The Book of Virtues for Young People: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories

by William J. Bennett (Editor)

Overview

This exciting collection of fables, folktales, and poems, collected by William J. Bennett, illustrates some of the best human values: courage, honesty, work, friendship, and loyalty.

With writings by great authors—among them Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Anne Frank, Horatio Alger, Helen Keller, and Aesop—these works, some old and some new, will always have great meaning for young people as they make their way through life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689816130
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	05/01/1997
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	98,649
Product dimensions:	6.25(w) x 9.25(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	960L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Dr. William J. Bennett is one of America’s most influential and respected voices on cultural, political, and educational issues. Host of The Bill Bennett Show podcast, he is also the Washington Fellow of the American Strategy Group. He is the author and editor of more than twenty-five books. Dr. Bennett served as the secretary of education and chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities under President Ronald Reagan and as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George Herbert Walker Bush.

Editorial Reviews

Having scored a resounding success with The Book of Virtues (more than 2.2 million copies sold), erstwhile politico William J. Bennett now turns his attention to what his publisher deems the ``growing demand for character education'' with The Book of Virtues for Young People: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories; included under such headings as Self-Discipline, Responsibility and Loyalty are works by the likes of James Baldwin, Emily Dickinson, Victor Hugo and Thomas Bulfinch (S&S/Silver Burdett, $14.95, ages 7-12 ISBN 0-382-24923-2 July).

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 6 Up-Bennett has compiled fables, stories, and poems that have served as inspiration since time immemorial. Courage, friendship, loyalty, honesty, self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, friendship, work, and faith are represented, with an introduction and commentary for each. Classics such as O. Henry's ``The Gift of the Magi'' and ``Echo and Narcissus'' are indicative of compassion. A sweet, illuminating letter from ``F. Scott Fitzgerald to His Daughter'' lays out her responsibilities. An account by Helen Keller of meeting her teacher, Anne Sullivan, provides a beautiful portrait of friendship. And poignant examples of courage are presented back to back in ``Excerpt from the Diary of Anne Frank'' and the poem ``If-'' by Rudyard Kipling. This old-fashioned volume may not be picked up by today's world-weary readers, but those who do dip into it will find that every generation had its share of problems addressed by eloquent and, yes, virtuous writers.-Julie Halverstadt, Douglas Public Library District, Castle Rock, CO

School Library Journal

nger for reading aloud. Following his best-selling book for adults "The Book of Virtues" (1993) with a similar volume for young people, the former U.S. secretary of education offers a collection of readings, grouped by theme, on the virtues of self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, friendship, work, courage, perseverance, honesty, loyalty, and faith. Each section begins with a photograph and a short essay on the particular theme, addressed to young people. Drawn from a variety of sources and executed in different styles, black-and-white drawings, engravings, and photos accompany some of the pieces. Typical selections include myths, folktales, historical tales, fables, poems, hymns, Bible stories, and excerpts from diaries and letters. Parents looking for short readings to entertain and possibly inspire their children will find much to their liking here.

Carolyn Phelan