camp
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
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$9.99
Chaucer for Children
by Mrs. H.R. (Mary) Haweis
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$18.66
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 of the New Forest
by Frederick Marryat
from Yesterday's Classics
Historical Fiction for 4th-7th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.71
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 Character Building Collection
from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
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)
Chimney Sweep's Ransom
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$9.99
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)
Complete Book of the Great Musicians
by Percy A. Scholes
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
$33.95
Coronation of Glory
Reformation Trail Series #12
by Deborah Meroff
from Inheritance Publications
Biography for 8th-10th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$15.26
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)
Crushed Yet Conquering
Reformation Trail Series #02
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$16.96
Czar, The
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$15.26
Dairyman's Daughter
by Leah Richmond
from Grace & Truth Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$5.95
Daisy Chain
by Charlotte Yonge
from Beautiful Feet Books
Realistic Fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$14.41
Danger and Dedication
Risktakers #3
by Linda Finlayson
from Christian Focus Publications
for 4th-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$6.79
Danger on the Flying Trapeze
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$9.99
Dark Year of Dundee
Reformation Trail Series #06
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 7th-10th grade
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$9.31
Days of Prince Maurits
Reformation Trail Series #17
by Mary O. Nutting
from Inheritance Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$22.06
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)
Defeat of the Ghost Riders
Trailblazer Books
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$9.99
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)
$11.86
Discovery of New Worlds
Story of the World Series #2
by M. B. Synge
from Yesterday's Classics
History Reference for 4th-8th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$13.95
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)
Doctor Adrian
Reformation Trail Series #13
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$13.56
Done and Dared in Old France
Huguenot Inheritance Series #7
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$12.71
Drawing, Design, and Craft-Work
by Frederick J. Glass
from Yesterday's Classics
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$19.95
Drawn by a China Moon
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$9.99
Driven into Exile
Huguenot Inheritance Series #5
by Charlotte Maria Tucker
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$8.46
Drummer Boy's Battle
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$9.99
Early Church
by George Hodges
from Yesterday's Classics
for 8th-12th grade
in Church History (Location: XCH-HIS)
$15.95
Elementary Geography
by Charlotte M. Mason
1st edition from Yesterday's Classics
for 2nd-4th grade
in Introductory Geography (Location: GEO-INTRO)
$14.95
English Literature for Boys and Girls
by H. E. Marshall
Ill from Yesterday's Classics
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$23.95
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)
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