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Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination
As the popularity of William Bennett's Book of Virtues attests, parents are turning more and more to children's literature to help instill values in their kids. Now, in this elegantly written and passionate book, Vigen Guroian provides the perfect complement to books such as Bennett's,
offering parents and teachers a much-needed roadmap to some of our finest children's stories.
Guroian illuminates the complex ways in which fairy tales and fantasies educate the moral imagination from earliest childhood. Examining a wide range of stories--from "Pinocchio" and "The Little Mermaid" to "Charlotte's Web," "The Velveteen Rabbit," "The Wind in the Willows," and the
"Chronicles of Narnia"--he argues that these tales capture the meaning of morality through vivid depictions of the struggle between good and evil, in which characters must make difficult choices between right and wrong, or heroes and villains contest the very fate of imaginary worlds. Character and
the virtues are depicted compellingly in these stories; the virtues glimmer as if in a looking glass, and wickedness and deception are unmasked of their pretensions to goodness and truth. We are made to face the unvarnished truth about ourselves, and what kind of people we want to be.
Throughout, Guroian highlights the classical moral virtues such as courage, goodness, and honesty, especially as they are understood in traditional Christianity. At the same time, he so persuasively evokes the enduring charm of these familiar works that many readers will be inspired to reread
their favorites and explore those they may have missed.
offering parents and teachers a much-needed roadmap to some of our finest children's stories.
Guroian illuminates the complex ways in which fairy tales and fantasies educate the moral imagination from earliest childhood. Examining a wide range of stories--from "Pinocchio" and "The Little Mermaid" to "Charlotte's Web," "The Velveteen Rabbit," "The Wind in the Willows," and the
"Chronicles of Narnia"--he argues that these tales capture the meaning of morality through vivid depictions of the struggle between good and evil, in which characters must make difficult choices between right and wrong, or heroes and villains contest the very fate of imaginary worlds. Character and
the virtues are depicted compellingly in these stories; the virtues glimmer as if in a looking glass, and wickedness and deception are unmasked of their pretensions to goodness and truth. We are made to face the unvarnished truth about ourselves, and what kind of people we want to be.
Throughout, Guroian highlights the classical moral virtues such as courage, goodness, and honesty, especially as they are understood in traditional Christianity. At the same time, he so persuasively evokes the enduring charm of these familiar works that many readers will be inspired to reread
their favorites and explore those they may have missed.
Paperback
First published May 28, 1998
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About the author
Vigen Guroian
26 books58 followersVigen Guroian resides with his wife June Vranian in Culpeper, Virginia, where he mostly tends to his large perennial and vegetable gardens. June is an Interior Designer. Vigen and June have two children. Their son Rafi is 28 years of age, a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, and employed at Cox Newspapers in Washington D.C. Their daughter Victoria is 24 years old, a graduate of Washington and Lee University, and employed at the NRA.
Dr. Guroian received his B.A. from the University of Virginia (1970) and his Ph. D. in Theology from Drew University (1978). He is presently Professor of Theology and Ethics at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Guroian was an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia from 1978-81 and held a post there as well in the Center for Russian and East European Studies. He has been a visiting lecturer at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, New York, and was the Seminary's Director of Academic Affairs from 1990-92. Dr. Guroian has served for many years as a member of and consultant to the Armenian Religious Education Council of the Prelacy of the Armenian Church of North America.
Since 1986 Dr. Guroian has been a member of the faculty of the Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary's Seminary and University teaching courses there regularly. For the academic year 1995-1996 he was named the Distinguished Lecturer in Moral and Religious Education at the Institute.
Dr. Guroian has been on numerous editorial boards including The Journal of Religious Ethics, Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology, and Christian Bio-Ethics. He has served terms on the Board of Directors of the Society of Christian Ethics and the executive committees of the American Theological Society and Christians Associated for Relations with Eastern Europe. He has been active in both the National Council of Churches and in the World Council of Churches.
He is Senior Fellow of the Center on Law and Religion of Emory University; Permanent Senior Fellow of the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal in Mecosta, Michigan; Senior Fellow of the Trinity Forum; and an ongoing Fellow of the Wilberforce Forum under the Prison Fellowship Ministries founded by the honorable Chuck Colson.
Recent significant consultations and projects on which Dr. Guroian has served include: "The Alonzo L. McDonald Family Project on Christian Jurisprudence," Emory University (2004-2009); "The Vocation of the Child," commissioned by the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion at Emory University (2005-2006); A Consultation: "American Orthodoxy or Orthodoxy in America," sponsored by the Institute on Religion and World Affairs, Boston University and Pew Charitable Trusts (2003-2004); Christian Jurisprudence Project on "Law and Human Nature: The Teaching of Modern Christianity," sponsored by Pew Charitable Trusts (2001-2004); and "Consultation on Ecclesiology and Ecumenism," sponsored by the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology (2000-2003).
Dr. Guroian has published more than 150 articles in books, journals, and encyclopedias on a range of subjects including Orthodox theology, liturgy and ethics, marriage and family, children's literature, ecology, genocide, and medical ethics. He has authored a monthly column entitled "Really Human Things" on the Prison Fellowship Ministries' BreakPoint site. Dr. Guroian's books, Inheriting Paradise: Meditations on Gardening (Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1999) and Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination (Oxford University Press, 1998), received national press and media attention. Feature stories on his books have appeared in The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Richmond Times Dispatch, and more than a dozen other newspapers around the country. Dr. Guroian has been a guest on NPR's "Talk of the Nation," "T
Dr. Guroian received his B.A. from the University of Virginia (1970) and his Ph. D. in Theology from Drew University (1978). He is presently Professor of Theology and Ethics at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Guroian was an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia from 1978-81 and held a post there as well in the Center for Russian and East European Studies. He has been a visiting lecturer at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, New York, and was the Seminary's Director of Academic Affairs from 1990-92. Dr. Guroian has served for many years as a member of and consultant to the Armenian Religious Education Council of the Prelacy of the Armenian Church of North America.
Since 1986 Dr. Guroian has been a member of the faculty of the Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary's Seminary and University teaching courses there regularly. For the academic year 1995-1996 he was named the Distinguished Lecturer in Moral and Religious Education at the Institute.
Dr. Guroian has been on numerous editorial boards including The Journal of Religious Ethics, Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology, and Christian Bio-Ethics. He has served terms on the Board of Directors of the Society of Christian Ethics and the executive committees of the American Theological Society and Christians Associated for Relations with Eastern Europe. He has been active in both the National Council of Churches and in the World Council of Churches.
He is Senior Fellow of the Center on Law and Religion of Emory University; Permanent Senior Fellow of the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal in Mecosta, Michigan; Senior Fellow of the Trinity Forum; and an ongoing Fellow of the Wilberforce Forum under the Prison Fellowship Ministries founded by the honorable Chuck Colson.
Recent significant consultations and projects on which Dr. Guroian has served include: "The Alonzo L. McDonald Family Project on Christian Jurisprudence," Emory University (2004-2009); "The Vocation of the Child," commissioned by the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion at Emory University (2005-2006); A Consultation: "American Orthodoxy or Orthodoxy in America," sponsored by the Institute on Religion and World Affairs, Boston University and Pew Charitable Trusts (2003-2004); Christian Jurisprudence Project on "Law and Human Nature: The Teaching of Modern Christianity," sponsored by Pew Charitable Trusts (2001-2004); and "Consultation on Ecclesiology and Ecumenism," sponsored by the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology (2000-2003).
Dr. Guroian has published more than 150 articles in books, journals, and encyclopedias on a range of subjects including Orthodox theology, liturgy and ethics, marriage and family, children's literature, ecology, genocide, and medical ethics. He has authored a monthly column entitled "Really Human Things" on the Prison Fellowship Ministries' BreakPoint site. Dr. Guroian's books, Inheriting Paradise: Meditations on Gardening (Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1999) and Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination (Oxford University Press, 1998), received national press and media attention. Feature stories on his books have appeared in The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Richmond Times Dispatch, and more than a dozen other newspapers around the country. Dr. Guroian has been a guest on NPR's "Talk of the Nation," "T
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
July 9, 2013
Own.
I really enjoyed this when I was reading it. I've been "in the middle of it" for far too long because it is a dense book (or maybe I'm a dense reader). He packs a lot into each sentence. So I would read some, carry it to a different room and let it set, then read some more, let it set, then read some more. I think it probably took me a year to get through it.
I've heard Guroian speak on CD both on The Mars Hill Audio Journal and CiRCE Annual Conference and found myself reading in his voice. I think that helped me love it, as he has a kindly, deep, growly voice. What he has to say is perhaps better said aloud than in print. I notice that his "Mentor" talk from CiRCE (a favorite of mine) helped me understand those sections of TtHoV better.
In this book, Guroian makes the argument that the books that we read to children matter and that we need to read literature to them that is more than what it seems. He goes on to give examples explicating different stories and literature on five themes. We've read - or listened to - many of the stories he indicates in the book, so it was interesting to see how he discussed the stories.
My friend recently read Michael D O'Brien's A Landscape of Dragons and lent it to me, it should be interesting to compare and contrast with Guroian, particularly regarding Wind in the Willows which Guroian recommends but O'Brien cautions.
I really enjoyed this when I was reading it. I've been "in the middle of it" for far too long because it is a dense book (or maybe I'm a dense reader). He packs a lot into each sentence. So I would read some, carry it to a different room and let it set, then read some more, let it set, then read some more. I think it probably took me a year to get through it.
I've heard Guroian speak on CD both on The Mars Hill Audio Journal and CiRCE Annual Conference and found myself reading in his voice. I think that helped me love it, as he has a kindly, deep, growly voice. What he has to say is perhaps better said aloud than in print. I notice that his "Mentor" talk from CiRCE (a favorite of mine) helped me understand those sections of TtHoV better.
In this book, Guroian makes the argument that the books that we read to children matter and that we need to read literature to them that is more than what it seems. He goes on to give examples explicating different stories and literature on five themes. We've read - or listened to - many of the stories he indicates in the book, so it was interesting to see how he discussed the stories.
My friend recently read Michael D O'Brien's A Landscape of Dragons and lent it to me, it should be interesting to compare and contrast with Guroian, particularly regarding Wind in the Willows which Guroian recommends but O'Brien cautions.
September 8, 2017
Without question, one of the most important books I own.
January 20, 2020
Vigen Guroian, in this book, not only help us to see how our beloved classic children stories were beautifully and prayerfully crafted but makes us want to revisit them as adult, with new eyes.
This book does not only give us better understanding but challenges us to read the best book to our children . I highly recommend this book to anyone who read stories to little and not so little ones .
This book does not only give us better understanding but challenges us to read the best book to our children . I highly recommend this book to anyone who read stories to little and not so little ones .
December 10, 2020
I was rather looking forward to this one, but there was something lacking in it.
The subtitle should be scrapped. Tending the Heart of Virtue does not reveal how fairy tales enliven children's moral imaginations, though Guroian reveals much about his own imagination, and plenty about how fairy tales teach virtue (love, courage, faith, and maturation in general). A few times, he refers to his own children, but beyond that, his speculations are just speculative, and don't offer any real promises or evidence that reading such stories can awaken the moral imagination in children.
His initial chapter on awakening the moral imagination, however, is useful:
"Mere instruction in morality is not sufficient to nurture the virtues. It might even backfire, especially when the presentation is heavily exhortative and the pupil's will is coerced. Instead, a compelling vision of the goodness of goodness itself needs to be presented in a way that is attractive and stirs the imagination. A good moral education addresses both the cognitive and affective dimensions of human nature." (20)
That quotation gives me flashbacks into various Sunday school/VBS experiences--both the coercion and the presentation of compelling vision! He differentiates between teaching ethics and teaching virtue, which is an important distinction to make for children's education versus adult education.
My issue is with the later chapters, where Guroian interprets fairy tales (Pinocchio, Bambi, The Princess and the Goblin, two Narnia books, and more) by eyeing their morality/virtues and dismissing most contemporary interpretations/adaptations. He comes down hard on Disney for centering romantic love in retellings of classic fairy tales like Snow White, The Little Mermaid, and Bambi. He's justified there, IMO, but must be missing something given the longstanding love for those versions of the tales. There is more than nostalgic love among adult Disney fans.
I appreciated his foray into Pinocchio, which has always been too "heavily exhortative" for my taste. Guroian, and that one guy I knew in college who loved Collodi's Pinocchio like it was Pilgrim's Progress or something, may have convinced me to give it another try. Bambi, too, though I don't recall ever coming into contact with Salten's tale, just the Disney version. Other stories he considers include The Wind in the Willows and Charlotte's Web.
Guroian, sadly, displays a dualistic understanding of the human experience, divorcing the physical from the spiritual (except when it comes to food, a pleasure even the most dualistic person can appreciate). In his exploration of MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin, Guroian differs from other critics who interpret a certain scene as Irene's menarche (blood and lunar imagery are present). Guroian dismisses this as "obsessed with psychological and sexual connotations of words and actions, whereas MacDonald's 'obsession' was over spiritual matters." (148) In this same chapter, MacDonald argues that Irene's grandmother represents Mary, Queen of Heaven. I haven't read The Princess and the Goblin, so I cannot make my own interpretation of that passage, but I want to push back on Guroian's divorce of the physical and spiritual all the same.
First, Irene is fighting against marriage to the goblin prince, so one can hardly accuse interpreters of forcing sex into the story--it's already there, and any young girl reading the story is likely viscerally terrified of this prospect, even if she is not worldly-wise enough to know why. Of course, this could be intended as a marriage of young royals, an alliance rather than a covenant, but such things usually get around to heirs and spares eventually.
Second, the spiritual and physical are not separate. Body, mind, heart: all of these are contained within the soul, the wholeness of one's humanity. Mary herself is the greatest example of this. The Holy Spirit overshadowed her body with her consent, making her the mother of Christ, the God-bearer. Mary did not give spiritual consent alone ("Oh, how nice to bear the Son of God!"), but physical consent ("I am the Lord's slave/servant"). Quite likely, Mary was not far removed from her first period when she conceived Jesus, since marriage usually followed menarche rather swiftly. (She was also probably 16+, since poor nutrition delays the onset of menstruation, and the average age of menarche has fallen to 12-13 only in the past ~100 years.) There's no reason why this scene in The Princess and the Goblin can't be both physical and spiritual. The drama of Christianity, life, death, and new life, is onstage monthly in the female body, and God himself is seen as present in the womb (Psalm 139:13). We worship a God who made our bodies, and we believe we shall live eternally in these bodies, resurrected and glorified. Missing out on this leads to semi-gnostic dualism.
Third, Guroian himself just misses the whole point of menarche. Most young girls don't understand menarche as sexual maturity; the ability to conceive precedes desire for sex, in common experience. Girls eagerly await their first periods to unlock the door of womanhood; Anne Frank's "sweet secret" and the playground cliques of those who have "it" and those who don't. In the next paragraph after Guroian calls the menstrual interpretation "obsessed with sex," he calls this scene "Irene's spiritual 'rite of passage.'" (149) Menarche is a rite of passage! Why can this not be her rite of passage into womanhood, too? George MacDonald had seven children, so I'm quite sure he was familiar with the vagaries of tween girls. Guroian quotes the story: "'she got older very fast.'" (148) There is no reason why this cannot represent her spiritual and her physical maturity. But Guroian seems only to see menarche as sexual maturity, rather than entry into womanhood. At the end of the day, Guroian is a man, and I honestly don't expect men to connect the dots with something like this, though I slightly resent his dismissal of the interpretation of this scene as menarche.
Okay, rant over. I don't dislike this book, but I don't care that much for it, either. Honestly, the subtitle of this book has recently been filled for me by bibliomemoirs, such as Annis Duff's Bequest of Wings and Longer Flight. Guroian's thoughts were interesting, but no major new ground was broken, and my lasting intellectual impression is of wrestling with his avoidance of menstruation. I don't really recommend this book, but if it interests you, go for it. It's fine. I don't have major issues with it, but I don't hate it.
The subtitle should be scrapped. Tending the Heart of Virtue does not reveal how fairy tales enliven children's moral imaginations, though Guroian reveals much about his own imagination, and plenty about how fairy tales teach virtue (love, courage, faith, and maturation in general). A few times, he refers to his own children, but beyond that, his speculations are just speculative, and don't offer any real promises or evidence that reading such stories can awaken the moral imagination in children.
His initial chapter on awakening the moral imagination, however, is useful:
"Mere instruction in morality is not sufficient to nurture the virtues. It might even backfire, especially when the presentation is heavily exhortative and the pupil's will is coerced. Instead, a compelling vision of the goodness of goodness itself needs to be presented in a way that is attractive and stirs the imagination. A good moral education addresses both the cognitive and affective dimensions of human nature." (20)
That quotation gives me flashbacks into various Sunday school/VBS experiences--both the coercion and the presentation of compelling vision! He differentiates between teaching ethics and teaching virtue, which is an important distinction to make for children's education versus adult education.
My issue is with the later chapters, where Guroian interprets fairy tales (Pinocchio, Bambi, The Princess and the Goblin, two Narnia books, and more) by eyeing their morality/virtues and dismissing most contemporary interpretations/adaptations. He comes down hard on Disney for centering romantic love in retellings of classic fairy tales like Snow White, The Little Mermaid, and Bambi. He's justified there, IMO, but must be missing something given the longstanding love for those versions of the tales. There is more than nostalgic love among adult Disney fans.
I appreciated his foray into Pinocchio, which has always been too "heavily exhortative" for my taste. Guroian, and that one guy I knew in college who loved Collodi's Pinocchio like it was Pilgrim's Progress or something, may have convinced me to give it another try. Bambi, too, though I don't recall ever coming into contact with Salten's tale, just the Disney version. Other stories he considers include The Wind in the Willows and Charlotte's Web.
Guroian, sadly, displays a dualistic understanding of the human experience, divorcing the physical from the spiritual (except when it comes to food, a pleasure even the most dualistic person can appreciate). In his exploration of MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin, Guroian differs from other critics who interpret a certain scene as Irene's menarche (blood and lunar imagery are present). Guroian dismisses this as "obsessed with psychological and sexual connotations of words and actions, whereas MacDonald's 'obsession' was over spiritual matters." (148) In this same chapter, MacDonald argues that Irene's grandmother represents Mary, Queen of Heaven. I haven't read The Princess and the Goblin, so I cannot make my own interpretation of that passage, but I want to push back on Guroian's divorce of the physical and spiritual all the same.
First, Irene is fighting against marriage to the goblin prince, so one can hardly accuse interpreters of forcing sex into the story--it's already there, and any young girl reading the story is likely viscerally terrified of this prospect, even if she is not worldly-wise enough to know why. Of course, this could be intended as a marriage of young royals, an alliance rather than a covenant, but such things usually get around to heirs and spares eventually.
Second, the spiritual and physical are not separate. Body, mind, heart: all of these are contained within the soul, the wholeness of one's humanity. Mary herself is the greatest example of this. The Holy Spirit overshadowed her body with her consent, making her the mother of Christ, the God-bearer. Mary did not give spiritual consent alone ("Oh, how nice to bear the Son of God!"), but physical consent ("I am the Lord's slave/servant"). Quite likely, Mary was not far removed from her first period when she conceived Jesus, since marriage usually followed menarche rather swiftly. (She was also probably 16+, since poor nutrition delays the onset of menstruation, and the average age of menarche has fallen to 12-13 only in the past ~100 years.) There's no reason why this scene in The Princess and the Goblin can't be both physical and spiritual. The drama of Christianity, life, death, and new life, is onstage monthly in the female body, and God himself is seen as present in the womb (Psalm 139:13). We worship a God who made our bodies, and we believe we shall live eternally in these bodies, resurrected and glorified. Missing out on this leads to semi-gnostic dualism.
Third, Guroian himself just misses the whole point of menarche. Most young girls don't understand menarche as sexual maturity; the ability to conceive precedes desire for sex, in common experience. Girls eagerly await their first periods to unlock the door of womanhood; Anne Frank's "sweet secret" and the playground cliques of those who have "it" and those who don't. In the next paragraph after Guroian calls the menstrual interpretation "obsessed with sex," he calls this scene "Irene's spiritual 'rite of passage.'" (149) Menarche is a rite of passage! Why can this not be her rite of passage into womanhood, too? George MacDonald had seven children, so I'm quite sure he was familiar with the vagaries of tween girls. Guroian quotes the story: "'she got older very fast.'" (148) There is no reason why this cannot represent her spiritual and her physical maturity. But Guroian seems only to see menarche as sexual maturity, rather than entry into womanhood. At the end of the day, Guroian is a man, and I honestly don't expect men to connect the dots with something like this, though I slightly resent his dismissal of the interpretation of this scene as menarche.
Okay, rant over. I don't dislike this book, but I don't care that much for it, either. Honestly, the subtitle of this book has recently been filled for me by bibliomemoirs, such as Annis Duff's Bequest of Wings and Longer Flight. Guroian's thoughts were interesting, but no major new ground was broken, and my lasting intellectual impression is of wrestling with his avoidance of menstruation. I don't really recommend this book, but if it interests you, go for it. It's fine. I don't have major issues with it, but I don't hate it.
August 19, 2018
Wonderful book on the power that quality fiction has on the moral formation of children. This has given me many avenues to pursue in reading to the boys (and eventually my daughter... there were a lot of books with morally strong young heroines). I highly recommend this book to parents, those who read to children, and those who read fiction.
January 7, 2025
“May your own reading of this book be a beginning and not an end, not a closure but an invitation to unceasing explorations of the imagination. And may our children be the final beneficiaries.”
January 17, 2025
Excellent read if you are an educator and/or mother or father.
I first read parts of the first edition of this book during my senior year of college in a course on children’s literature. We read many of the tales talked about in the book. Reading the second edition in full after having taught classically and now having my own children was truly an enriching experience. I feel reinvigorated to shower my kids with good stories that paint clear pictures of what is good and evil, true and false, beautiful and ugly. This was an energizing read; I knew what I was going to hear and I wanted to hear it!
I’ve been a lover of literature for most of my life now, and I enjoy literature like the Grimm fairy tales but also more nuanced books where the lines are a bit more squiggly. I can handle squiggly lines as an adult. Young children need straight lines.
I love how Guroian has both academic backing to his arguments but also a true fatherly and grandfatherly expertise. He’s walked his talk.
I first read parts of the first edition of this book during my senior year of college in a course on children’s literature. We read many of the tales talked about in the book. Reading the second edition in full after having taught classically and now having my own children was truly an enriching experience. I feel reinvigorated to shower my kids with good stories that paint clear pictures of what is good and evil, true and false, beautiful and ugly. This was an energizing read; I knew what I was going to hear and I wanted to hear it!
I’ve been a lover of literature for most of my life now, and I enjoy literature like the Grimm fairy tales but also more nuanced books where the lines are a bit more squiggly. I can handle squiggly lines as an adult. Young children need straight lines.
I love how Guroian has both academic backing to his arguments but also a true fatherly and grandfatherly expertise. He’s walked his talk.
July 16, 2019
I really liked this book. It was rather a lot of work to read. I found myself reading and re-reading many of the paragraphs to better grasp their messages. Guroian’s writing is chock full of taxing (for this reader) vocabulary, so the book appears deceptively small at under 200 pages. Though shorter than most books I read, this took me considerably longer to finish. I wholeheartedly concur with the author’s assertion that a child’s moral imagination is awakened and informed through story - specifically masterfully written classic stories- far more effectively than through overt teaching, lecturing or preaching. It made me think of Jesus’ use of parables and allegories. One of the concepts I especially loved was the distinction between values and virtue (see pages 27-32).
January 4, 2026
I’m looking forward to bedtime stories with my family.
May 31, 2024
Can I just highlight the entire book?
September 19, 2022
I re-read this book for The Literary Life Conference on Moral Imagination. This book is a treasure! Fairy tales are much more than just stories. They help us to see truth. The truths are those of friendship, love, becoming a real human, and also evil and redemption. This book not only points you to the beautiful stories (and the books where you can find the real stories versus those where they have been stripped of their virtues), but reminds the reader of the truths that lie within the stories themselves.
April 11, 2016
I found the introduction worthwhile and enlightening, but the rest of the book a slog. And at some point it occurred to me that if the classic stories are really such an effective means of teaching the virtues (which I believe they are), then it can not possibly require this many words to detail exactly how they accomplish the task.
June 29, 2019
Much better literary criticism of the chosen fairy tales than the usual postmodern ilk. But so desperately missing Christ!
March 13, 2025
I <3 classic children’s literature and smart people who talk about the ways good stories shape both grown-up and young people
March 15, 2023
This is an author with no relevant education in history, literature, or folklore (or at least none significant enough to show up anywhere when you google him) and it shows. This is the book for you if you want a black-and-white analysis of fairy tales/classic children’s fantasy through a strictly Christian lens (something Guroian himself hilariously cautions against doing multiple times throughout the book, after spending pages and chapters reaching for every biblical allegory he can possibly shove into a given story, stretching credulity even for stories that are absolutely biblical allegory) at the explicit rejection of any other influence, interpretation, or criticism.
If this book was honest about what it was—approached, say, with an attitude of “this is how these authors were influenced by the Bible and used these stories to impart biblical themes”—I wouldn’t bother reviewing it. That would be fine. You can write that book if you want to. But it’s pretending to be something quite different, not only in the synopsis but throughout the book itself.
Also, it doesn’t do what it says it does. There’s basically nothing about HOW fairy tales impart lessons on children, and that’s only brought up at all when Guroian is reminded of anecdotes about his own children or whatever and he says something like “at this point in the story, my kid asked if this character was GOOD or BAD!” Absolutely profound, my man.
A book has not awakened this level of wrath in me for some time. Props.
If this book was honest about what it was—approached, say, with an attitude of “this is how these authors were influenced by the Bible and used these stories to impart biblical themes”—I wouldn’t bother reviewing it. That would be fine. You can write that book if you want to. But it’s pretending to be something quite different, not only in the synopsis but throughout the book itself.
Also, it doesn’t do what it says it does. There’s basically nothing about HOW fairy tales impart lessons on children, and that’s only brought up at all when Guroian is reminded of anecdotes about his own children or whatever and he says something like “at this point in the story, my kid asked if this character was GOOD or BAD!” Absolutely profound, my man.
A book has not awakened this level of wrath in me for some time. Props.
November 13, 2011
I hated every page of this book. I understand that some people are deeply religious, and that is absolutely fine with me. But I do not appreciate it when people shove it in other's faces. Guroian is extremely presumptuous. He starts out the book basically telling parents/teachers what to read to their children to give them the right moral grounding. He will say that an author's work is clearly an allegory for jesus' life or the author deliberately wrote a scene the way he did because it is like a certain biblical scene or teaching. Granted, some of the authors he chose were known christians, but I think his book would have been more valid if he had also chosen authors who were known atheists or agnostic. It also really bothered me when he would say, "I don't agree with this" or "I don't think he meant that"... of course you don't, that's why you are writing this book - this is a basic rule of writing well, never put these kinds of phrases in a paper/book... if you didn't think or believe something, then you wouldn't be writing for/against it. His grammar also wasn't the best, but that has no bearing on the actual book itself. Like I said, I do not think he ever had a strong argument in any of his examples... not only were they based completely on his own, personal beliefs, but he never counters his own argument, which is the basis of an even stronger argument, nor does he use examples from writers who were on the fence about religion.
June 15, 2024
There is so much I love about this book! I love the encouragement to read fairy tales and imaginative stories as a way to encourage and instill virtue in young minds and hearts. I love the way the author pointed back to the gospel with every story. So beautiful.
One small critique would be that sometimes I felt like at times the stories were over-explained. I think most people don't need every theme or idea spelled out for them, but perhaps I am wrong?
Other than that, it was amazing!
One small critique would be that sometimes I felt like at times the stories were over-explained. I think most people don't need every theme or idea spelled out for them, but perhaps I am wrong?
Other than that, it was amazing!
November 9, 2023
Fairy tales do not give the child his first idea of bogey. What fairy tales give the child is his first clear idea of the possible defeat of bogey. The baby has known the dragon intimately ever since he had an imagination. What the fairy tale provides for him is a St. George to kill the dragon.
~ G.K. Chesterton
~ G.K. Chesterton
March 21, 2023
I was more impressed with this book than I expected to be. The author makes some good observations about the power of literature to instruct in virtue and enliven the imagination; much of it seems fairly obvious to committed lovers of literature and cultivators of virtue, but as an introduction it's solid. I didn't enjoy the note of hysteria (contemporary culture is unbelievably corrupt!) that Guroian sounds from time to time; it seems perfunctory and dated. But happily he spent much more time discussing the good (excellent stories) than the bad (corruption of culture).
Guroian is particularly illuminating in his discussions of Pinocchio, The Little Mermaid, Bambi, The Snow Queen, and a couple of the Narnia books. The more complicated the story, it seems, the more he is able to delve into it and plumb the depths. Treatment of shorter stories tends to be more surface-level. I appreciate his obvious admiration and relish for the books and stories he considers, and in several cases (especially with Pinocchio) his insights allowed me to grasp what I had only felt before about the worth of these tales.
Guroian is particularly illuminating in his discussions of Pinocchio, The Little Mermaid, Bambi, The Snow Queen, and a couple of the Narnia books. The more complicated the story, it seems, the more he is able to delve into it and plumb the depths. Treatment of shorter stories tends to be more surface-level. I appreciate his obvious admiration and relish for the books and stories he considers, and in several cases (especially with Pinocchio) his insights allowed me to grasp what I had only felt before about the worth of these tales.
June 24, 2024
I found this book a little dry at times (which is a shame because it is so easy to write winsomely about beloved stories), but nevertheless a helpful resource for anyone teaching, raising, and reading to children and wanting to follow the threads of truth and goodness through classic fables and tales. I didn't grow up with a lot of exposure to the fairy tale genre and I've never really been a Disney fan, so I learned about some of the classic ones for the first time through this book, and am excited by the opportunities they hold for sparking moral imagination in young minds and hearts.
August 1, 2023
Required reading for work.
This book was okay, but I felt like it approached the classic stories from the angle that the reader didn't know anything about them. I have already read 90% of the stories mentioned in the book so I did not need long explanations of the stories. I believe it could have been about 100 pages shorter. Now if you haven't read these stories then this would probably be beneficial to you.
This book was okay, but I felt like it approached the classic stories from the angle that the reader didn't know anything about them. I have already read 90% of the stories mentioned in the book so I did not need long explanations of the stories. I believe it could have been about 100 pages shorter. Now if you haven't read these stories then this would probably be beneficial to you.
October 30, 2024
Excellent companion to the books!
May 26, 2025
Biggest takeaway: read more George MacDonald.
May 24, 2024
4.5 rounding down.
April 24, 2024
An exceptional book! If I could give this one 10 stars I would. This is my all-time favorite topic (stories and the moral imagination), so I truly am shocked at how long it took me to read this one. I wish I had more time to write about it. Adding to my favorites list!
May 10, 2022
Worth a read. Takes your understanding of a few fairy tales to another level.
July 5, 2023
Parents, teachers, Christians, anyone interested in discipleship in any manner… this is the book for you! I have been personally challenged to cultivate virtue in my life as I teach, and soon, as my husband and I become parents. The author brilliantly illuminates how fairy tales teach us how to love what is truly good and beautiful; namely, Jesus Christ. Fantastic read!
January 7, 2024
I enjoyed re-reading this (with my own copy this time!! Yay!! Plus the added chapters to this second addition.) Mister Guroian is certainly a kindred spirit.
March 13, 2024
Properly ashamed of my early childhood hatred of the Grimms.
October 5, 2024
Some of the critical reviews I have read through express a desire for a more specific “how to” approach in shaping the moral imagination.
I’d like to say to those: I believe you’ve missed the point entirely of this book. The “how to” portion, that I belief goes without saying, is simply that we would read these classic stories and fairy tales to our children. The point is to present the stories to them. Guroian’s narrations and explanations of each text are to simply explain to us why those specific stories are chosen as worthy to be read. They are chosen because of the allegory and metaphor to righteousness and virtue, wickedness and just judgement.
Simply presenting these ideas to children by reading them with children informs their moral imagination. The stories provide words and images and characters and events to ideas and truths that are otherwise difficult to put into words as a child but are known innately none the less. There is no need to have a step-by-step guide of how to talk about the “lessons” within the stories with children. As if to read the stories then say “now, that’s how you are to be a righteous young man or woman!” They will understand as they experience the stories.
When we present a meal to our children even the youngest babe knows to reach for the food and put it into their mouth. Our job at the start isn’t necessarily to take their hand for them make them grasp the food and then move their hand to their mouth and make them eat the food and then say “now, that’s how you consume nutrients!” Nor are we like birds regurgitating food into our children’s mouths. No, we simply put the food before them and let them consume it on their own however messy it may be. The children naturally know what food is good and yummy and what isn’t. And with age and practice of eating they refine their ability to consume food more maturely. And the more often we present more nutritional food options before them the more nutritionally beneficial their tastes become.
Guroian is simply providing us with a “moral menu” while also explaining why this particular menu is so nutritious to a child’s (and I would argue to anyone’s) moral imagination. As the children practice the “consumption” of such stories and fairy tales their skills are refined and matured. Their ability to recognize and discern Good and Virtuous living and being is matured and consequently becomes a part of their personhood consequently shaping them into more morally aware people, one could argue more virtuous people.
This is why I think it kind of goes without saying that the “how to” part is to just do it - read these stories and others like them to the children; to ourselves.
This book is never going to be a step-by-step guide just as there is not step-by-step guide to feeding children. There is one step: read these stories. With feeding, there is one step: present them with nutritious food. Over and over and over again.
All of this aside, I love his narrations, his breakdowns and definitions of some of the original German words in the Grimm’s tales and his explanations of the deeper religious symbolism of some of the violent moments of some Grimm’s tales. He takes them beyond the surface and connects them to the old world, one in which our time has completely lost touch, rooted deeply in sacred themes and truths. The violence is deeply significant not just gore for gore’s sake. Once it is explained as a metaphor for righteous judgement the violent scenes, while difficult to read, become rich with meaning and incredibly impactful. Without them much of the beauty and truth of the story is lost.
This is a text worth digging through. It’s also a great spring board to find many classic stories and fairy tales.
I’d like to say to those: I believe you’ve missed the point entirely of this book. The “how to” portion, that I belief goes without saying, is simply that we would read these classic stories and fairy tales to our children. The point is to present the stories to them. Guroian’s narrations and explanations of each text are to simply explain to us why those specific stories are chosen as worthy to be read. They are chosen because of the allegory and metaphor to righteousness and virtue, wickedness and just judgement.
Simply presenting these ideas to children by reading them with children informs their moral imagination. The stories provide words and images and characters and events to ideas and truths that are otherwise difficult to put into words as a child but are known innately none the less. There is no need to have a step-by-step guide of how to talk about the “lessons” within the stories with children. As if to read the stories then say “now, that’s how you are to be a righteous young man or woman!” They will understand as they experience the stories.
When we present a meal to our children even the youngest babe knows to reach for the food and put it into their mouth. Our job at the start isn’t necessarily to take their hand for them make them grasp the food and then move their hand to their mouth and make them eat the food and then say “now, that’s how you consume nutrients!” Nor are we like birds regurgitating food into our children’s mouths. No, we simply put the food before them and let them consume it on their own however messy it may be. The children naturally know what food is good and yummy and what isn’t. And with age and practice of eating they refine their ability to consume food more maturely. And the more often we present more nutritional food options before them the more nutritionally beneficial their tastes become.
Guroian is simply providing us with a “moral menu” while also explaining why this particular menu is so nutritious to a child’s (and I would argue to anyone’s) moral imagination. As the children practice the “consumption” of such stories and fairy tales their skills are refined and matured. Their ability to recognize and discern Good and Virtuous living and being is matured and consequently becomes a part of their personhood consequently shaping them into more morally aware people, one could argue more virtuous people.
This is why I think it kind of goes without saying that the “how to” part is to just do it - read these stories and others like them to the children; to ourselves.
This book is never going to be a step-by-step guide just as there is not step-by-step guide to feeding children. There is one step: read these stories. With feeding, there is one step: present them with nutritious food. Over and over and over again.
All of this aside, I love his narrations, his breakdowns and definitions of some of the original German words in the Grimm’s tales and his explanations of the deeper religious symbolism of some of the violent moments of some Grimm’s tales. He takes them beyond the surface and connects them to the old world, one in which our time has completely lost touch, rooted deeply in sacred themes and truths. The violence is deeply significant not just gore for gore’s sake. Once it is explained as a metaphor for righteous judgement the violent scenes, while difficult to read, become rich with meaning and incredibly impactful. Without them much of the beauty and truth of the story is lost.
This is a text worth digging through. It’s also a great spring board to find many classic stories and fairy tales.
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