Anthologies (2) Primary, Elementary

This post continues a listing of anthologies. You may or may not find all of these titles in your library, but the selections here illustrate the fact that you may have find books on your own shelves or that of your parents and grandparents. Become a browser of shelves! You may find good old collections, folk tales representative of your family background, or a favorite from your own childhood. Don't forget to ask living relatives for the tales that were read or told to them - this is a rich source!

Fairy Tale Treasury, The. Collected by Virginia Haviland.
Folk and fairy tales in this treasury are stories from the oral tradition told by people of many cultures to pass on their values, fears, hopes, and dreams. With this understanding, tales can be selected and read for the ideals that are transferred through the story. In this way, many other readily available anthologies and picture books become useful as literature to build character. The collector, Virginia Haviland, was a respected authority on children's literature, chairing the Children's Literature Services Division of the American Library Association and numerous awards committees e.g. Newbery-Caldecott, National Book Award, Hans Christian Anderson. She founded the Center for Children's Literature at the Library of Congress. She was particularly noted for her knowledge of folklore so we would all do well to check out her Favorite Fairy Tale series - tales collected from sixteen different countries.

In Grandma's Attic. Arleta Richardson.
This is a classic series of books that has gone through several reprints due to clear character messages conveyed humorously through anecdotes from Grandma's childhood. Parents and teachers should note that there is Christian messaging in some of the stories and gauge whether this fits your audience. It is more moral in tone than religious.

Kids Random Acts of Kindness. Conari Press, Ed.
Children from around the world tell how good it feels to do something kind for someone else.

Little People Who Became Great. Laura Anoinette Lurge.
Printed in 1935, these stories were written at that time as "Stories of the Lives of those Whom Every Child Should Know."

Manners. Aliki.
The author employs a humorous style to teach good manners.