Character In Print - SEE News - Vol 5, No 1; Fall 2001

Grades 4 - 7

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Character Educators Suggest...

Character In Print

Titles referenced by Books that Build Character: A Guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories by William Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanne M. Wolfe, Simon & Schuster: New York (1994).

Hatchet
Gary Paulsen, Puffin, 1998
When a plane crashes in the vast forests of Canada, 13-year-old Brian emerges as the sole survivor. Alone, Brian learns survival skills, and his only teacher is grim necessity. As his emotions veer from despair to exultation, Brian learns patience, self-reliance, the value of hard work, and a respect for nature.
Character traits: patience, respect, and perseverance

The Hero and the Crown
Robin McKinley, Ace, 1987
Princess Aerin is an unlikely heroine. She is clumsy, not particularly beautiful, and worst of all, her mother is reputed to have been a sorceress. When her country is threatened by the forces of the evil wizard Gonturna, Aerin knows that if she is to defeat him, she must first conquer her own pride and selfish desires.
Character traits: courage, honesty, and confidence

The Mozart Season
Virginia Euwer Wolff, Henry Holt, 1991
As Allegra Shapiro prepares for a violin competition, she discovers that a performer can be a nervous wreck and yet a consummate performer. She learns that music can bring joy and meaning to anyone, despite cultural sophistication. Above all, from her struggle to become one with Mozart, she finds her own individuality.
Character traits: self-control, empathy, and responsibility