Character building living books

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  • January 7, 2012 at 7:44 pm
    dmccall3
    Participant

    Hi all!

    I just read the SCM book about the Way of the Will. One chapter suggests reading living books to inspire children. It specifically says not to get books that are overt in moral instruction (for this) but books to serve as an example to inspire to.

    Even for myself there are certain books that make me want to be a better person, to make better choices such as Les Miserables, Villette, Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables…

    Do you know of books that exemplify goodness/wisdom/character, maybe even some that are gender-specific? So, again, not a book that says to be good but one that shows what good looks like. Books that would give our children people to look up to and aspire to be like.

    Thanks a lot!

    Dana

    (my DC are little but the choices don’t have to be limited by age. Thanks!)

    January 7, 2012 at 8:33 pm
    the9clarks
    Participant

    Lamplighter books. 

    January 7, 2012 at 9:15 pm
    Catherine
    Participant

    Hello Dana,

    You may like to try the list of books in Rebecca Manor’s book Teaching Character Through Literature. It includes a primary and intermediate reading pack. This is sold through Beautiful Feet Books at http://www.bfbooks.com I have not used the curriculum but have read some of the books in the list. The books are listed on the website and in the catalog by bfbooks. Another source for finding more books is a book entitled Books that Build Character A Guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories by William Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanne M. Wolfe. At present we are also enjoying books by YWAM Publishing in the Christian Heroes: Then & Now. Don’t forget the SCM Bookfinder under the personal development section. It includes the Miller stories by Mildred Martin and Everyday Graces edited by Karen Santorum. Even the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder has goodness/wisdom/character included and they are so much fun to read as a family.

    Hope you find just what you and yours need and can enjoy together. Maybe others will post and we can all have more books to read!!!!!

    January 8, 2012 at 3:27 pm
    dmccall3
    Participant

    Thank you much!!

    January 8, 2012 at 7:15 pm
    eviesmomma
    Member

    If you can find any ValueTales…those are pretty good! (Depending on the age of your kids.)  The “Millers” stories (Prudence and the Millers, Wisdom and the Millers, etc) are also supposed to be really good.

    January 9, 2012 at 5:52 pm
    chocodog
    Participant

    Love the Miller series. It was great. Thanks everyone for posting other suggestions! 🙂

     

    January 9, 2012 at 6:55 pm
    Sue
    Participant

    One good book that my daughter read in the past couple of years was called All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor. I remember in the first chapter, one of the girls is all upset because she lost a library book, pointing out the importance of taking responsibility. Another chapter is entitled, “Dusting is Fun.” The girls in the book show how important it is to do your chores, act responsibly, and be respectful.

    January 9, 2012 at 7:05 pm
    nerakr
    Participant

    Here are some of my favorites:

    Children’s Book of Virtues http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Book-Virtues-William-Bennett/dp/068481353X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326135652&sr=8-1

    The Empty Pot by Demi  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+empty+pot+by+demi&sprefix=the+empty+pot

    The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper

    Homeschool Share also has a list

    http://www.homeschoolshare.com/bible_and_character_study.php

    January 9, 2012 at 7:12 pm
    pianogirl363
    Participant

    A few that came to mind are:
     

    Heidi and Jorli  – both written by Johanna Spyri

    Understood Betsy – Dorothy Canfield 

    The Five Children and It – Edith Nesbit

    A Girl of the Limberlost – Gene Stratton Porter (this one is for older children/teens)

    Sugar Creek Gang series – Paul Hutchens

    We really enjoy the “Miller” books, too. 

    ~Anna

    January 9, 2012 at 7:35 pm
    pianogirl363
    Participant

    I forgot to add these picture books:

    The Quiltmaker’s Gift – Jeff Brumbeau

    The Orange Shoes – Trinka Hakes Noble

    Carrie’s Gift – Efner Tudor Holmes

    ~Anna 🙂

    January 9, 2012 at 7:39 pm
    missceegee
    Participant

    The above are great, but don’t forget the Little Britches series by Ralph Moody. Little Britches, Sugar Creek Gang and Lamplighter books are tops here.

    January 9, 2012 at 8:08 pm
    Schele
    Participant

    I also like the Lamplighter books mentioned above as well as the Isabella Alden books from http://www.keepersofthefaith.com/category/Books.

    January 9, 2012 at 10:11 pm
    dmccall3
    Participant

    I’ve looked through these various suggestions and they seem to begin at kindergarden-ish age. Does that sound about right? I’d love to start something now (at 4yo) but planning ahead for 6yo is never a bad plan either. 🙂 Thank you all for the suggestions and resources!!

    Dana

    January 9, 2012 at 10:21 pm
    houseofchaos
    Participant

    Storytime With the Miller’s is good for the little ones.

    January 10, 2012 at 8:06 am
    Wings2fly
    Participant

    For that age, we have used and still enjoy Uncle Wiggily which is used in Sonlight for age 4/5:

    http://www.amazon.com/Uncle-Wiggilys-Story-Howard-Garis/dp/0448400901

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