Life Principle: Attitude
Definition: A feeling or emotion to a fact.
Related Quote: "I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you.. We are in charge of our attitudes."- Charles Swindoll
Related Fable: The Gardner and His Dog (P:65)
Literature Connection: The Hat by Jan Brett
Bravo, Livingstone Mouse by Pamela Edwards
Life Principle: Character
Definition: What you are/do when no one is watching
Related Quote: "Ability will enable a man to get to the top. But it will take character to keep him there." -Author Unknown
Related Fable: The Boasting Traveler (P:76)
The Boy and the Almonds (P:26)
Literature Connection: Tales From a Duck Named Quacker by Ricky VanShelton
Life Principle: Charity
Definition: Kindness or help for the needy or suffering
Related Quote: "You can not live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." -John Wooden
Related Fable: Androcles and the Lion (P:28)
Literature Connection: The Kissing Hand by Audruy Penn
All You Ever Need by Max Lucado
Berestain Bears: Lend a Helping Hand
Life Principle: Commitment
Definition: The keeping of a promise or pledge
Related Quote: "Go put your creed into a deed." -Ralph Emerson
Related Fable: The Travelers and the Bear (P:67)
Literature Connection: Kiss Goodnight by Amy Hest
I’m Not Going to Get Up Today by Dr. Seuss
Life Principle: Common Sense
Definition: Thinking before acting; using good judgment
Related Quote: "Do not go through life like a leaf blown from here to there believing whatever you are told." -Socrates
Related Fable: The Sick Lion (P:64)
Literature Connection: The King’s Wish by Benjamin Elkin
The Rooster, The Mouse, and The Little Red Hen
Life Principle: Compassion
Definition: Ability to share another’s feeling or ideas
Related Quote: "Never judge another man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins." -Native American Proverb
Related Fable: The Children and the Frogs (P:74)
Literature Connection: Hug by Jez Alborough
If You Hold My Hand by Jillian Harker
Life Principle: Cooperation
Definition: Working together
Related Quote: "We must all live together as brothers or perish alone as fools." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Related Fable: The Rooster and the Eagle (P:37)
Literature Connection: Don’t Wake Up Mama! By Eileen Christelow
A Cloak for the Dreamer by Aileen Friedman
Life Principle: Courage
Definition: Strength to act even when afraid or uncertain
Related Quote: "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." -Unknown Author
Related Fable: The Lobster and the Crab (L:8)
Literature Connection: All Stuck Up by Linda Haywood
Goggles by Ezra Keats
Will You Forgive Me? by S. Grindley and P. Dann
Life Principle: Courtesy
Definition: Considerate and mannerly behavior
Related Quote: "Politeness costs nothing and gains everything." -Lady Mary Montague
Related Fable: The Pelican and the Crane (L:35)
Literature Connection: Clifford’s Manners by Norman Bridwell
Please found in the Book of Virtues on pg. 24
Life Principle: Dependability
Definition: Reliable; trustworthy
Related Quote: "The right man in the right place at the right time doing the right thing in the right way." -from the poem "Efficiency"
Related Fable: The Boy Who Cried Wolf (P:11)
Literature Connection: Miss Malarkey Won’t Be in Today by Judy Finchler
The Wolf Who Cried Boy by Bob Hartman
The Dog Who Cried "Woof" By the Clifford series
Life Principle: Diligence
Definition: Steady and energetic effort
Related Quote: "All things are difficult before they are easy." -Thomas Fuller
Related Fable: The Grasshopper and the Ant (P:12 Y:13)
Literature Connection: Walking Through the Jungle by Debbie Harter
Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar by Bonnie Lass
Life Principle: Empathy
Definition: The ability to feel what others are feeling
Related Quote: "We share pain, we share in the triumph over pain." -Author Unknown
Related Fable: The Boy Who Went Swimming (P:65)
Literature Connection: Farm Flu by Teresa Bateman
Dogger by Shirley Hughes
Life Principle: Excellence
Definition: To stand out with valuable qualities
Related Quote: "Excellence is a habit. The things you do the most are the things you’ll do the best." -Author Unknown
Related Fable: The North Wind and the Sun (P:16)
Literature Connection: Just the Way You Are by Max Lucado
Oh, The Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
Life Principle: Flexability
Definition: The ability to make adjustments or alter plans
Related Quote: "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Related Fable: The Ducks and the Fox (L:5)
Literature Connection: Froggy Eats Out by Jonathan London
Huggly and the Toy Monster by Tedd Arnold
Life Principle: Fortitude
Definition: Strength of mind that enable a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage
Related Quote: "If you made up your mind you can do something, you’re absolutely right." -Author Unknown
Related Fable: The Hen and the Apple Tree (L:11)
Literature Connection: Tiger is a Scardy Cat by Joan Phillips
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
Life Principle: Friendship
Definition: Caring for and trusting others
Related Quote: "Be genuinely interested in people. Just try, and you can like almost everyone." -Author Unknown
Related Fable: The Lion and the Mouse (P:41 Y:7)
Literature Connection: Harold Finds a Friend by Liza Baker
My Teacher’s My Friend by P.K. Hallinan
Best Friends by Steven Kellogg
Life Principle: Generosity
Definition: Willingness to give or share
Related Quote: "The manner of giving is worth more than the gift." -Pierre Corneille
Related Fable: The Poor Old Dog (L:25)
Literature Connection: Baa, Baa Black Sheep by Iza Trapani
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant
Life Principle: Giving
Definition: To care for and devote oneself to another
Related Quote: "We make a living by what we get and a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill
Related Fable: Little Sunshine (Book of Virtues pg.111)
Literature Connection: Duck In a Truck by Jez Alborough
The Living Tree by Shel Silverstein
Life Principle: Honesty
Definition: Truthfulness
Related Quote: "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." -Thomas Jefferson
Related Fable: The Mermaid and the Woodcutter
Literature Connection: Jamaica’s Find by Juanita Havill
Berestain Bears and the Truth
Life Principle: Humility
Definition: Being humble, not proud or haughty, not arrogant or assertive
Related Quote: "Being fashioned of the self-same dust, let us be merciful as well as just." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Related Fable: The Peacock’s Tail
Literature Connection: The Principle’s New Clothes by Stephanie Calmenson
Life Principle: Initiative
Definition: Taking action, originating new ideas
Related Quote: "If you are not afraid to face the music, you may some day be the leader of the band." -Author Unknown
Related Fable: The Crow and the Pitcher (P:72)
Literature Connection: The Big Fire with King’s Wish
Chester’s Way by Kevin Henkes
Life Principle: Integrity
Definition: Acting according to a sense of right and wrong (being strong enough to do what you know is right even when it is difficult)
Related Quote: "In matters of style, swim with the current. In matter of principle, stand like a rock." -Thomas Jefferson
Related Fable: The Travelers and the Gold Coins (P:75)
Literature Connection: Hey, Little Ant by Phillip Hoose
Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott
Life Principle: Justice
Definition: Being fair, right, and upholding what is right
Related Quote: "The ones that you should try to get even with are the ones who have helped you." -Author Unknown
Related Fable: The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (P:22)
Literature Connection: Cuddley Duddley by Jez Alborough
What if Zebra’s Lost Their Stripes by John Reitano
Life Principle: Loyalty
Definition: Faithfulness to another
Related Quote: "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for another." -John 15:13
Related Fable: The Shepard and the Wolf (P:52)
Literature Connection: What Do You Love? By Jonathan London
The Little Red Hen
Life Principle: Optimism
Definition: To anticipant the best possible outcome
Related Quote: "Some men see things as they are and say "Why?" I dream things that never were and say, "Why Not?" -Robert F. Kennedy
Related Fable: The Cat and His Vision (L:19)
Literature Connection: The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Smudge’s Grumpy Day by Miriam Moss
Life Principle: Patriotism
Definition: Love for or devotion to one’s country
Related Quote: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask, what you could do for your country." -John F. Kennedy
Related Fable: The Bundle of Sticks (P:53)
Literature Connection: We the Kids by David Catrow
The Pledge of Allegiance photo journal by Scholastic
Life Principle: Perseverance
Definition: The Ability to persist or continue striving
Related Quote: "It’s not where you start, it’s where you end up. You haven’t failed until you’ve stopped trying." -Author Unknown
Related Fable: The Tortoise and the Hare (P:19)
Literature Connection: I Can’t Get My Turtle to Move by Elizabeth Lee O’Donnell
The First Bear in Africa by Satomi Ichikawa
Life Principle: Propriety
Definition: Standard of what is socially acceptable in conduct or speech
Related Quote: "Etiquette is behaving yourself a little better than is absolutely essential." -Will Cuppy
Related Fable: The Fox and the Stork (P:46 Y:21)
Literature Connection: Mice Squeak, We Speak by Tommi de Paola
The Red Sweater by Peter Maloney
Life Principle: Resiliency
Definition: Recovering from or adjusting easily to misfortune or change
Related Quote: "Consider the postage stamp: It secures success by sticking to one thing until it gets there." -Author Unknown
Related Fable: The Oak and the Reeds (P:80)
Literature Connection: Comet’s Nine Lives by Jan Brett
Seven Chinese Brothers by Margaret Mahy
Life Principle: Respect
Definition: Showing or feeling honor
Related Quote: "I will speak ill of no man and speak the good I know of everybody." -Benjamin Franklin
Related Fable: The Elephant and His Son (L:32)
Literature Connection: No One Like You by Jillian Harker
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Life Principle: Responsibility
Definition: Making the choice to be reliable and dependable
Related Quote: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." -Eleanor Roosevelt
Related Fable: The Lark and Her Children (P:23)
Literature Connection: I Lost My Bear by Jules Feiffer
Pigsty by Mark Teaque
Life Principle: Self-Discipline
Definition: The ability to choose and control one’s own actions
Related Quote: "If we were supposed to talk more than we listen, we would have two months and one ear." -Mark Twain
Related Fable: The Pig and the Candy Store (L:31)
Literature Connection: Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan
Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
Life Principle: Service
Definition: Giving of one’s time and energies to help others
Related Quote: "Serving the needs of others is the light that brighten each day." -Douglas M. Lawson
Related Fable: The Young Rooster (L:37)
Literature Connection: Hedgie’s Surprise by Jan Brett
Mrs. Toggle’s Zipper by Robin Pulver
Life Principle: Temperance
Definition: Moderation in action, thought, or feeling
Related Quote: "The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it." -Arnold H. Glasow
Related Fable: The Goose and the Golden Eggs (P:50)
Literature Connection: Duncan and Delores by Barbara Samuels
Thy Friend, Obadiah by Brinton Turkle
Life Principle: Tenacious
Definition: Persistent, never give up
Related Quote: The man who removes mountains begins by carrying away small stones." -Chinese Proverb
Related Fable: The Mouse at the Seashore (L:40)
Literature Connection: Have You Got My Purr by Judy West
Uncle Jed’s Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell
Life Principle: Thankfulness
Definition: The act of being grateful; glad
Related Quote: "The most important prayer in the world is two words long-Thank You." -Meister Eckehart
Related Fable: The Wolf and the Crane (P:69)
Literature Connection: Thanksgiving Day by Gail Gibbons
Bernstein Bears: Count Their Blessings