The Stories We Read

Below is merely a sampling of the time-tested stories we use as we strive to instill virtues within our students. 

It is our belief that the stories from the quarry titled “Once Upon a Time...” remain superior to any modern attempt.

“Our literature and history are a rich quarry of moral literacy. We should mine that quarry.”

       — Dr. William J. Bennett (from his Introduction to the Book of Virtues, First Edition)

Self-Discipline

Without the ability to govern oneself, other virtues fall short. These stories help children see how restraint, consistency, and inner strength shape a meaningful life.

• Please (Alicia Aspinwall)
  A whimsical tale reminding children that one small word spoken with sincerity can open hearts and doors alike.

• The King and His Hawk (James Baldwin)
  Genghis Khan learns to master his anger before it masters him.

• The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs (Aesop)
  A warning about greed and the dangers of never being satisfied.

• The Golden Touch (Adapted from Nathaniel Hawthorne)
  King Midas discovers the cost of valuing gold over life.

• Phaeton (Adapted from Thomas Bulfinch)
  A tale of youthful rashness—and the need for parental wisdom.

• Jackie Robinson Leads the Way
  Sometimes the most courageous act is self-restraint in the face of injustice.

• George Washington’s Rules of Civility
  Written in his youth, these maxims remain a guide to respectful living.

• Plato on Self-Discipline (from Gorgias)
  A conversation on the pursuit of the good life through temperance.

• Aristotle on Self-Discipline (from The Nicomachean Ethics)
  How habits shape our character—and our destiny.

Compassion

The best kind of strength is paired with empathy. These tales awaken the heart to kindness, mercy, and the responsibility to care for others.

• The Lion and the Mouse (Aesop)
  Kindness is a powerful virtue—even from the smallest among us.

• Androcles and the Lion (Retold by James Baldwin)
  True compassion comes from putting yourself in someone else’s place.

• Little Thumbelina (Hans Christian Andersen)
  Having a big heart—even in a small frame—can make a lasting impact.

• The Angel of the Battlefield (Story of Clara Barton)
  Caring for others can empower us to do what seems impossible.

• The Little Match Girl (Hans Christian Andersen)
  To feel another’s anguish is the very essence of compassion.

• If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking (Emily Dickinson)
  A quiet meditation on the power of small acts of compassion.

• Echo and Narcissus (Retold by Thomas Bulfinch)
  Self-absorption blinds us to others—compassion restores our sight.

• Abraham Lincoln Offers Consolation
  A letter to a grieving mother reveals Lincoln’s depth of empathy.

• O Captain! My Captain! (Walt Whitman)
  A poet mourns his fallen leader—with reverence, pain, and grace.

Responsibility

Virtue begins with owning our duties—to ourselves, to others, and to the truth. These selections show that responsibility is not just expected, but noble.

• Rebecca (Eleanor Piatt)
  Play isn’t just fun, it’s formative, shaping responsibility in children.

• A Father’s Return (African Folktale)
  A boy’s longing reveals one of life’s deepest responsibilities.

• Mr. Nobody
  When things go wrong, who takes the blame—or avoids it altogether?

• Teddy Roosevelt: A Family Man
  Even as President, Roosevelt knew his most important title was “Dad.”

• The Devoted Son and the Thief (A Tale from China)
  A powerful contrast between loyalty and neglect in family duty.

• St. George and the Dragon (Retold by J. Berg Esenwein & Mariett Stockard)
  A courageous quest reminds us: responsibility is service in action.

• The Knights of the Silver Shield (Raymond M. Alden)
  Heroism doesn’t always look like glory—sometimes it means staying put.

• The Chest of Broken Glass
  When we love others, we take care of what matters to them.

• Grumble Town
  We must take ownership of our problems and gratitude for our gifts.

• Respecting the Flag
  The U.S. Code reminds us: our flag is a living symbol of our nation.

• Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith
  Timeless advice from a father to a son—rooted in virtue and reason.

Friendship

The people we walk through life with shape who we become. These stories celebrate loyalty, forgiveness, and the art of being a true friend.

• The Bear and the Travelers (Aesop)
  When danger strikes, true friends reveal themselves.

• Friendship (Poem)
  A simple, memorable guide to the principles of real friendship.

• The Selfish Giant (Oscar Wilde)
  A lonely heart learns the joy of giving and gains companionship.

• Johnny Appleseed
  Friendship, generosity, and goodness leave a legacy that grows.

• Damon and Pythias
  The gold standard of loyalty is friendship, even unto death.

• How Robin Met Little John (Adapted from Henry Gilbert)
  Great friendships begin with mutual respect—even after a clash.

• Helen Keller’s Teacher
  Anne Sullivan’s devotion shows friendship as a transformative force.

• The Father Who Built a Town for Children
  Father Flanagan believed every boy deserves both discipline and love.

• Little Girls Wiser Than Men (Leo Tolstoy)
  Forgiveness and reconciliation often come easiest to children.

• New Friends and Old Friends
  A poetic reminder that the truest friendships stand the test of time.

• A Time to Talk (Robert Frost)
  In a busy world, real friends always make time for one another.

• Aristotle on Friendship (From The Nicomachean Ethics)
  Friendship as virtue—rooted in the good and guided by reason.

• Friendship a Source of Constant Happiness
  Correspondence between Jefferson and Madison shows a friendship built on shared ideals.

• The Child’s Story (Charles Dickens)
  An allegorical tale reminding us that life’s journey is best traveled with others.

Work

These stories remind children that effort is not a burden—it’s a gift. Through labor, we grow in dignity, perseverance, and pride.

• The Ants and the Grasshopper (Aesop)
  Diligence in times of plenty prepares us for times of need.

• Hercules and the Wagoneer (Aesop)
  When in trouble, your own effort is your surest solution.

• The Husband Who Was to Mind the House
  This Scandinavian folktale proves that housework is serious work.

• How the Camel Got His Hump (Rudyard Kipling)
  A tale of transformation where a burden becomes a strength.

• The Week of Sundays
  Idle time isn’t leisure. It’s what robs us of purpose.

• Paul Bunyan
  This American folk hero teaches that imagination fuels achievement.

• John Henry and the Steam Drill
  A moving story of grit, pride, and the power of human hands.

• The Wizard of Menlo Park
  Thomas Edison shows us what invention really requires: persistence.

• The Bundle of Sticks (Aesop)
  Teamwork makes hard tasks easier and communities stronger.

• The Choice of Hercules (Retold by James Baldwin)
  To choose labor is to choose virtue and long-term happiness.

• Up From Slavery (Booker T. Washington)
  In his own words: how hard work earned him both education and dignity.

• In Praise of the Strenuous Life (Theodore Roosevelt)
  Work is where both individual and national character are revealed.

Courage

Bravery isn’t fearlessness, it’s doing what’s right in the face of fear. These tales inspire young readers to stand up, speak up, and press on.

• Chicken Little
  True courage isn’t about avoiding fear—it’s about knowing what to fear.

• How the Little Kite Learned to Fly
  Even the smallest leap requires bravery to begin.

• Jack and the Beanstalk (Adapted from Andrew Lang)
  Jack’s boldness grows from duty—to his mother, and to what’s right.

• Hansel and Gretel (Adapted from the Brothers Grimm)
  Siblings stand strong together—even when lost in the dark.

• The Brave Mice (Aesop)
  Talk is cheap. Real courage is proven in action.

• Remember the Alamo!
  The story of heroic resistance when hope was all but gone.

• If (Rudyard Kipling)
  A father’s poetic challenge to live with fortitude and grace.

• Dolly Madison Saves the National Pride
  A firsthand account of bravery during the burning of the White House.

• “Are Women Not Citizens?” (Molly Cribb)
  Susan B. Anthony’s bold question reshaped the political landscape.

• Liberty or Death (Patrick Henry)
  A speech that galvanized a nation, bravery in its purest form.

• The Road Not Taken (Robert Frost)
  It takes courage to walk your own path, especially when it’s unpopular.

Perseverance

Greatness is rarely instant. These stories reinforce that staying the course—especially when it’s hard—is a victory in itself.

• The Tortoise and the Hare (Aesop)
  Slow and steady doesn’t just win races, it builds resilience.

• The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Hans Christian Andersen)
  Even the smallest hero can stand firm to the very end.

• Westward with Lewis and Clark
  A chronicle of explorers who blazed trails through sheer determination.

• Can’t (Edgar Guest)
  A poetic takedown of the one word that stops progress cold.

• The Gettysburg Address (Abraham Lincoln)
  Endurance, sacrifice, and resolve. Summed in 272 unforgettable words.

• We Shall Fight in the Field and in the Streets (Winston Churchill)
  Britain’s rallying cry during WWII—resistance at all costs.

• The Race from Marathon
  An ancient tale of stamina that still inspires today’s marathoners.

• Carry On! (Robert Service)
  A rhythmic reminder that perseverance is an act of will.

Honesty

Trust is built on truth. These selections show that integrity isn’t always easy—but it’s always right.

• The Boy Who Never Told a Lie
  A poetic tribute to integrity and the friends it earns.

• The Boy Who Cried “Wolf” (Aesop)
  Falsehoods come at a price, even when the danger is real.

• George Washington and the Cherry Tree (Adapted from J. Berg Esenwein & Marietta Stockard)
  A young Washington shows us that truth builds trust.

• Pinocchio (Carlo Collodi)
  A lesson in temptation, honesty, and the cost of poor choices.

• The Indian Cinderella (Retold by Cyrus Macmillan)
  Honesty is rewarded, while deceit leads to disappointment.

• The Emperor and the Peasant Boy
  A humble voice tells the truth that earns the respect of a nation.

• The Story of Regulus (Retold by James Baldwin)
  A Roman legend of a man who kept his word, no matter the cost.

• Honest Abe
  Lincoln’s reputation for truthfulness shaped both his life and legacy.

• The Emperor’s New Clothes (Hans Christian Andersen)
  The courage to speak truth, even when others won’t.

• Truth Never Dies
  A stirring poem affirming that truth, no matter the odds, endures.

Loyalty

To stand by someone—or something—when it’s costly is among the highest forms of virtue. These stories celebrate fidelity to family, friends, and country.

• Little Boy Blue (Eugene Field)
  A heartfelt poem about the quiet loyalty of childhood companions.

• The Golden Windows (Retold by Laura E. Richards)
  Sometimes the most precious things are found close to home.

• The Hero of Indian Cliff (Adapted from C. H. Claudy)
  Risking everything to protect someone you love.

• Only a Dad (Edgar Guest)
  A father’s daily devotion becomes his greatest legacy.

• The Story of Cincinnatus (Retold by James Baldwin)
  Called from his plow to save Rome, then humbly returned.

• When You Are Old (W.B. Yeats)
  An enduring love letter from a loyal heart.

• Paul Revere’s Ride (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
  An iconic poem that keeps the American Revolution alive.

• The Bravery of Abigail Adams
  Her letters reveal courage and loyalty during a nation’s birth.

• “I Only Regret That I Have but One Life to Lose for My Country” (Nathan Hale)
  A young patriot’s final words, forever etched in American history.

• Washington Rejects a Crown
  Loyalty to principle over power America’s ultimate founding moment.

• The Story of “The Star-Spangled Banner” (Adapted from Eva March Tappan)
  The birth of our national anthem, an act of faith and resilience.

• America the Beautiful (Katharine Lee Bates)
  A poetic expression of love, loyalty, and vision for our nation.