The Children's Book of Heroes [Hardcover]

William J. Bennett (Editor), Michael Hague (Illustrator), Amy Hill (Designer)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

William Bennett and Michael Hague, the team that brought us the national bestseller The Children's Book of Virtues, have once again collaborated to create The Children's Book of Heroes, a beautifully illustrated celebration of heroic deeds, both real and fictional, that will delight and inspire millions of young children and their parents.

"We all need a hero or two to help us stand fast and think right," says William J. Bennett, author of The Book of Virtues, the #1 bestseller that millions of American families turn to for moral inspiration. With excerpts chosen for young children, this new treasury presents splendid tales of the valor and indomitable spirit that are a lasting testament to our cherished values.

Jackie Robinson stands fast on the playing field -- and his strength of character inspires a nation. David slays Goliath -- and his faith and bravery give hope to underdogs everywhere. A little boy goes in search of an angel -- and finds one who guards him day and night: his own mother. From Abraham Lincoln and Mother Teresa to warriors on the battlefield, real moms and dads, and even young girls and boys, here are worthy and heroic figures all kids can look up to and emulate.

The Children's Book of Heroes is a celebration of the endurance, sacrifice, courage, and compassion that characterize truly heroic deeds.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William J. Bennett served as Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George H. W. Bush and as Secretary of Education and Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities under President Reagan. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Williams College, a doctorate in political philosophy from the University of Texas, and a law degree from Harvard. He is the author of such bestselling books as The Educated Child, The Death of Outrage, The Book of Virtues, and the two-volume series America: The Last Best Hope. Dr. Bennett is the host of the nationally syndicated radio show Bill Bennett's Morning in America. He is also the Washington Fellow of the Claremont Institute and a regular contributor to CNN. He, his wife, Elayne, and their two sons, John and Joseph, live in Maryland.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1

Heroes

William Canton

Our favorite heroes live forever in their stories and in our memories, cheering us forward in our own brave fights.

For you who love heroic things

In summer dream or winter tale,

I tell of warriors, siants, and kings,

In scarlet, sackcloth, glittering mail,

And helmets peaked with iron wings.

They beat down Wrong; they strove for Right.

In ringing fields, on grappled ships,

Singing, they flung into the fight.

They fell with triumph on their lips,

And in their eyes a glorious light.

That light still gleams. From far away

Their brave song greets us like a cheer.

We fight the same great fight as they,

Right againgst Wrong; we, now and here;

They, in their fashion, yesterday.

Text copyright © 1997 by William J. Bennett

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition (October 6, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590273299
• ISBN-13: 978-0684834450
• ASIN: 0684834456
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Literary Criticism & Collections
  • #60 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Values
  • #73 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting mix of historical and fictional heroes, May 27, 2002

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Children's Book of Heroes (Hardcover)

William J. Bennett and Michael Hague, having teamed together to produce the national bestseller "The Children's Book of Virtues," now offer up "The Children's Book of Heroes," which celebrates heroic deeds, both historical and fictional, as appropriate inspiration for children. Certainly it is interesting to see the dozen-plus heroes, from Christopher Columbus and Jackie Robinson to the legendary Sir Roland to a young girl named Tashira, who are presented in this volume.

People might be surprised as to how few religious and political figures are included in this volume given that Bennett is the editor. For the former there are just the Biblical story of "David and Goliath," the story of "Father Flanagan" of Boys Town, and "Mother Teresa" as the epitome of the modern-day heroine. The only political figures, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, appear in episodes well before they each became president with "A Prayer at Valley Forge" and "Honest Abe" respectively. However, one of the better aspects of this book is that some of the stories and poems are not about famous people but rather about a mother ("About Angels"), dads ("Only a Dad"), and even how kids can be heroes by putting themselves on the line for someone they love ("The Hero of Indian Cliffs") and showing moral courage in order to avoiding temptation ("Our Heroes").

Because of my academic interest in mythology I was especially interest in the two classical myths that were selected. The story of Theseus and "The Minotaur" is given as an example of doing the right thing even when afraid of danger while the story of Oedipus and "The Sphinx" is used to remind us that heroes use their brains. This is certainly an interesting pair given what happens to each hero after their defeat these monsters: Theseus and Ariadne never make it back together to Athens and as for Oedipus, well, you probably know what happened to him once he became king of Thebes.

"The Children's Book of Heroes" does indeed present a diverse collection of role models, which at the very least, should expand a child's notion of what constitutes a hero. Each story begins with a brief comment on what the particular life lesson is from that story, for example Jackie Robinson represents "keeping your cool and doing the best you can in a bad situation," which arguably present values that transcend the ideological spectrum.

71 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Kids are Enthralled, July 20, 2000

By 

Wayne A. Smith (Newark, DE) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Children's Book of Heroes (Hardcover)

Bennett has edited another fine book that introduces young children to values and charactor while making reading interesting.

This book of heros combines mythical and historical figures with everyday folk (moms and dads) whose actions and charactor speak to the better values that should be taught to children. The book is fairly accessible to ages 4 and 5 -- the gist of the story will usually be understood and there are enough new concepts / words to prompt meaningful discussion. The illustrations are rich and invite children into the story by providing an attractive visual introduction to each vignette.

Bennett continues to provide a great service to parents and children with the series of which the Book of Heros is a part.

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My second grade class was enthralled with this book., July 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Children's Book of Heroes (Hardcover)

I used this book as a read aloud in my second grade classroom and the children begged me to get it out each day. There was a great variety of genre and the stories inspired the students to aim for courage, duty, honesty and loyalty. Each classic tale was exciting and held the children's interest while providing a hero who truly was a positive example. The realistic, colorful illustrations were outstanding.