Customer Reviews

The Value of Truth and Trust: The Story of Cochise

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When I was little my Dad made me read these books and he used them for discipline as well. If I lied, I had to read "The Value of Truth and Trust". If I thought the grass was greener on the other side, I had to read the one about Helen Keller. Here I am, 20 years later and I found myself searching for them online, because they've helped me tremendously. I consider myself to be a very honest and grateful person now and these books were the core.

Although I would have liked to have seen some different "language" in this book, it is not a bad book for kids. The word "pretend" is used as a description of an action of a small boy and was not intended to insult; however, that one word is not really appropriate when discussing anyone's religion. If you can get over that one word, give the book a chance. Kids will like this book.

As a young kid I would read these books for fun and enjoyed them. Like the previous reviewer, my father used these books for discipline as well - with a twist. If I lied I didn't have to read the book (I would have enjoyed that) - I had to write it. Believe me, that corrected any behavioral issues quite quickly. It often took a couple of days to hand copy these books and was quite an effective punishment. I feel that I learned my lessons quite well and that these books strengthened my moral fiber. Now, tonight, twenty years later - my own son gets to write his own copy of Truth and Trust for the first time. Here's to hoping that it only takes one time.

In this installment of the ValueTales series, Ann Donegan Johnson values truth and trust the life of Cochise (1815-1874).

The book introduces young Cochise, an Apache boy whose father raised him to become a chief of his people. One of the most important things Cochise learned was to always tell the truth so that people would trust him. When Cochise was older, he worked hard to build trust between Apaches and white settlers. It was hard because some Apaches and some settlers did not tell the truth--and did not keep the peace. Everybody stopped trusting each other. Cochise and a settler named Tom Jeffords always told each other the truth--and trusted each other. Working together, they were able to establish peace between the Apache and the settlers.

Like other books in the ValueTales series, this book uses a real-life person to exemplify an important value. It is suitable for reading by children in the later elementary school grades. A "Historical Facts" section at the book's end summarizes Cochise's life in a single-page bio form suitable for adults.

Closing quote: "Now you may not be able to end a war, as Cochise did, but you can do something just as important. You can learn the value of telling the truth and can gain the trust of people who know you. Then you can be happier, too--just like our truthful friend Cochise." (pp. 59-60)

This book is a good moral story with a terrible flaw. In the midst of teaching children the value of truth and trust, it lies about Cochise's religious beliefs. Cochise was not "pretending" to speak with the Great Spirit or with animals; he really believed that he was. How can the authors behave so irresponsibly? Do you think children will not find out the truth? When they do, what will you have really taught them? That's it's okay to lie and reshape history? This book offends both historical and Christian respect for truth, and discredits its own message by doing so. It is a terrible misuse of the responsibility of teaching children, and the responsibility to speak truthfully about the lives of people who are no longer with us and able to defend their memory, no matter who they are.

Authors: Learn to respect the truth, or get out of the business of teaching.