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