Stories with a Moral~Any Ideas?
by adustyframe ~ May 26th, 2010James and I stopped at the library tonight. I always love a good trip to the library!
While I was looking at some books waiting for James, a man came in and asked the librarian this question.
“What are some good books–not picture books–with a moral in them?”
She was slightly stumped. I thought of a few but I think that’s an excellent question so I thought I’d ask you.
I thought of To Kill a Mockingbird although I’m not sure that’s a Jr high book. His son was in 7th grade.
I’m particularly asking for 4th-8th grade.
I also thought of Bill Bennett’s Children’s Book of Virtues. I’m sure the longer I think about this I’ll think of more, but I’m anxious to hear what you’ll add.
May 26th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Well, obviously, there’s Little House.
) Little Women, Little Men and Jo’s Boys. Anne of Green Gables. A book of Aesop’s Fables. They’re old, and I think actually intended for teens, and very much Christian books, but I devoured them from second grade on — the Danny Orlis books by Bernard Palmer were packed full of morals, and great for boys when so many moral-based books seem to be geared for girls.
Thanks for your ideas~!
Little House!!
May 26th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I like “The Door in the Wall”, by Marguerite deAngeli, for 4th graders. Many of the older books demonstrate how perseverence and hard work pay off. By older I mean pre-1960. I enjoyed “Micheal Strogoff, Courier to the Czar” by Jules Verne. It is not his typical book, but in it the main character demonstrates manly character, protecting women, respect to his mom, persevering through trials, fighting for right. It is on more of a 7th grade level. I enjoyed it as an adult. I could go on, but I need to head to bed myself.
That’s a good one! James and I just finished Door in the Wall.
May 27th, 2010 at 10:06 am
I thought of Bennet’s book as well as some of the ones Prairie Rose mentioned.
One of my all-time favorite children’s books is Keep the Lights Burning Abbie. It’s about a girl whose father is a lighthouse keeper, but he has to go somewhere for supplies. The mother is sick, and when the storm comes up, it’s up to Abbie to keep the lights in the lighthouse burning. I love that it has her facing something she doesn’t think she can do and then pulling through it. It’s based on a true story.
That sounds good!
May 27th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Squids Will Be Squids! Don’t ask, just check it out!
ok:) Of course my 1st reaction was “What?”
May 27th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
I’ll be back as I think of more
Rascal
Old Yellar
Number the Stars
Where the Red Fern Grows
The Yearling
Tom Sawyer
Huckleberry Finn
Ivanhoe (maybe an abridged)
Treasure Island
Swiss Family Robinson
Kidnapped
Red Badge of Courage
May 27th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Jehu says Pollyanna and Pilgrim’s Progress
May 27th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Five Children and It
CAddie Woodlawn
Across Five Aprils
All awesome! Thanks for the ideas
May 27th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
My kiddos are younger but this is a list of character-building books we are planning to read aloud together:
http://theabundantlife.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/read-aloud-book-list/
Thanks, I will definitely check it out:)!
May 28th, 2010 at 5:06 am
I will second Keep the Lights Burning Abbie. My version does have picutres but it is not babyish. It is a great book.
May 28th, 2010 at 11:07 am
The Good Master by Kate Seredy is beautiful. The sequel, The Singing Tree, is a little older and sadder.
Gone-Away Lake and Return to Gone-Away by Elizabeth Enright are nice, but they’re quieter books.
The Saturdays and the rest of the Melendy quartet, also by Elizabeth Enright, are great books.
If he’s interested in history, The Lantern Bearers and Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff are nice, although they might be a little on the older side for personal reading. I’ve never read them aloud, but I suspect they would be good.
Captain’s Courageous by Rudyard Kipling is great.
There are some other Marguerite De Angeli books–Thee, Hannah, Elin’s America, Yonie Wondernose, which are a bit younger (they’re what I’d call substantial picture books–they’re more than just pictures with a few words but there are pictures) but are still great.
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate di Camillo is a lovely newer book–make sure to get the original version though, not the movie novelisation.
Meet the Austins by Madeleine L’Engle is a nice family story–the series continues and gets more adult as it goes along, but I think the first book would be fine.
Carry on Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham is a nice child’s biography of a fascinating historical figure.
Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray is a great historical novel for boys.
Actually, I have a list of books that a friend and I made up. If you’d like me to e-mail it, just let me know!
Thanks:) yes, please email me:) adustyframe@yahoo.com