Okay…so what are your favorite stories that have a clear moral…like Pinocchio or the boy who called wolf for truthfulness, Christmas Carol or Beauty and the Beast for…well helpful, friendly, courteous, or kind, etc?
(This becomes more important because it now looks as if I may write it up as a series of children’s books.)
ARGH! I should have specified: Public Domain stories, stuff written before 1923. (Much as I absolutely love them, I can’t use C.S. Lewis’s or Lloyd Alexander’s stuff. ;-)
The Magician’s Nephew
(truthfulness AND kindness)
Brown Bull of Norrowa
(bravery by the weak and facing up to the consequences of your actions–plus, true love!)
Sleeping Beauty
(small cruelties punished with unexpected consequences to the innocent and true love triumphant)
The Little Mermaid (Andersen version)
(what is the nature of a soul…what is the nature of love)
The Happy Prince
The Nightingale and the Rose
Coat of Rushes
The Magician’s Nephew
(truthfulness AND kindness)
Brown Bull of Norrowa
(bravery by the weak and facing up to the consequences of your actions–plus, true love!)
Sleeping Beauty
(small cruelties punished with unexpected consequences to the innocent and true love triumphant)
The Little Mermaid (Andersen version)
(what is the nature of a soul…what is the nature of love)
The Happy Prince
The Nightingale and the Rose
Coat of Rushes
Really, anything by Lloyd Alexander. My favorite would be the Prydain Chronicles (work hard, love people, and do what’s right, and you will be rewarded, although not without pain).
Darren A. Jones
Lloyd Alexander is still on my top five list. A friend just read them to my kids.
Alas, however, they are not public domain, so I cannot use them in my new project. Still, best series ever!
Personally, I’m fond of the Redwall books, particularly Redwall, Mattimeo, and Martin the Warior. Has clear messages about defending the innocent, self-sacrifice, and honor. Good stuff! But not public domain. :)
Public domain:
The Girl Who Trod on a Loaf–Hans Christian Andersen. respect for elders, generosity
The Red Shoes–Hans Christian Andersen. folly of vanity
Red Shoes is a good one…and one that is easy to adapt to other things that might suck in children.
Really, anything by Lloyd Alexander. My favorite would be the Prydain Chronicles (work hard, love people, and do what’s right, and you will be rewarded, although not without pain).
Darren A. Jones
Lloyd Alexander is still on my top five list. A friend just read them to my kids.
Alas, however, they are not public domain, so I cannot use them in my new project. Still, best series ever!
Personally, I’m fond of the Redwall books, particularly Redwall, Mattimeo, and Martin the Warior. Has clear messages about defending the innocent, self-sacrifice, and honor. Good stuff! But not public domain. :)
Public domain:
The Girl Who Trod on a Loaf–Hans Christian Andersen. respect for elders, generosity
The Red Shoes–Hans Christian Andersen. folly of vanity
Red Shoes is a good one…and one that is easy to adapt to other things that might suck in children.
As a parent I particularly like the story of The Little Red Hen.
Those who don’t help, will not benefit!
Then there are the oldest ones Aseop’s Fables.
This site has 640odd of them http://www.aesopfables.com/
Thanks for the link! I was thinking that a few Aesops Fables thrown in would be a great idea!
As a parent I particularly like the story of The Little Red Hen.
Those who don’t help, will not benefit!
Then there are the oldest ones Aseop’s Fables.
This site has 640odd of them http://www.aesopfables.com/
Thanks for the link! I was thinking that a few Aesops Fables thrown in would be a great idea!
I love fairy tales and have read dozen of books. There is one story that I read in my old Child Craft books called “Salt”. I can even tell a version of it, but the Internet makes it much easier; go to http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/russian/oldpetersrussiantales/salt.html.
I should say the version I read ended with Ivan taking the Princess home directly and never been called a Ninny again.
I love fairy tales and have read dozen of books. There is one story that I read in my old Child Craft books called “Salt”. I can even tell a version of it, but the Internet makes it much easier; go to http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/russian/oldpetersrussiantales/salt.html.
I should say the version I read ended with Ivan taking the Princess home directly and never been called a Ninny again.