| Dare to Write a Book the Teaches Values? By: | | | | So many children today are growing up lacking a |
| Richard Flowers MS "Two things inspire me to | | | | moral compass and values. One of the best ways |
| awe -- the starry heavens above and the moral | | | | to teach values to children is through literature. |
| universe within." Albert Einstein Albert Einstein | | | | This is why I wrote two children's stories that |
| made a profound point with his quotation on the | | | | teach values. One story is called Matilda's Garden, |
| moral universe within. He compared the mystery | | | | a story about a basset hound that teaches the |
| of the starry heavens above with the moral | | | | values of sharing, respect, helping others, and |
| universe within us. I too, have reflected on this | | | | doing your best. The other story is called Chandra' |
| question as a parent and educator. What is the | | | | Journey. It is a story about a young woman from |
| moral universe within and how can we foster | | | | India who asked her sisters to help the neighbors |
| morals and values in our children? I recently | | | | of the village only to be met with sibling rivalry |
| submitted a children's book I wrote to several | | | | and resistance. This story teaches the values of |
| publishers for publication. The response I received | | | | respect, caring and responsibility. "You have brains |
| from the publishers was almost identical. In their | | | | in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You |
| rejection notices they stated that while the story | | | | can steer yourself any direction you choose. |
| was well written and entertaining, they would not | | | | You're on your own, and you know what you |
| even consider publishing it since it teaches | | | | know. And you will be the guy who'll decide where |
| "values," as though it was a forbidden word or | | | | you'll go. Oh the places you'll go." Dr. Seuss Both |
| topic. One publisher extrapolated further, that the | | | | of these stories are available as an e-book from |
| market forces that be, are not interested in | | | | You can purchase these stories and view them in |
| stories that teach values, but rather | | | | your Adobe Reader from: If the link does not |
| entertainment value only. If values are brought up, | | | | work, just go to and type Richard Flowers in the |
| it treated as a forbidden topic. They brought up | | | | search box where you will find the entire series |
| the point that recently some children's books that | | | | of books I have written. By reading these stories |
| were recently written by celebrities sold | | | | to your children, you will be doing your part to |
| extremely well. These books were entertaining | | | | nurture and teach the values of respect, |
| only, and were void of the "v" word (values). | | | | responsibility, caring, helping others and doing your |
| "Moral values, and a culture and a religion, | | | | best in your children! Not only that, you will be |
| maintaining these values are far better than laws | | | | teaching to read as well! "The more that you |
| and regulations." Swami Sivananda As an educator | | | | read, the more things you will know. The more |
| and parent, I find this situation very disheartening. | | | | that you learn; the more places you'll go." Dr. |